Herity Praises Byrne’s Strength And Experience
GAA: ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE ROUND 3 POST-MATCH REACTION
By Daire Walsh
IN a division where fine margins could dictate who comes out on top of the pile, Kildare manager, David Herity, was delighted with the emphatic nature of his side’s victory against Derry in 2B of the National Hurling League at Hawkfield on Sunday.
Thanks to a hat-trick of goals from Johnny Byrne – as well as one each courtesy of James Burke and Conor Dowling – the Lilywhites were 15 point victors at the expense of the northerners in their second game of the campaign.
This means that Herity’s men currently sit at the summit of the table – ahead of Mayo and Donegal on score difference.
“Every single score is going to be vital within this group. I’m very pleased. It’s nine goal in two games now, which is excellent as well.
“He [Johnny Byrne] is getting better and better every single day. He brings a huge physicality to that half-forward line. He’s smashing, he really is. A great bit of strength and experience as well,” Herity remarked after the game.
“My only small little thing would be those last few minutes. Against Donegal and against Derry, we took our eye off the ball. We conceded a few points the last day, and a goal a point today. They’ll learn from that as well.
“Massively pleased, especially with the way the conditions opened up in the second half. The lads seem in a very good place.”
While the substitutes couldn’t quite match the 1-7 accumulated against Donegal, a combined haul of 1-3 on Sunday was an impressive showing nonetheless from Kildare replacements. Herity was deeply satisfied with the impact of his wider squad and reserved special praise for one man in particular.
“Shane Ryan, brilliant attitude. He got dropped for the game today, came on and I thought he was exceptional. I thought he was probably our man of the match there today with the way that he played when he came on.
“Conor Dowling managed to get himself on it there as well. I thought Cian Forde did very well and Cathal McCabe got in a couple of hooks. That’s what you want. You need lads coming on,” the Manager added.
“They’re after resting for 50 minutes, so they should be coming on and trying to up the standard. A few different lads got a run. Cian Shanahan made his league debut there today. He was just playing in the championship last year,” Herity concluded.