Kildare land stunning upset win in McDonagh Cup
Jack Sheridan on the attack for Kildare Photo: Sean Brilly
Kildare produced one of their greatest ever performances when they ran out six point winners over warm favourites Carlow in Round 3 of the Joe McDonagh Cup.
On a sizzling hot afternoon in Netwatch Cullen Park the home side, one of the tournament favourites to repeat the success they enjoyed in 2023, never get to grips with a Kildare side who played with a new found belief and were fully deserving of their six point win.
Marty Kavanagh opened the scoring with two early frees before Gerry Keegan got Kildare's opening score three minutes in. Kavanagh quickly added a third but Jack Travers and Keegan levelled matters as Kildare took the fame to Carlow. Cathal Dowling was causing huge problems for the Carlow defence and when he played in Jack Sheridan it took a wonderful Brian Tracey save to prevent a Kildare goal.
Two David Qualter frees and a James Burke point from distance helped Kildare into a three point lead at the end of the opening quarter. Cathal Dowling again was the creator as he set up Gerry Keegan but the Celbridge man was wide of the post. Dowling was rewarded with a point of his own but Kavanagh, Paddy Boland and Chris Nolan reduced the gap to the minimum.
The Kildare momentum continued and when Cathal Dowling played in Jack Sheridan he made no mistake. Daire Guerin, James Burke, Gerry Keegan and two Qualter frees left Kildare 1-12 to 0-11 ahead at the break.
Cathal Dowling gave Kildare the perfect start to the second half as he goaled inside 60 seconds.Gerry Keegan pushed Kildare eight ahead but the game changed in a nine minute spell. Chris and Jon Nolan added Carlow points before James Doyle reduced the gap to five. A black card for Rian Boran saw Marty Kavanagh fire home the resulting penalty. Game on.
Kildare hit three in a row to move six ahead, but with the numerical advantage and before Rian Boran returned, Carlow levelled it with six unanswered points. Conor Kehoe, Marty Kavanagh and James Doyle all finding the target. After James Doyle's 59th minute point Carlow somehow failed to score again.
Brian Dowling's charges found the reserves of energy to hit the last six points. Darragh Melville, James Burke and David Qualter with two each sent the Kildare supporters into ecstasy.
The result almost certainly means safety in the McDonagh Cup for next season for Kildare but it has them dreaming of bigger things. It gets no easier and Kildare will need the same level of performance when they travel to Laois next weekend but whisper it quietly, after the the opening round defeat to Kerry a place in the Joe McDonagh final is now in their own hands.
D Qualter 0-7 (fs), J Burke 0-5, C Dowling 1-1, G Keegan 0-4 (1f), each, J Sheridan 1-0, J Travers, D Melville 0-2 each, D Guerin, C McCabe 0-1 each.
M Kavanagh 1-7 (1-0 pen, 5fs), James Doyle 0-4, C Nolan 0-3, C Kehoe, J Nolan 0-2 each, C Whelan, P Boland 0-1 each.
Paddy McKenna; Richy Hogan, Rian Boran, Daniel O’Meara; Paul Dolan, Simon Leacy, Cian Boran; Daire Guerin, James Burke; David Qualter, Cathal McCabe, Gerry Keegan; Jack Sheridan, Cathal Dowling, Jack Travers. Subs: Darragh Melville for Dolan (58), Muiris Curtin for Guerin (63), Conn Kehoe for Keegan (72), Killian Harrington for Qualter (73).
Brian Tracey; Paul Doyle, Dion Wall, Paidi O’Shea; Evan Kealy, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; James Doyle, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, Conor Kehoe, Ciaran Whelan; Chris Nolan, Marty Kavanagh, Paddy Boland. Subs: Tony Lawlor for O’Shea (43), Donagh Murphy for Boland (55), Ted Joyce for Kavanagh (66), Jack Treacy for J Nolan (72).
Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).
