Another long trip north for Kildare's hurlers

When Kildare hurlers succumbed to Down in their opening league game in Ballycran it left no room for error in their remaining five games if they’re to achieve their goal of promotion from Division 2 of the Allianz League.

Manager Brian Dowling felt his charges left that one behind them somewhat, with ten first half wides and a missed penalty leaving them with too big a hill to climb, the concession of two first-half goals not helping the cause either.

But Kildare gathered themselves in the intervening week before hosting Kerry in their first outing in Cedral St Conleth’s Park and the larger pitch really played to their strengths that day as they moved the ball around with pace and purpose on the way to a whopping seventeen point win.

The Kilkenny man felt his team were far better in front of goal against Kerry and managed to limit the goal opportunities they gave away as well, always a recipe for success for any team.

Dowling was able to give Jack Sheridan his first minutes of the year off the bench against Kerry and he will be hoping the attacking talisman is ready to start Saturday’s third outing away to Derry in Owenbeg (3pm).

In Sheridan’s absence, an injury free Cathal Dowling has shown what a huge influence he can have on the Kildare attack when in the full of his health, while David Qualter has taken on the sharpshooting role with aplomb, notching 1-24 across the two games to date.

Saturday’s game of course is a repeat of the Christy Ring Cup Final from last summer and although Kildare won comfortably enough that day, they’ll prepare with the expectation of getting nothing easy in the Derry training venue.

Derry opened their campaign with a narrow two-point win away to Tyrone but have since suffered drubbings at the hands of Down and Kerry, by nineteen and twenty points respectively and have been missing a number of key players through injury.

Manager Johnny McGarvey has admitted that they are finding Division 2 tough going.

Speaking to local papers after the Kerry defeat Lavey man McGarvey declared the division to be a “steep learning curve” for his charges and “not really a place for learning.” 

Although McGarvey hopes to have some of his walking wounded back for the visit of Kildare, the Lilywhites will surely be chomping at the bit, having had a bye in round 3, to keep themselves on course to secure Division 1B hurling next year. Hard to back against them on known form and ability.