MAUGHAN’S GOAL SEALS VICTORY FOR KILDARE

Kildare 2-11 Wicklow 2-9

SUBSTITUTE Shane Maughan’s goal with five minutes left sent his county into the Leinster JFC semi-final against Louth.

The game started slowly with Kildare especially guilty of not taking their chances; by the time they kicked their first score in the 12th minute, they had registered three wides.

Wicklow weren’t so poor in the scoring department and they amassed 1-2 by the 10th minute, Cian O’Sullivan impressing with 1-1. His goal originated in the halfback line with a good John Manley run and when he turned his man, he lobbed the advancing Kildare goalkeeper.

Kildare came back into the game at this stage and they reeled off six points in a row to take the lead by the 23rd minute. They dominated in midfield on Wicklow’s kick-outs to launch attacks with Mark Grace ghosting in for a couple of points.

The sides were level at half-time, 1-4 to 0-7, after veteran Wicklow star Tony Hannon converted a free from the sideline. Both teams weren’t as wasteful early in the second half and they traded 2-8 between them in an entertaining 20-minute spell. Conor Murray’s goal pushed Kildare ahead during that time but Wicklow responded with a goal of their own from Paul Murtagh.

With the finishing line in sight, the wides crept back into the game until Maughan was given too much space in front of goal to win it for Kildare.

SCORERS – Kildare: B Noone 0-4 (2f); C Murray 1-1; S Maughan 1-0; M Grace 0-3; B Travers, D Malone, M Nolan 0-1 each. Wicklow: C O’Sullivan 1-2; P Murtagh 1-0; T Hannon 0-3 (f); M Healy, E Doyle, J Merrigan 0-1 each.

KILDARE – D Campbell; K Corrigan, W Burke, C Sharkey; G Waters, E McMonagle, N Sherry; M Grace, L Power; D Malone, M Nolan, E Lawless; C Murray, J Jennings, B Noone. Subs: B Travers for E Lawless (7, inj), S Maughan for J Jennings (42), S O’Leary for M Nolan (52), D Flaherty for B Noone (56). WICKLOW – J Byrne; S Bohan, S Murley, J Manley; K Hanlon, M Healy, S Farrell; P Murtagh, G Murray; E Doyle, J Merrigan, P O’Connor; C O’Sullivan, T Kelly, T Hannon. Subs: S Bouchier for K Hanlon (40), D Dawson for P O’Connor (52). REF – P Coyle (Meath)