Magnificent McAuliffe hat-trick leads Kildare to Kennedy Cup opening win
Kildare and District Underage League Kennedy Cup squad that beat the Limerick County League at UL.
The KDUL opened their Kennedy Cup campaign on Tuesday morning with an impressive 4-2 victory over Limerick County. A hat-trick from Cathal McAuliffe and an own goal by Jamie Ryan was enough to earn Ciaran Killaly’s side all three points.
Kildare started the game on the front foot, and they deservedly opened the scoring after seven minutes. Tuan Lee’s delivery from the left flank was turned into the net by Limerick County Captain, Ryan.
Following the early goal, the eventual victors continued to dominate the play, and they doubled their lead five minutes later, when the impressive McAuliffe finished to an empty net after an impressive save by Tadgh McMahon in the Limerick goal.
The Shannonsiders struggled to deal with Kildare’s pace and were fortunate only to trail 2-0 at the break.
The second half began like the first, and inside the first minute of the half, the KDUL made it 3-0, when McAuliffe grabbed his second of the game, from close range after neat build up play.
Even at this early stage of the half, the game looked to be finished as a contest, and McAuliffe grabbed his hat-trick five minutes later when he latched onto a long ball and finished calmly past McMahon, to make it four.
To their credit, the men from the Treaty County did not lie down, and in the 42nd minute they made it 4-1, when Gearóid Maguire scored a fantastic free kick from 25 yards out.
The boys in green were awarded a penalty five minutes later when Billy Ryan was fouled by Kildare substitute keeper, Dean Doyle. Olaf Karulski scored the resulting penalty, to give the Limerick side hope.
However, Killaly’s charges managed to stop Limerick County’s momentum after this, and they were unlucky themselves not to extend their lead. Kildare managed the game well in the final moments and they will now face Cork in their final group game at 4pm today (Tuesday). The winner of this game will advance to the Kennedy Cup knockout stages, with the loser entering the bowl competition. If the game ends in a draw, Cork will advance due to their superior goal difference.
