Saffrons inflict big defeat on minor hurlers
Aaron Moylan lines up a long range shot at goal Photo: Sean Brilly
Kildare began Tier 2 of the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship with a 16 point loss to Antrim who were the visitors to Manguard Park on Saturday afternoon.
On a rare dry afternoon the Antrim men were strong throughout and after leading by six at the break they extended it further courtesy of three second half goals.
Antrim centre forward Oisin McLaren opened the scoring with two points in as many minutes. Straight from the restart Oisin NcAffee got on the end of Aaron Moylan's pass and he shot low to the Antrim net. McLaren and Finnian O Rourke swapped points before Eoghan Lyons and Logan McConville repeated the dose. Cuan Og MacAogain pushed Kildare two ahead as we approached the end of the opening quarter.
Despite Kildare's bright opening the game swung in Antrim's favour and in a flash two Eanna McGuickian goals on 16 and 17 minutes saw the Saffrons move four ahead. Logan McConville extended the lead from distance The game was tight until the break but Antrim outscored Kildare by five points to four to lead 2-10 to 1-7 at the break. Oisin McLaren bringing his personal tally to 0-7 with Eoghan Lyons hitting three for Kildare.
At the change of ends Antrim remained in command, McLauren and Mac Aogain swapped early frees before Conall Dempsey hit a third Antrim goal. Dempsey then pointed to move his side eleven ahead. A fourth Antrim goal arrived in 48 when midfielder James McGarry found himself through on goal and he fired low past Elliott Dwyer.
Both sides were emptying the benches and while Kildare responded with two late Cuan Og MacAogain goals they couldn’t get within touching distance of the visitors. Adam Conway hit Kildare's last point but Antrim had the last say and corner forward Lewis Rafferty rounded off a polished display with goal number five.
Kildare will travel to Carlow for Round 2 and a win is needed to keep their interest in the competition alive.
Elliott Dwyer; Aodhan Dowling, Cathal Cosgrove, Jack King, Senan Nicholson, Charlie Allen, Dara Lynch; Aaron Moylan, Finnan O’Rourke 0-1; Michael Reilly, Patrick O’Brien, Oisin McAffee 1-2, Eoghan Lyons 0-3, Cuan Og MacAogain 2-3, Sean Coleman.
Myles D'arcy for O’Reilly, 41; Oisin Moran for Dowling, 43; Adam Conway 0-1 for Coleman, 46; Andrew Brennan for O’Rourke, 52; Luke Cahill for McAffee, 56.
Damien McMahon; Joe McFadden, Donal McKay, Ollie McClements, Oisin Donnelly, Eunan Curry, John Ferguson; Logan McConville 0-5, James McGarry 1-2, Nathan McKenna, Oisin McLaren 0-9 (4f1'65), Conall Dempsey 1-1, Lewis Rafferty 1-0, Conlaodh McNaughton 0-1, Eanna McGuickian 2-0.
Jay Gualt for McGuickian, 38; Conor McCann 0-1 for Ferguson, 46; Neil Rodgers 0-1 for McNaughton, 52; Matthew Murray for Dempsey, 54; Ollie Gregory for Donnelly 56.
Brian O'Connor (DB)
