Kildare no match for Offaly U20 hurlers

Kildare bowed out of the Leinster U20 Hurling Championship following a comprlehensive defeat at the hands of Offaly at O'Connor Park, Tullamore, this evening.

Offaly, despite playing against the strong breeze in the opening half, led at the break 2-8 to 0-6 and to be brutally honest, one wondered what the final score might be when Offaly got the wind on their backs.

Offaly corner forward, Adam Sweeney, was the go-to man for the home side throughout that oppening half and the Kilcormac-Kiloughney player hit an impressive 1-6 and while the six points were all from placed balls he was the play-maker who drew the fouls on a few occasions using his speed to torment the Kildare defence.

Sweeney added two more points before being withdrawn in the 47 minutes.

Kildare in fairness never gave up, despite fighting a losing battle from a long way out.

Substitute Fionn Maher got the Kildare goal late on as Offaly went on to win by double scores and progress on a final score line of Offaly 2-20 Kidare 1-10.

Scorers: Offaly, Adam Sweeney 1-8 (7 frees), Conor Doyle 0-5 (1 freee), Shane Rigney 1-2, Dan Bourke 0-1, Alex Kavanagh 0-2, Sam Bpurke 0-1, Colin Spain 0-1.

Kildare, Charlie Sheridan 0-3 (2 frees), Fionn Maher 1-0, Conn Kehoe 0-2, Killian Harrington 0-1, Cian Boran 0-1, Ciaran Kirwan 0-1, Daire Guerin 0-1, Conor Treacy 0-1.

OFFALY: Mark Troy; Patrick Taaffe, Ben Miller, James Mahon; Luke Watkins,Sam Bourke, Brecon Kavanagh; Cathal King, Colin Spain; Dan Bourke, Joe Hoctor, Conor Doyle; Shane Rigney, Charlie Mithell cpt. Adam Sweeney. Subs: Tere Guinan for Patrick Taaffe (half-time); Cormac Egan for Cathal King (32 minutes); Alex Kavanagh for Charlie Mitchell (42 minutes); Eoin Burke for Adam Sweeney (47 minutes); Leigh Kavanagh for Dan Bourke (53 minutes).

KILDARE: Ben Loughlin (Naas); Evan O'Briain (Naas), Liam O'Reilly (Naas), Conor O'Grady (Maynooth); Sean Gleeson (Celbridge), Alan Goss (Celbridge), Bill Hennessy (Naas); Ciaran Kirwan (Celbridge), Daniel O'Meara (Maynooth); Daire Guerin (Naas), Cian Boran (Naas), Ciaran Flanagan cpt (Maynooth); Charlie Sheridan (Naas), Conn Kehoe (Moorefield), Killian Harerington (Naas). Subs: Conor Treacy (Celbridge) for Conor O'Grady (29 minutes); Oisin Lynam (Celbridge) for Sean Gleeson (45 minutes); James Dolan (Celbridge) for Ciaran Kirwan (51 minutes); Fionn Maher (Naas) for Ciaran Kirwan (51 minutes); Cormac Nolan (Maynooth) for Conn Kehoe (54 minutes).

REFEREE: Padraic Dunne, Laois.