Round-up: Saturday's Allianz HL D2 and D3 action
Goalkeeper Paddy McKenna remains a key performer for Kildare. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division 2A
Kildare 1-21 Kerry 1-14
The green shoots of recovery that Kerry showed in their win over Meath last time out didn’t survive through to this afternoon’s clash with Kildare at Hawkfield, where a strong second half showing from the home side ensured a comfortable win, and a three-way battle with their Leinster neighbours from Laois and Carlow at the top of the Division 2A table.
Kildare were fractionally the better side in the opening half too, but Cian Boran’s goal chance in the opening minute was saved by Louis Dee, while Maurice O’Connor didn’t waste his opportunity in the 35th minute, finding the target to level the game briefly.
Goalkeeper Paddy McKenna wasn’t long waiting to strike back, as he marched up field to convert a penalty to make it 1-10 to 1-7 at half-time.
Kildare always had a little bit to spare in the second half and then finished strongly with three points on the spin from David Qualter (two) and Declan Flaherty.
Allianz Hurling League Division 3A
Cavan 2-13 Armagh 0-16
An impressive season for the Cavan hurlers continued this afternoon at their home field of Kingspan Breffni Park, where they came back from 0-10 to 0-3 behind at the interval to edge out Armagh by 2-13 to 0-16.
The win means that they are in pole position in the race to finish in the top four and secure a place in next year’s Division Three.
As he has done all season, Alex O’Boyle led the way for the Orchard County in the first half and while the third quarter was a lot more competitive, Armagh still looked like the dominant side going the last 15 minutes, 0-13 to 0-7 to the good.
Brian Fitzgerald missed one goal chance but after Jack Barry found the net, Fitzgerald was on target with his second, and after snatching a narrow lead, they held on well.
Allianz Hurling League Division 3B
Fermanagh 1-13 Lancashire 1-8
Aidan McKinley’s 50 metre run and finish in the first half opened the door to the prospect of a shock result at Brewster Park today, as Fermanagh’s dreadful first half shooting enabled Lancashire to lead by 1-5 to 0-5 against the league leaders at half-time.
The records will show that Danann McKeogh, Luca McCusker, John Duffy and Brian Teehan all pointed to re-establish control for the Ulster county at the start of the second half, but Lancashire will rue two missed goal chances of their own in that spell, when they could have really tested the mental strength of the Erne County.
Instead Brian Teehan was on hand to finish after Seán Corrigan had a shot blocked after 58 minutes, and while Peter Boylan replied for the Exiles, they weren’t able to find the scores to get back within striking distance for the remainder of the game.
Longford 2-15 Leitrim 1-7
After the Longford footballers secured a big home win over Leitrim in last week’s crucial Allianz League football clash between these two Shannonside neighbours last week, the hurlers repeated the trick this afternoon at the same venue, building on Cathal Mullane’s early goal to lead from start to finish.
Despite losing Martin Feeney to a straight red card in first half stoppage time, Joe Murray gave Leitrim a glimmer of hope midway through the second half with a goal to reduce the lead to four points. However, Mullane duly responded in kind, and Longford eased to victory with Reuben Murray scoring five of his six pointed frees in the final 15 minutes.
