O Briain's late goals send U20 hurlers into knockout stages
Evan O Briain scored two goals for the Kildare U20 hurlers in their win over Kerry this afternoon Photo: Sean Brilly
Kildare had to come from four points down at half time before finishing strongly as two late Evan O Briain goals secured a preliminary quarter final in the Leinster Minor hurling championship. Laois will be the visitors to Cedral St Conleths on April 22nd or 23rd but that date may change due to the U20 footballers also playing
Kildare started the brightest and Charlie Carroll had the opening score inside 30 seconds. Tom Power with two frees, Cian O'Reilly and Niall Cramer kept Kildare in touch but Kerry full forward Seanie McElligott from frees and play assured that Kildare were constantly under pressure. Half way through that opening half that pressure told as Liam Og O Connor showed great pace as he linked up with Luke Rochford to fire home the games opening goal.
Kerry held the advantage at the break leading by 1-8 to 0-7 but it could have been worse as they hit eight wides and they spurned some good goal chances.
Adrian Kinsella's half time talk certainly had the desired effect as Kildare were more direct after the restart. Seanie McElligott kept the Kerry scoreboard ticking over as he finished with 11 points but Charlie Carroll, Cian O'Reilly and Tom Power were equally as effective for Kildare. The introduction of Alex Bell bore immediate dividends as he followed up Tom Power's effort to fire home a much needed Kildare goal.
Kildare had to withstand a second Liam Og O Connor goal from a free but 2 late Kerry red cards meant they shot themselves in the foot so close to full time.The action was end to end but a solid Kildare rearguard, well marshalled by Darragh Devine and Cian Brody stood firm. Oran Byrne pointed either side of Seanie McElligott's tenth and eleventh scores. Evan O Briain was on had to stretch the Kildare lead with his first goal and with virtually the last play of the game O Briain linked with Tom Boran before chipping the ball over Cian Harris in the Kerry goals.
A really polished second hand performance from Kildare as they had to work hard for the win. It will stand to them as they prepare for the knockout stages but Kerry will disappointed that their discipline cost them dearly in the end.
Cormac Doolan, Dylan Doherty, Darragh Devine, Niall Cramer 0-1, Fionnan O Dulaing, Cian Brody, Michael Owens, Oran Byrne 0-2, Evan O Briain 2-1, Cian O'Reilly 0-2, Charlie Carroll 0-2 (1f), Andrew McNiff 0-1, Tom Boran 0-1,Theo Frisby, Tom Power 0-6 (3 frees,1'65).
SUBS Ciaran Dunne 0-1 for O Dulaing, 44; Alex Bell 1-0 for Frisby, 46; Matthew Kelly for Owens, 48; James Bedford for Doherty, 62.
Cian Harris, Rory Reen, Ruairi O hAinifein, Padraig Kenny, Jake Segal, Tomas Dooley, Darragh Corridan, Oisin Heaton, Eoin O'Flaherty, Liam Og O Connor 2-1, Luke Rochford 0-1, Hugh Lenihan, Damien Hogan 0-1, Seanie McElligott 0-11(7fs), Callum O'Sullivan. SUBS Evan O'Sullivan for Hogan, 40; Rory O'Halloran for O'Sullivan, 47.
Mark Ryan Dublin
