Jack Higgins, Kildare, and Caolan Taggart, Down, in Allianz Hurling League action. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division Two Final
Down 4-22 Kildare 3-17
By Ger McNally at Inniskeen
A late scoring burst by Down was enough to win the Allianz Hurling League Division 2 final in Inniskeen that was far more tightly contested than the final scoreline would suggest.
A freak Marc Fisher goal was key to Ronan Sheehan’s men getting over the line. He launched a free from just outside his own 45, in the 62nd that somehow hopped through the Kildare defence and bounced over goalkeeper Paddy McKenna and into the net.
That put Down two points ahead, their first lead since the 18th minute, and although David Qualter halved that lead with the next score, Down were able to take the game away from Kildare by scoring the next four points.
They made sure of the win with a counter attacking goal in the 75th minute when Ronan Beatty sent Tim Prenter racing away from the Kildare defence and he neatly finished his shot under the body of the advancing McKenna.
Although it was those late scores that proved decisive, a lot of the hard work was done by Down in the first half when they went in just two points behind despite playing into a very strong wind.
The opening exchanges were nip and tuck with never more than a point behind the sides in the first quarter before Jack Sheridan fired home the first goal of the game in the 18th minute to make it 1-7 to 0-8.
From there, Kildare pushed on and scored points through Qualter, Paul Dolan and James Burke to go five points ahead.
Rather than wilting under that pressure and seeing that lead grow, Down scored the last three points of the half and were only 1-10 to 0-11 behind at the break.
Kildare flew out of the traps in the early stages of the second half and another Sheridan goal 45 seconds after the restart was followed by a Darragh Melville strike in the 38th minute that left the scores at 3-10 to 0-13
Qualter tagged on a point, but Down struck back again and a Tom McGrattan goal sparked a run of 1-4 for them to tie the game again.
Kildare were able to fashion a three point lead from there but once again the teams were level when McGrattan hit the net for a second time in the 54th minute.
There was just a point scored at either end in the next eight minutes as the tension began to mount before Fisher’s fortunate goal gave Down some breathing room and from there they took off on a run that ultimately settled the game in their favour.
Scorers for Down: T McGrattan 2-5 (4fs), E Sands 0-6, T Prenter 1-3, D Hughes 0-4, M Fisher 1-0f, P Og McCrickard 0-2, C Egan 0-2.
Scorers for Kildare: D Qualter 0-7 (5fs), J Sheridan 2-0, D Meville 1-0, C Boran 0-2, P Dolan 0-2, J Burke 0-2, G Keegan 0-2, J Higgins 0-1, R Boran 0-1, D Guerin 0-1.
Down: Stephen Keith; Matt Conlan, John McManus, Tom Murray, Marc Fisher, Caolan Taggert, Liam Savage; Donal Hughes, Phelim Savage; Chris Egan, Tim Prenter, Eoghan Sands, Tom McGrattan, Ronan Beatty, Pearse Og McCrickard.
Subs: Finn Turpin for P Savage, 48; Niall McFarland for. L Savage, 48; Paul Sheehan for Egan, 58; Ben Taggert for Fisher, 64; Shea Pucci for Hughes, 70.
Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Liam O’Reilly, Simon Leacy, Rian Boran, Daniel O’Meara, Cian Boran, Paul Dolan; Daire Guerin, Cathal McCabe; James Burke, James Dolan (Celbridge), Jack Higgins, Jack Sheridan, Darragh Melville, David Qualter.
Subs: Gerry Keegan for J Dolan, h/t; Muiris Curtin for Melville, 45; Jack Travers for Sheridan, 68.
Referee: Brian Keon (Galway).
