SECOND LOOK: The three games that secured Division 1B safety for the Kildare hurlers

The Kildare hurlers secured Allianz Hurling League Division 1B survival with three crucial wins; against Antrim, Down and over the weekend against Carlow. Here are the full reports from all three of those games.

Kildare 3-21  Antrim 0-20

Kildare dominated Antrim to put their first win on the board in Allianz Hurling League Division 1B while heaping pressure on Davy Fiztgerald’s Antrim who are now winless from their first three.

The visitors got the game’s opening two scores through Sean Elliott and Ruairí Donaghy before Jack Sheridan settled home nerves with a free.

Ryan McCambridge answered back for Antrim when he found himself in acres of space in midfield before Kildare got back level with superb scores from Muiris Curtin and Jack Travers which lifted the support in Newbridge. 

It was a slow start to proceedings before business picked up around the 10 minute mark and challenges began to fly in and scores really started to flow.

These sides were near inseparable in the first 15 minutes of this game in fact and, trailing by one at 0-8 to 0-7 after 18 minutes of action, Kildare put together the best sequence of scores in the first half when they rattled off four without reply, three from Jack Sheridan and one from Cathal McCabe. Antrim were architects of their own downfall in that spell with their goalkeeper being penalised for a delayed restart, as well as a poorly lost puck-out, both of which were punished by Kildare.

Kildare’s three point lead earned in that phase of the game would remain until half-time in the end, but, in the moment, Antrim responded sharply with two points to close the gap. The Lilies responded with two of their own and both exemplified the edge that Brian Dowling’s men displayed all day.

First, Jack Travers hassled and harried to turn over possession before jinking into space and firing over for a point all of his own making. Just a couple of minutes later, Cathal Dowling was the first responder to a Jack Sheridan set-piece which came back off the post and he extended their advantage. 

Two Sean Elliott scores and a point from each of the Kildare wing-back's meant The Lilies went in at the break leading 0-14 to 0-11. Perhaps the best aspect of Kildare’s first half was their defensive output all over the field, snuffing out danger at the back and turning turnovers into points at the top end.

Three points down in a crucial fixture, an Antrim response was expected but any desire to do so was stifled by the brilliant home side. 

Kildare pushed themselves five clear in the five minutes after half-time with points from Cathal McCabe and Jack Sheridan before they hit the net for the first time. A superb ball was flown into Muiris Curtin who in turn offloaded to James Dolan, the Celbridge man found the very top of the corner of the net leaving Domhall Nugent no chance.

Dolan’s goal was answered at the other end by a Sean Elliott free before two set-pieces from Jack Sheridan restored and then extended the gap again. After 10 minutes of second half action, The Lilies led 1-18 to 0-12.

The Lilies were totally dominant in the second half and the game was already getting away from Antrim before two goals in two minutes from Muiris Curtin killed it. The Moorefield man rose high above his marker and brilliantly fetched possession before spinning and finding the top corner to score one of the finest goals you could hope to see. 

Two minutes later, and separated by a Ryan McCambridge point, Curtin got in again when he received a flick up from the feet of a hurl-less Cathal Dowling before firing back across goal and low into the net. It was a clean and confident strike to give The Lilies a commanding 3-18 to 0-14 lead in the 49th minute.

The pace of the game dipped slightly from here with Kildare content and having got through an enormous amount of work, while Antrim looked devoid of belief.

The result was never changing but there was one final punishment for The Saffrons when Jack McCloskey was sent off for a swipe off his hurl across an opponents shin which meant he saw red in the 73rd minute.

Three excellent goals added style points to an exceptional performance as Kildare got their first Division 1B win on the board with a 3-21 to 0-20 victory over Antrim.

Kildare, Jack Sheridan 0-9 (0-6 frees), Muiris Curtin 2-2, James Dolan 1-0, Jack Travers 0-2, Paul Dolan 0-2, Cathal McCabe 0-2, Cathal Dowling 0-1, Daire Guerin 0-1, Gerry Keegan 0-1, Conn Kehoe 0-1.

Antrim, Sean Elliott 0-12 (0-9 frees, 1 x '65), Ryan McCambridge 0-3, Conal Cunning 0-2, James McNaughton 0-1, Ruairí Donaghy 0-1, Eoin O'Neill 0-1.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Liam O'Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O'Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Daire Guerin; Simon Leacy, Conan Boran; Cathal McCabe, Cathal Dowling, Jack Travers; Jack Sheridan, Muiris Curtin, Gerry Keegan. Subs: James Dolan for Jack Travers (33 minutes), Alan Goss for Paul Dolan (51 minutes), Conn Kehoe for Cathal Dowling (59 minutes), Harry Carroll for Dan O'Meara (64 minutes), Tom Power for Gerry Keegan (68 minutes).

ANTRIM: Domhnall Nugent; Niall O'Connor, Paddy Burke, Ruairí McCormick; Stephen Rooney, Joe Maskey, Gerard Walsh; Ryan McCambridge, Eoin O'Neill; Ruairí Donaghy, Sean Elliott, Seán Duffin; Conor Johnston, James McNaughton, Conal Cunning. Subs: Scott Walsh for Ruairí Donaghy (Half-time), Keelan Molloy for Seán Duffin (Half-time), Eoin McFerean for Ruairí McCormick (42 minutes), Paul Boyle for Eoin O'Neill (56 minutes), Jack McCloskey for Conor Johnston (56 minutes).

Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford)

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Kildare 3-24  Down 1-12

Kildare came out 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 hat-trick 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.

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)

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Kildare 3-22  Carlow 1-19

Division 1B survival would have been top of the list for the newly-promoted Kildare hurlers when they set out their goals for 2026, and they have done so with a game to spare after a comfortable win over Carlow. Brian Dowling’s side are in fact still in with an, albeit hugely unlikely, chance of reaching a league final should they beat Wexford and Carlow shocked Dublin. Chances of that are slimmer than slim but to still be in the hunt as Division 1B newcomers going into the final round is quite an achievement.

The Lilies led by 17 points with 20 minutes to go in this game but faded out of it from there and allowed The Dolmen to put a more respectable look on the scoreline.

A reliable free-taker is the backbone of every hurling team and these sides had their respective sharpshooters, David Qualter and Martin Kavanagh, on hand to get them off the mark in this game.

The Lilies took the lead for the first time after three minutes when Gerry Keegan linked with Muiris Curtin to score. Kildare went two clear when Tim Ryan, in his first league start in the white of Kildare, slotted a lovely score after four.

Kavanagh answered again for Carlow before Conan Boran restored Kildare’s buffer with a superb long-range effort. The home side were being tightly marked in the inside forward line but were afforded acres of space in the middle of the pitch and, in the opening 20 minutes, hit 0-12 with no wides (with two short) from seven different players. Kildare were making a slacking Carlow pay early and often.

Gerry Keegan slotted a wonderful score from the sideline in front of the stand at Cedral St Conleth’s Park with the watching fans able to see the full journey of the sliothar gliding between the posts. The first of Paul Dolan’s four first half points from wing-back put The Lilies 0-6 to 0-2 ahead after eight minutes.

The Dolmen responded with points from Jack Treacy and Chris Nolan before three Kildare points on the spin, one from Muiris Curtin and two from David Qualter, put them back to five clear.

Martin Kavanagh got his first from play following a superb fetch and pass from Jon Nolan, which was quickly answered by Cathal McCabe from the middle and Paul Dolan’s second long-ranger of the game.

A Jon Nolan score of his own brought the gap back to five before The Lilies once again put together a run of scores without reply. This time it was a sequence of four as Kildare capitalised on their dominance in both aerial and ground contests to put distance between the teams.

Two set-pieces from David Qualter and two from his own half from Paul Dolan put Kildare 0-15 to 0-6 ahead.
Martin Kavanagh was again the man to stop the rot for Carlow with his reliable free-taking being one of the few opening half positives. David Qualter nailed a free at the other end before Kavanagh struck again.

The last score of the half came from the hurl of Muiris Curtin who rose highest to grab a long ball from Dan O’Meara. The Moorefield man, as he so often does, spun sharply and fired over. The last notable action of the first half was Carlow free-taker Martin Kavanagh being booked for a stray tackle in the 36th minute.

Brian Dowling’s men went in at the break with an 0-17 to 0-8 lead and looked better all over the field in the opening half with strong shot accuracy putting the finishing touches on assured play from one to 15.

The Lilies didn’t rest on their laurels after the restart either and instead looked to kill this game. An excellent James Dolan point kicked things off before Daire Guerin rattled the back of the net.

Brilliant work by Muiris Curtin finished with a slick hand-off to Guerin who found the top of the net in convincing style when faced up with the always superb Brian Tracey in the Carlow goal.

A David Qualter free was followed by Kildare’s second goal of the afternoon when Cathal McCabe found the net this time. A surging run by Simon Leacy pierced the visiting defence before he found the Maynooth man who sidestepped the ‘keeper to score. McCabe’s goal made this game 2-19 to 0-8 after 44 minutes.

Just three minutes later, Kildare handed Carlow a goal of their own when Cathal McCabe hit a poor free to Martin Kavanagh who then took aim at the posts. The forward’s effort was dropping into the net but was batted away by a retreating Paddy McKenna, unfortunately for the Clane stopper substitute Paddy Boland was on hand to find the net. It was a needless concession and one very much reminiscent of the late goal that crept in against Down which infuriated McKenna on that day too.

The Lilies got a goal back of their own fairly quickly through Muiris Curtin who capitalised on a scrap in the Carlow box to score and restore their 17-point lead. Adjacent to a sea of battling bodies, the ball squirted free to Curtin who swept home at the first chance to add a green flag to another superb overall display.

Kildare then took a bit of a nap in this game and conceded six points on the spin, in the midst of which Carlow top-scorer Martin Kavanagh was sent off for a second yellow card offence. As well as a reduced work-rate, Kildare suddenly looked devoid of the quality that had brought to them their fortunate position in this game. Even David Qualter’s usually faultless free-taking took a hit in Kildare’s slump.

However, it was the Maynooth set-piece taker’s point that interrupted the Carlow run of scores to make the game 3-20 to 1-14.
Chris Nolan added two before Qualter closed his and Kildare's account with his 10th of the game.

Carlow hit the game's final three scores as The Lilies’ gargantuan lead saw them over the line. Kildare secured Division 1B survival with 3-22 to 1-19 win and nine-point margin of victory.