GAA: ALLIANZ NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B
Dominant Kildare Demolish Donegal
KILDARE 4-29
DONEGAL 0-14
By Daire Walsh
THE Kildare hurlers started 2021 as they meant to continue with a 27-point demolition of Donegal at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge last Saturday afternoon.
Left idle on the previous weekend due to an uneven number of teams (five) in Division 2B of the NHL, the Lilywhites dispelled any fears of ring rust by producing a dominant display from start to finish. In total, 10 players got their name on the scoresheet for the hosts – Brian Byrne leading the way with an outstanding haul of 0-11.
James Burke (two), Johnny Byrne and Conor Dowling were amongst the goals as David Herity’s men ruthlessly went about their business. Dowling was one of seven substitutes introduced on the day, eight if you include James Dolan’s fleeting appearance as a blood replacement.
This is one of several new rules that has been introduced by the GAA and Kildare took full advantage of it in their first outing of the new season. Dowling and his fellow reserves amassed 1-7 of their side’s final tally to provide Herity and his selectors with a welcome headache ahead of Derry’s visit to Hawkfield on Sunday.
After marginally missing out on a spot in last year’s 2B decider, the Lilywhites will be aiming to go one better when the current term does come to an end. The absence of a divisional final in 2021 means there is very little margin for error and it was clear from the opening moments of this contest that Kildare meant business. Donegal did attempt to stem the flow of their opponents’ attacks by deploying corner-forward Bernard Lafferty in a withdrawn role.
It didn’t have the desired effect for Mickey McCann’s visitors, however, as Kildare raced two points clear inside the opening minute of the action. One of the current squad’s longest-serving members, Paul Divilly fired over on the run with just 20 seconds gone on the clock.
This was supplemented by a long-distance effort from centre-back Declan Flaherty, who – along with Coill Dubh team-mate Johnny Byrne – has returned to the fold after a previous absence. He was imperious under the high ball throughout the game and was a launchpad for many of Kildare’s finest attacks.
While Kevin Aherne had a goal-bound strike turned away by Donegal netminder Luke White, Brian Byrne was on hand to convert the ensuing ’65’. Byrne was one of eight Naas representatives in the Kildare starting line-up and his dead-ball accuracy was a key feature of the opening period.
Divilly swiftly followed with his second point of the proceedings and although they were guilty of some wayward shooting, Aherne and Brian Byrne (free) found the range to place even further daylight between the teams. 18 minutes had elapsed before Donegal registered their first point of the tie, a Declan Coulter free from a distance of 65 metres.
This meant Kildare were 0-6 to 0-1 in front at the first half water break and already within sight of the two league points on offer. When the play resumed, Brian Byrne dissected the uprights either side of a Coulter effort to keep the Lilies in the driving seat.
They had a golden opportunity to register their maiden goal of the game when referee Chris Mooney awarded them a 26th-minute penalty, but Burke’s eventual strike was well-saved by White. Another Coulter free at the opposite end kept Donegal within touching distance, only for Kildare to subsequently push into overdrive.
The dependable Brian Byrne added another brace before his namesake Johnny opened his own personal account with a 33rd-minute point. Burke was also growing into the game and his excellent approach work released Brian Byrne for the first of his two points from open play.
Having been denied an earlier goal from 20 metres, Burke had a shot at redemption in first-half stoppage-time as Donegal corner-back Mark Callaghan was sent to the sin-bin for executing a cynical tackle outside the large square. On this occasion, the Naas ace rattled the net in clinical fashion.
Danny Cullen and Coulter did fire back for the O’Donnell County, but Kildare were full value for their 1-12 to 0-5 interval buffer.
Yet Kildare were in no mood to rest on their laurels and, after superbly gathering a crossfield delivery on 37 minutes, Burke grabbed his second goal of the day with a composed close-range finish.
The Byrnes – Brian and Johnny – followed up with white flag contributions, in advance of Coulter’s two-point salvo for a hard working but limited Donegal.
Either side of a seventh from Coulter, Kildare recorded three points on the bounce to move into a 2-20 to 0-8 lead on the third-quarter mark. Divilly, Brian Byrne (two), Aherne (two) and Burke were on target during these mini scoring bursts.
Herity had already begun to examine back-up options by this point and their impact was most keenly felt inside the final-quarter. Johnny Byrne’s goal off a breakaway attack on 58 minutes was both preceded and followed by Caolan Smith points, while Sean Whelan (two) and Conor Kielty also recorded singles inside the closing 10 minutes.
Naas’ Dowling served notice of his quality with a superb catch and finish for a 63rd minute goal and he also converted a free with two minutes of normal time remaining.
To Donegal’s credit, they persevered with their challenge and Coulter’s midfield partner Ciaran Mathewson amassed three pointed frees after the Setanta club man had been withdrawn. Still, Johnny Byrne and Smith were also on target in the dying minutes as Kildare rounded off a memorable day at the office.
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Cathal Derivan, Rian Boran, Simon Leacy; Kevin Whelan, Declan Flaherty 0-1, Sean Christansen; Cathal Dowling, Paul Divilly 0-3; Kevin Aherne 0-3, Johnny Byrne 1-3, James Burke 2-1 (1-0 pen); Tadhg Forde, Shane Ryan, Brian Byrne 0-11 (7f, 2 ’65’). Subs: Colm Chan for Dowling, Cathal McCabe for Forde (both 45), Conor Dowling 1-1 (0-1f) for Ryan (48), Cian Forde for Whelan, Caolan Smith 0-3 for Burke (both 54), Sean Whelan 0-2 for Divilly, Conor Kielty 0-1 for B Byrne (60), James Dolan for Flaherty (62-63, blood sub).
DONEGAL: Luke White; Gavin Brown, Stephen Gillespie, Mark Callaghan; Christopher McDermott, Sean McVeigh, Michael O’Donaghue; Declan Coulter 0-7 (7f), Ciaran Mathewson (0-3, 3f); Danny Cullen 0-3, Richie Ryan, Jack O’Loughlin; Bernard Lafferty, Ronan McDermott, Gerry Gilmore. Subs: Padraig Doherty for Browne (half-time), Niall Cleary 0-1 for McDermott, Conor O’Grady for O’Donaghue, Josh Cronolly McGhee for Lafferty (all 49), Ruari Campbell for Ryan (58), Oisin Grant for Coulter (60), Dylan Duffy for Gilmore (67).
REFEREE: Chris Mooney (Dublin).