Cathal Dowling hattrick helps Kildare secure vital away league victory over Down

Kildare came on top 3-24 to 1-23 when they travelled to Down for their campaign-defining meeting in Allianz Hurling League Division 1B.

In a first half that Kildare would go on to dominate, it was the home side that grabbed the game’s opening two scores through Tim Prenter and Liam Savage.

The Lilies responded to those concessions with the game's first goal after just two minutes of play. Cathal Dowling spun his man and was then presented with a clear sight at Pearce Smyth’s goal. The Naas man took a breath, settled himself, before rifling the ball into the top corner. 

Kildare went two clear moments later when Gerry Keegan capitalised on a turnover won by David Qualter to point.

There was a free converted at either end before Kildare and Cathal Dowling found the net once again. The forward latched onto an unappealing ball close to the endline before cutting inside sharply and batting the ball over the emerging Down ‘keeper. The game’s and Dowling’s second green flag made it 2-2 to 0-3 after eight minutes.

David Qualter followed the Kildare goal with a ‘65 that came from Cathal Dowling being denied his hattrick by Pearce Smyth. Muiris Curtin got his first of the day moments later with a brilliant score from sharp forward play.

The home side steadied the ship with another well-taken free from Pearse Óg McCrickard, which was quickly matched by another superb score from Muiris Curtin.

Two further frees at each end left this game at 2-7 to 0-6 in The Lilies’ favour after 20 minutes. Scores again came in pairs at both ends with Kildare maintaining their lead as these teams went tit for tat in this crucial clash.

That was before the visitors put together a brilliant run of four points without reply to build an 11-point lead after scores from Gerry Keegan, Cathal McCabe, David Qualter and Jack Sheridan. 

The power dynamic of this game shifted drastically when Kildare were reduced to 14 men. Down corner-back Ben Taggart attempted to emerge from the back with possession but was surrounded by bodies in white. After going down softly under one challenge, Taggart was met by Jack Sheridan with the Naas man catching the head of the defender with his shoulder. The optics were poor and, after consultation with his linesman, Caymon Flynn sent the Kildare man off. Sheridan had already been told to “calm down” by both teammates and the official following fouls earlier in the game and his dismissal put Kildare under huge, and unnecessary, pressure.

The Lilies responded exceptionally to the setback and put the final two points of the half on the board. David Qualter and Cian Boran’s scores sent Kildare in at half-time with a 2-15 to 0-8 lead.

There was just a point each in the 10 minutes after half-time with tension ramping up. In the 39th minute, Cathal Dowling took the nervous air out of proceedings for a while when he completed his hattrick in fine style; firing low into the corner of the net. 

A further 10 minutes later, with 20 to go, the home side were only two points closer with The Lilies 14 clear. A  scoreline recap that does little to convey the nervousness in the air as The Lilywhites aimed to close out for a vital league win.

Down got their best run of the game moments later when they hit four points in two minutes to take a chunk off that Kildare lead.

A David Qualter free, as it often did, arrived as a welcome addition to the Kildare side of the scoreboard.

The home side then managed three more on the spin with Pearse Óg McCrickard grabbing two and Donal Hughes with one. Down’s uptick in scoring meant Kildare led by eight with 10 minutes remaining in this 1B showdown.

Paddy McKenna restarted play from his goal with every ball now critical and the travelling Lilywhites were certain they were about to see Down also reduced to 14 when Ruairi McCrickard struck recently-introduced Alan Goss in the back of the head. McCrickard was given a yellow card by the official and Goss was forced back off the field after enjoying just three minutes on it.

Resolute defending and the steady hand of David Qualter eased Kildare over the line with the Maynooth forward hitting his side’s final three points to ease any lasting anxiety.

Much to the disgust of goalkeeper Paddy McKenna, Kildare conceded a sloppy late goal to bring his brilliant run of clean sheets to an end.

The concession made no difference to the result however as The Lilies finished as 3-24 to 1-23 winners in Fontenoy Park.

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Kildare, David Qualter 0-14 (0-11 frees, 0-1 '65), Cathal Dowling 3-0, Gerry Keegan 0-3, Muiris Curtin 0-2, Cathal McCabe 0-2, Cian Boran 0-1, Jack Sheridan 0-1, Caolan Smith 0-1.

Down, Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-11 (0-10 frees), Tom McGrattan 1-0, Tim Prenter 0-3, Liam Savage 0-2, Paul Sheehan 0-2, Donal Hughes 0-2, Caolan Taggart 0-1, Daithi Sands 0-1, Finn Turpin 0-1.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Liam O'Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O'Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Simon Leacy; Daire Guerin, Conan Boran; Cathal McCabe, Cathal Dowling, Jack Sheridan; David Qualter, Muiris Curtin, Gerry Keegan. Subs: Caolan Smith for Cathal Dowling (44 minutes), Alan Goss for Muiris Curtin (57 minutes), Conn Kehoe for Alan Goss (60 minutes), Harry Carroll for Dan O'Meara (65 minutes), Tim Ryan for Gerry Keegan (71 minutes).

DOWN: Pearce Smyth; Ronan Smyth, Ruairi McCrickard, Ben Taggart; Barry Trainor, Caolan Taggart, Niall McFarland; Donal Hughes, Tim Prenter; Shea Pucci, Pearse Óg McCrickard, Liam Savage; Cathal Coleman, Finn Turpin, Ronan Beatty. Subs: Marc Fisher for Ronan Smyth (Half-time), Paul Sheehan for Shea Pucci (Half-time), Daithi Sands for Cathal Coleman (Half-time), Tom McGrattan for Ronan Beatty (53 minutes), Eoin Pucci for Pearse Óg Crickard (61 minutes).

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Wexford)