Hurlers learn harsh lessons in home loss
GAA Hurling
Christy Ring Cup – R1 Sligo
Kildare 2-8 2-19
LAST Saturday’s 11-point home loss to Kildare in a Christy Ring Cup opener didn’t reveal anything new for Sligo senior hurling team manager Stephen Sheil.
To prosper in GAA Hurling’s third tier All-Ireland Senior Championship you must score enough and be defensively tight.
Sligo’s attitude wasn’t found wanting at Markievicz Park, as heavy showers of hail fell, but 10 scores (2-8) just wasn’t going to cut it against opponents that played in Division 2A of this year’s Allianz Hurling League.
The home side only had three scorers against the Lilywhites – Thomas Cawley, Eddie O’Donoghue and Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, with O’KellyLynch supplying eight (2-6) of Sligo’s insufficient tally.
Sligo, who frequently turned the ball over and were regularly sloppy with their distribution, conceded 21 scores (2-19). It was galling, too, that Kildare’s two firsthalf goals, both scored by Cathal Dowling, were preventable.
Given Kildare’s nous – they played in the Joe McDonagh Cup last year – Sligo were aware that the Leinster county would be brimming with brawn and deftness. Jack Sheridan (0-7), James Burke (0-5) and Muiris Curtin (0-3) were outstanding for the winners.
Sligo were 10 points down at halftime, 2-13 to 2-3, and only a brace of goals from Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch made it slightly interesting. The Naomh Eoin man’s first goal – from a Conor Griffin pass – came in the second minute and had Sligo ahead for the first and only time. This advantage lasted just 60
seconds – then
STANDINGS
GAA HURLING CHRISTY RING CUP P D F 1 0 29 1 0 25 1 0 17 1 0 12 1 0 18
1 0 14
Kildare goaled from a scrappy scenario in Sligo’s goalmouth for the first of five unanswered scores that had them six points up, 2-3 to 1-0, by the seventh minute.
Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch goaled from a close-range free in the 25th minute – to cut the gap to five points, 2-7 to 2-2, as Sligo sought to keep things relatively competitive. It helped that goalkeeper Luke Comerford made an outstanding save to deny Jack Sheridan’s goalbound effort after 15 minutes.
Sligo will take heart from an improved second-half. They tightened up defensively and were sharper with their attacking play. They restricted Kildare to just six further points and landed five points of their own.
But the hosts shot an unforgiveable 13 wides, with 10 of these misses coming in the second-half.
Another factor reinforced by last weekend’s outcome is that Sligo need all of their available options fully fit. Team captain Kevin O’Kennedy and Tony O’Kelly-Lynch were unavailable for this game through injury, while Fionn Moylan has a become a longterm absentee following the injury he sustained in the recent Allianz Hurling League Division 3A final loss to Mayo.
It goes without saying that Andrew Kilcullen, now months into his Australian adventure, is another player sorely missed.
Few players shone against Kildare. Conor Griffin battled, often in vain, at full-forward, Joe McHugh was busy at wing-back, Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch chipped in with a healthy scoring contribution, there was a better second-half from Niall Kilcullen and Eddie O’Donoghue’s one-touch play set up several attacks.
Rory McHugh remained Sligo’s most adept performer, looking at
The number of scores conceded by Sligo in their Christy Ring Cup opening round fixture.
GOALIE AT WORK: Sligo custodian Luke Comerford in action last Saturday in the Christy Ring Cup first round game against Kildare at Markievicz Park. Sligo lost by 11 points.
Diff +11 +11 +5 -5 -11 -11 ease against hurlers who have played at a much higher level.
There is some consolation in the fact that Kildare are likely to beat everyone in the round-robin phase and will end up as one of this year’s Christy Ring Cup finalists.
Sligo have to reset for this Saturday’s away fixture against a London side that defeated Tyrone by 11 points last Sunday, 2-23 to 2-12, in Dungannon.
“It was a tough game and we knew it was going to be tough, that was a big step up for us,” said Stephen Sheil afterwards. “Don’t forget that Offaly beat them [Kildare] in the Division 2A final last year.”
“I’m happy with the performance and lads are positive enough – I was frustrated with the amount of wides we had.
“But we defended well enough and aside from the two sloppy goals, Kildare didn’t have any other goal chances.”
With four games to come, Sheil reiterated his belief that Sligo can have a productive Christy Ring Cup season.
Best for Sligo: Rory McHugh
Sligo: Luke Comerford, Niall Kilcullen, Gavin Connolly, Darragh Cawley, Liam O’Kelly-Lynch, Niall Feehily, Joe McHugh, Rory McHugh, Thomas Cawley (0-1), Eddie O’Donoghue (0-1), Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch (2-6, 1-5f), Finnian Cawley, Conor Griffin, Michael Munnelly, Fionn Connolly
Subs used: Conor Hannify, Darragh Flynn Subs not used: Declan Reidy (gk), Donal Keaveny, Donall Hanley, Eoighan Rua McGowan, Shane Brenan, Fergal O’KellyLynch, Oisin Hennessy, Kevin O’Kennedy
(c)
Kildare: Paddy McKenna, Cormac Byrne, Sean Christiansen, Mark Grace, Simon Leacy (0-1), Conan Boran (0-1), Rian Boron, Cathal McCabe, Paul Dolan, Daire Guerin (0-2), James Burke (0-5), Cathal Dowling (2-0), Muiris Curtin (0-3), Jack Sheridan (0-7, 4f, 1 ‘65’), David Qualter
Subs used: Declah Flaherty, Conn Kehoe, Jack Higgins, Darragh Melville, Harry Carroll
Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry)