Kildare hurlers pull clear of Wicklow, eventually

Christy Ring Round 2

Kildare 3-27

Wicklow 0-14

Kildare defeated Wicklow by all of 22 points but it took some time before the home side put their superiority on the score board, something that manager, Brian Dowling, admitted after the game.

“The first half was very frustrating, there was a lot of stop-start to the game, little flow to it, a lot of frees, we said at half-time to cut down the frees, get on to more breaking ball and be more clinical which we did and I felt we picked it up bit-time in the second half.

Wicklow arrived well under-strength with no less than five changes from the side that last the previous week, including top marksman Seanie Germaine.

However despite scoring the only goal of the first half as early as the fifth minute Wicklow hung in well up to half-time.

That opening goal, from James Burke was an absolute beauty with the Naas man nipping in front of a Wicklow defender to gain possession of the sliothar before then unleashing an unstoppable shot to the top corner of the net.

That put the home side 1-1 to 0-1 ahead but it was Wicklow who responded best to that score with two points from Ian Clancy, both from placed balls.

Conan Boran hit a long range effort through the sticks but Rian Waters replied.

Jack Sheridan hot his first of the afternoon, a free, on a beautiful day for hurling but again Wicklow replied, this time through Dan Redmond to make it 1-3 to 0-5 with 12 minutes on the clock.

James Burke and Rian Waters exchanged points before Kildare hit three on the trot from Mark Delaney, James Burke and Rian Waters.

Muiris Curtin, Jack Sheridan and two from Mark Delaney left leading at the break 1-11 to 0-8.

A six point lead but far from convincing and no doubt words at the break from manager Dowling left its mark as from the word go on the resumption there was a much greater urgency and intensity from the boys in front.

Five points on the trot saw the game put to bed early in the second half and by the 58 minute the lead was out to 1-21 to 0-9.
Daire Guerin then got Kildare's second goal while substitute Darragh Melville looked very lively when introduced.. Melville's second point was a thing of beauty with a lovely reverse hand pass executed by Cathal McCabe to set it up.

Jack Sheridan with a lovely pass inside to Muiris Curtin and the Moorefield man made no mistake from close range to find the Wicklow net.

Kildare added points from Jack Sheridan (2) and Melville and while Wicklow finished the game with 14 points they struggled for most of the game.

Final score: Kildare 3-27 Wicklow 0-14.

Next Saturday sees Derry come to Manguard Park in a game that will have a huge bearing on the Christy Ring Cup this year.
It is a game that manager Brian Dowling is eagerly looking forward to with fingers crossed having picked up a few knocks on Sunday. The big worry being James Burke who was outstanding but was forced off with what looked like a hamstring problem.
That game on Saturday throws-in at 1 pm and will be followed by Kildare minors who will be taking on Kerry.

MAIN MAN
JAMES BURKE
The Naas man was superb and his opening goal after just five minutes was sheer class. The centre forward has beeing getting an injury-free run of late and it is showing. Unfortunately he was forced off with a hamstring problem and no doubt he, and the management will be hoping it is not too serious especially with Saturday's big game against Derry.

TURNING POINT
In many ways that Burke goal may not have actually turned the game in Kildare's favour but it did give them a lead they were never to lose. Apart from that it was just a case of being patient and in the second half, a much improved display that saw them pull away.

TALKING POINT
Despite the big win there is still an awful lot more to come from Kildare; poorish in the opening half, certainly lifted their game in the second but it was late when the two final goals came.

WHAT NOW?
Kildare take on Derry, Saturday in Hawkfield, 1 pm.

Scorers: Kildare, James Burke 1-4, Jack Sheridan 0-6 (6 frees), Muiris Curtin 1-2, Mark Delaney 0-3, David Qualter 0-3, Daire Guerin 1-0, Darragh Melville 0-2, Rian Boran 0-2, Conan Boran 0-2, Harry Carroll 0-1, Cathal McCabe 0-1, Conn Keogh 0-1.
Wicklow, Ian Clancy 0-3 (3 frees), Rian Waters 0-2, Dan Redmond 0-1, Padraig Doran 0-2, David Maloney 0-2, Gary Hughes 0-1, Brian Kearney 0-1, Dylan Byrne 0-1, Jack O'Toole 0-1 (free).

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Cormac Byrne, Mark Grace, Harry Carroll; Paul Dolan (EECC), Conan Boran, Rian Boran; Cathal McCabe, Simon Leacy; Daire Guerin, James Burke, Conn Kehoe; Muiris Curtin, Jack Sheridan, Mark Delaney. Subs: David Qualter for Conn Keogh (47 minutes); Declan Flaherty for David Qualter (53 minutes); Jack Higgins for Simon Leacy (54 minutes); Darragh Melville for Mark Delaney (64 minutes); Frank Bass for Cathal McCabe (66 minutes).

WICKLOW: Conor McNally; Ben Kearney, Brian Kearney, Tommy Collins; Dylan Byrne, Padraig Doran, James McGing; Cian Lohan, Brandon Ryan; Rian Waters, David Maloney, Ian Clancy; Dan Redmond, Gary Hughes, Luke Maloney. Subs: Jack O'Toole for Cian Lohan (50 minutes); Ruairi O'Brian for Ben Kearney (53 minutes); Torna Mulcrony for Gary Hughes (54 minutes); Shane Browne for James McGing (60 minutes); Cormac Byrne for Dan Redmond (71 minutes).

REFEREE: Brian Keon, Galway.