Lilies crash to Royals in ‘Ring’
Meath 1-16
Kildare 0-16
Daire Walsh
KILDARE’S hurling season ended in disappointment at Pairc Tailteann, Navan last Saturday, as a Stephen Clynch-inspired Meath got the better of them in a tight and closely-fought Christy Ring Cup quarter-final encounter. Having defeated the Royals twice already this season, including last month’s Allianz Hurling League Division 2B decider, The Lilywhites would have fancied their chances of coming out on top in this fixture, but a 26th minute James Kelly goal for Meath would prove crucial in the end.
Though Kildare had named an unchanged team from their impressive victory over Kerry, they did make a positional switch just before the game got underway, with Paul Divilly lining out on the edge of the square, and regular No. 14 Tony Murphy moving out to the ’40’.
This move did unsettle Meath in the early moments of the contest, and Divilly did open the scoring in the first minute thanks to a free from 40 metres. However, Meath did re-shape their team slightly as well, and Clynch (who made an eleventh hour switch to centre-forward from his customary midfield position) soon cancelled out Divilly’s score with a point from play on the left-wing.
Divilly was on hand to convert another on four minutes, but the Royal County soon found themselves in the lead courtesy of a brace of efforts from the increasingly influential Clynch. An excellent burst up the right-hand side by Celbridge’s Conor Kenny did lead to a first Kildare point from play by Tipperary native Johnny Enright just moments later, but once again Meath were quick to respond, as half-back James Togher found the range from inside his own half.
It had been a pulsating opening to the game, and though things did start to settle down eventually, swapped scores by Divilly and Peter Durnin still kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. It was around this point that Willie Sunderland’s side started to show what they were capable of, however, as three points on the trot from Conor Kenny, Enright and David Harney saw them open up a two-point cushion over their Leinster rivals.
Yet, just went it seemed as if Kildare were ready to push on, Cillian Farrell’s Meath came back with a vengeance, as a 22nd minute free by full-forward Noel Kirby was added to by a goal from the pacy Kelly just four minutes later, as his low strike on the run found its way past Eire Og/Corra Choill’s Paul Dermody.
This was a major blow to Kildare’s chances of securing a semi-final spot and, with momentum now on their side, Meath finished the half strongly, with a brace of points from Kiltale’s Kelly, giving them a four-point lead (1-8 to 0-7) during the interval.
Heading into a pivotal second period, the onus was now on Kildare to come out and address the deficit that they were facing into, but although Kenny and Divilly picked off some nice scores in the opening minutes after the re-start, the deadly accurate Clynch cancelled them out with a brace of frees for the hosts.
Indeed, Meath might well have put the game beyond Kildare’s reach 41 minutes in when Kirby put Durnin through on goal. However, the corner-forward shot just past the left-hand upright, much to the relief of the Kildare faithful.
Knowing that this was a significant let-off, Kildare did start to step up a gear, and three points without reply from Enright (an excellent free on the left-wing), Divilly and Harney brought the margin back down to two with just 20 minutes of action to go.
Meath never showed any signs of panic, though, and they soon forced their way back into the ascendancy thanks to a point apiece from Clynch and the industrious Steven Morris. Kildare were finding the task of reining in the Royals extremely difficult, as they were having to fight to win possession in most, if not all, sectors of the field.
Last week’s star man, Mark Moloney, did register his first point of the afternoon with 15 minutes to go, but this was soon wiped out by a third free from Kirby, leaving four points between the teams heading into the final ten minutes of play.
Kildare were doing their level best to turn the tie back in their favour, and Divilly’s sixth point of the contest did put just a goal between the sides on 61 minutes. Meath never looked in danger of letting their advantage slip, however, and further scores from frees by Kirby and Clynch would ultimately be enough to get them over the line.
The Lilywhites did make a spirited attempt at a fightback in stoppage time via scores from Kenny and Moloney (the latter’s effort flying just over Shane McGann’s crossbar from close-range), but Meath always had that little bit extra in reserve, and with Enda Fitzgerald and Damien Healy proving to be strong anchors for them in defence, they never looked like conceding the goal that Kildare so badly craved.
After a season that promised so much, the Kildare squad and management will certainly have been disappointed to have gone out at this stage in the competition, though there are plenty of lessons for them to absorb as they look towards the future.
KILDARE: Paul Dermody; Paudie Reidy, Fiachra O’Muineachain, John Doran; Patrick Curtin, Richie Hoban, Neil O’Muineachain; Danny Butler, Mark Moloney (0-2); Conor Kenny (0-3), Tony Murphy, David Harney (0-2); Johnny Enright (0-3, 1 free), Paul Divilly (0-6, 5 frees), Martin Fitzgerald.
SUBS: Kieran Divilly for Curtin (40), Ross Kelly for N O’Muineachain (47), Gerry Keegan for Fitzgerald (57), John O’Malley for K Divilly (64-65, blood sub).
MEATH: Shane McGann; Cormac Reilly, Enda Fitzgerald, Willie Mahedy; James Togher (0-1), Damien Healy, Enda Keogh; Steven Morris (0-1), Stephen Donoghue; James Kelly (1-2), Stephen Clynch (0-7, 5f), Colm O Mealoid; Paddy Conneely, Noel Kirby (0-4, 4 frees), Peter Durnin (0-1).
SUBS: Shane Brennan for Togher (21), Derek Doran for Kelly (52), Nicky Horan for Donoghue (56), Ciaran Fitzsimons for Morris (71).
REFEREE: Owen Elliott (Antrim).