GAA: ALLIANZ NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B – ROUND 4
Promotion In Sight After Another Convincing Victory
KILDARE 4-25
ROSCOMMON 0-10
By Daire Walsh
KILDARE are just one game away from securing a spot in Division 2A of next year’s National Hurling League after comfortably putting Roscommon to the sword at Dr Hyde Park last Sunday afternoon.
Having easily overcome the challenges posed by Donegal and Derry in the opening two rounds, the pre-game intrigue surrounded how David Herity’s side were going to fare in their first away fixture of 2021. The Lilywhites faithful – watching from home on a live stream – had no reason to fear as they made it three wins from three in the most emphatic of styles.
This now sets up a crunch encounter against Mayo at MacHale Park in Castlebar this Saturday, with the winner claiming both promotion to the second-tier of the NHL as well as silverware in the form of a Division 2B title.
At a time when purists are worried that the game of hurling is descending into a free-taking contest, Kildare are doing their best to buck the trend. Just two of the Lilies’ 29 scores on the day came from placed-balls with Jack Sheridan supplementing a majestic sideline point in the opening half with a superb goal from a close-range free on 42 minutes.
He emerged with a handsome personal tally of 2-5, but was ably-assisted by fellow inside forward David Slattery (2-1) and in-form midfielder Paul Divilly (0-5). Brian Byrne and James Burke contributed a combined five points, while substitutes Gerry Keegan and Conor Dowling bagged 0-2 salvos to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Kildare.
It was a bittersweet return to inter-county action for Keegan as he was withdrawn with a finger injury on 46 minutes, despite only entering the fray on the half-hour mark. The fitness of the Celbridge attacker will be one concern for Herity ahead of this weekend’s do-or-die clash with Mayo.
Before cutting loose in the manner seen during their previous games, Kildare had to first withstand a spirited opening from Roscommon. Full-forward Cathal Dolan fired over a superb point on the turn with just 28 seconds gone on the clock and although Divilly twice split the uprights from the left-wing, Cathal Kenny immediately restored parity for the Connacht men.
Ben McGahon also traded points with James Burke, but once Kildare increased their accuracy in front of goal, it was largely one-way traffic. Confey’s Slattery raced onto a booming clearance from centre half-back Declan Flaherty and fired past Enda Lawless from an extremely tight right-hand angle.
This 14th-minute goal was the beginning of a remarkable scoring sequence from Kildare that saw them registering 3-11 without reply. As a direct supplement to this major, Sheridan knocked over a brace of points – including that aforementioned sideline cut – to give his side a 1-5 to 0-3 lead at the first half water break.
Kevin Aherne and Sheridan kept the scoreboard ticking over in advance of Slattery’s batted finish for his second goal on 25 minutes – following a superb catch by Burke on the edge of the square. Corner-back Simon Leacy (one of eight Naas players in the Kildare starting line-up) subsequently got in on the scoresheet along with more familiar contributors like Brian Byrne and Johnny Byrne.
Kildare had spurned a number of goal opportunities prior to Slattery’s brace and they continued to carve open the Roscommon defence at will. After executing a clever turnover inside the opposition ’45’, Sheridan grabbed their third of the period on 31 minutes.
Brian Byrne and Aherne pointed to increase their advantage and – just moments after replacing Shane Ryan – Keegan announced his arrival with quickfire points. Roscommon finally issued a response through a Cathal Dolan free, only for Burke to propel Kildare towards an already unassailable interval buffer of 3-15 to 0-4.
Throughout his side’s campaign to date, Herity has been utilising the new seven substitutes rule to considerable effect. Joining Keegan on the pitch for the start of the second half were back-up goalkeeper Mark Doyle, Cian Forde and Conor Dowling. Forde’s brother Tadhg was later called upon as a replacement for Keegan and Jack Travers completed the full compliment of reserves by replacing Aherne in the 48th-minute.
By then, Kildare had stretched all of 23 points clear. Sean Christanseen was the latest defender to find the target and Sheridan raised another green flag courtesy of a bullet strike off a 21-metre placed-ball.
Roscommon points from corner-back Paul Dolan and Cathal Dolan (free) were followed by another brace of long-distance Divilly specials, but there was a drop-off in performance levels by Kildare either side of the third-quarter mark.
For the first time in the game, the Rossies enjoyed a mini scoring burst with Cathal Dolan (two) and industrious midfielder McGahon knocking over three consecutive points. Peter Kellehan was also on hand to cancel out a Conor Dowling score as the hosts displayed commendable spirit in the face of adversity.
However, there was a sense that Kildare were always capable of stepping things up a notch and this is exactly what they did in the closing moments of the proceedings. Dowling did his claims for a starting berth no harm with a second point on 68 minutes and Sheridan dissected the posts on the left-hand touchline at the very end of normal time.
The excellent Divilly, Slattery and Brian Byrne completed their own impressive scoring hauls with stoppage-time singles as Kildare finished with 27 points to spare for the second time in this year’s league.
In what should hopefully be the final inter-county game this team plays behind closed doors, Kildare provided their band of supporters with plenty of optimism for what could be achieved in the weeks and months to come.
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Cathal Derivan, Rian Boran, Simon Leacy 0-1; Kevin Whelan, Declan Flaherty, Sean Christanseen 0-1; Kevin Aherne 0-2, Paul Divilly 0-5; Brian Byrne 0-3, James Burke 0-2, Johnny Byrne 0-1; Jack Sheridan 2-5, 1-0f, 0-1 s/line, Shane Ryan, David Slattery 2-1. Subs: Gerry Keegan 0-2 for Ryan (32), Mark Doyle for McKenna, Cian Forde for Derivan, Conor Dowling 0-2 for Burke (all half-time), Colm Chan for Flaherty (39), Tadhg Forde for Keegan (46), Jack Travers for Aherne (48).
ROSCOMMON: Enda Lawless; Paul Dolan 0-1, Darren Fallon, Sean Trundle; Eoghan Costello, Shane Naughton, Peter Kellehan 0-1; Ben McGahon 0-2, Aongus Lyons; Conor Mulry, Jason Kilkenny, Connell Kennelly; Cathal Kenny 0-1, Cathal Dolan 0-5, 4f, Matthew Comerford. Subs: Donal Kelly for Trundle (4), Naos Connaughton for Lyons (35), Cormac Coyle for Fallon (43), Michael Brennan for Mulry, Darragh Heavey for Kenny (both 50), Eoin Coyle for Kilkenny (55).
REFEREE: Kevin Brady (Louth).