Allianz HL D1B: Kildare defeat Carlow

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

Kildare 3-22 Carlow 1-19

By Ger McNally at Cedral St Conleth's Park

Kildare secured their place in Division 1B again for next season at Cedral St Conleths Park.

Brian Dowling’s team have hit the ground running at the higher level following promotion and success in the Joe McDonagh Cup last year and they played with a freedom and a confidence through the first half.

They had 12 points on the board before their first wide. Already ahead by nine at half time, and although without the suspended Jack Sheridan and injured Cathal Dowling in their forward line, they saw off the game with three goals inside the third quarter as they go from strength to strength.

There was a bit of a breeze behind them in the opening half and they put that to good use. None more so than wing back Paul Dolan, who scored four outstanding points from long range inside the opening 26 minutes.

Kildare led 0-17 to 0-8 at the break and all that was missing from their opening half display was a goal, with both Muiris Curtin and Tim Ryan denied by the impressive Brian Tracey.

The goals weren’t long about arriving in the second half. Just three minutes after the restart, Muiris Curtin sent Daire Guerin in on goal and he made no mistake as he blasted past Tracey.

Guerin was involved in the build up to the second six minutes later before Simon Leacy played the final pass to Cathal McCabe, who neatly sidestepped Tracey before hitting the back of the net as Kildare scored the first 2-2 of the half.

Carlow pulled a goal back in the 48th minute when Paddy Boland turned home from close range after Marty Kavanagh’s long range shot came back off goalkeeper Paddy McKenna.

Just a minute later, Kildare scored their third when Curtin turned home from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

That left Kildare 17 points ahead but their performance levels did drop off a little after that.

Carlow hit back with six points in a row even though they went down to 14 men during that period when Marty Kavanagh was shown a second yellow card in the 56th minute.

Pat Bennett’s side went close to a second goal late in the game, most notably when a Boland effort drew a stunning save from McKenna.

They did score the last three points of the game. Kildare, meanwhile, continue on their upward trajectory.

Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Liam O’Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O’Meara, Paul Dolan 0-4, Cian Boran, Simon Leacy; Conan Boran 0-1, Cathal McCabe 1-1; Gerry Keegan 0-2, Daire Guerin 1-0, David Qualter 0-10 (9fs, 1’65), Tim Ryan 0-1, Muiris Curtin 1-2, James Dolan 0-1.

Subs: Harry Carroll for McCabe, 48; Caolan Smith for Dolan, 52; Darragh Melville for Conan Boran, 67; Cathal Derivan for O’Reilly, 69; Evan O’Briain for Guerin, 70.

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Niall Bolger, Tadhg O’Neill, Paidí O’Shea, Fiach O’Toole 0-1, Kevin McDonald, Eric English; Fiachra Fitzpatrick 0-1, Donagh Murphy 0-1; Jon Nolan 0-2, Jack Treacy 0-2, Kevin Kavanagh, John Michael Nolan, Chris Nolan 0-5 (2fs, 1’65), Marty Kavanagh 0-6 (5fs).

Subs: Colm Beck for K Kavanagh, 24; Paddy Boland 1-1 for JM Nolan, 43; Conaill Fitzpatrick for English, 43; Ciaran Whelan for O’Neill, 58; Colm Kavanagh for Murphy, 67.

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).