Christy Ring Cup Final Preview: Kildare v Kerry
Kerry v Kildare - Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling Under 21 All-Ireland 'B' Championship Final
Christy Ring Cup Final Preview: Kildare v Kerry
Saturday, June 7
Christy Ring Cup FinalKerry v Kildare, Croke Park, 4pm
Kerry will be seeking to atone for last year's Christy Ring Cup Final defeat when they take on Kildare on Saturday afternoon.
Kerry, who were pipped by Down in a dramatic finish 12 months ago, have enjoyed an excellent year so far. They won the Allianz Hurling League Division IIA, and although they lost the promotion/relegation play-off against Offaly, convincing wins against Derry, Kildare and Mayo have seen them through to another decider.
Kildare, who were relegated from Division IIA, battled past Wicklow after an epic first-round clash which went to a replay, and although they lost to today's opponents in Round 2A, they regrouped to see off Derry and Meath.
Kerry have amassed 10-69 in just three games, giving them an average of 33 points, ten more than Kildare, who have hit 6-97 in five matches. Kerry have also conceded less on average, with their 2-45 total working out at 17 points per game, compared with Kildare's 8-79; an average of 20.6 points.
Kerry are in the final for the fourth time in five years and are seeking to lift the trophy for the second time, following on from 2011, while Kildare's only previous final appearance was in 2007.
These teams have met four times in the last 15 months, with all resulting in wins for Kerry - two each in the Allianz League and Christy Ring Cup - so all form guides point to the title going south.
Kerry have Shane Nolan in prolific form, with an average of almost ten points per game, but it's far from a one-man show, with 16 players on the scoresheet in their campaign so far. Pádraig Boyle, John Egan, Darren Dineen, Darragh O'Connell, Colm Harty and Brian Murphy are other key players for the Kingdom.
Kildare have their own danger-men in Paul Divilly and Gerry Keegan, with good support from Martin Fitzgerald, Tony Murphy and Bernard Deay.
Interestingly, two club mates from Kildangan, Co Tipperary will be trying to outwit each other on the sidelines in this game, as Éamonn Murphy and Brian Lawlor took charge of Kerry and Kildare respectively late last year.
Preview: Colm Shalvey