Ruthless Rathkenny keep up push for promotion
RATHKENNY ST MICHAEL’S 0-16 0-7
RATHKENNY kept up their push for promotion following this home win in division two of the A league.
The hosts edged the exchanges in the opening half to lead 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.
However the St Michael’s challenge faded after that as their scoring dried up.
Keith Curtis finished top scorer for Rathkenny with six points and there were also fine displays from Evan Crosbie, Jack Thompson, Robbie Garry and Keith Timmons.
RATHKENNY: Colin Curtis; Joe Gore, Ross Gore, Mark Byrne; Robbie Garry, Christy Meade, Jack Thompson; Brian Meade 0-2, James Macken 0-1; Jack Gore 0-2, Brian Lenehan, Evan Crosbie 0-2; Keith Curtis 0-6, Owen Elliott 0-2, Keith Timmons 0-1. Subs: Donal Curtis for Lenehan, Adam Brennan for Elliott. MEATH hopes of clinching backto-back Leinster titles at junior level evaporated in the searing heat at Croke Park last Sunday.
The Royals made a brilliant start in defence of their title, opening up a 1-5 to 0-2 lead by the ninth minute. And despite kicking seven wides victory was still well within their grasp by half time as they led 1-11 to 1-7.
However a resurgent Kildare produced a scorcher of a third quarter, when they had the advantage of the breeze, hitting a goal and six points as Meath failed to add to their first half tally.
Meath did produce a rally of sorts in the final quarter reducing the deficit back to the minimum but they struggled to bring any sort of cohesion to their play and it was Kildare who managed the insurance point in added time to take the title for the first time since 2013.
It proved a disappointing ending to the campaign for Davy Nelson’s charges and they finished with 14 after centre back Conor Dempsey was shown a second yellow card just before the final whistle.
A lack of pace in certain areas was exposed and a lively Lilywhites attack caused the Meath rearguard plenty of headaches especially in the second half of what was an entertaining enough encounter.
Eleven different players contributed to the Kildare tally including goalkeeper Declan Campbell who accounted for three excellent points from two long range frees and a ‘45.
Meath made a terrific start to proceedings, Kevin Traynor won the throw-in and laid the ball off to Kevin Ross who popped it over the bar. Ross had another point opportunity but shot wide before Danny Quinn set up Daire Rowe and the Syddan man made no mistake shooting low to the Kildare net. Peter O’Connell then got in on the scoring act with a point to leave it 1-2 to 0-0 after just three minutes.
Davy Nelson’s side continued to build on that lead and two pointed frees from Rowe and one from play by O’Connell left it 1-5 to 0-2 on nine minutes.
Despite their tentative start to proceedings there were indications from Kildare that they were a useful combination and Meath got an early warning sign when keeper Conor McHugh was forced to react swiftly to save from David Malone at the expense of a 45’.
Malone had earlier pointed twice and keeper Declan Campbell opened his account by converting the resultant ‘45. Campbell contributed in no small way to his sides success with his accurate place-kicking.
His second point on the 15 minute mark left a goal between the teams, 1-5 to 0-5. Meath stretched their lead back out to five points but then on 25 minutes their defensive frailties were exposed as substitute Eoghan Lawless cut in from the left wing and finished low to the Meath net.
Meath keeper Conor McHugh got in on the scoring act before the end of the half converting a ’45 as his side outscored their opponents three points to one in the closing stages of the half to lead 1-11 to 1-7 at the break. Danny Quinn who was probably Meath’s best player, and Rowe contributed the other points.
It didn’t take long for Kildare to wipe out that deficit in the second half with Eoghan McMonagle, Conor Murray and Lawless all pointing before they went ahead for the first time after McMonagle set up Mark Nolan who rounded keeper McHugh before finishing to the net on 39 minutes.
Points from Brian Travers, Conor Murray and Barry Noone strengthened Kildare’s grip, leaving them ahead 2-13 to to 1-11. With Kevin Traynor having departed with an injury Meath were unable to win any worthwhile possession at midfield during this dominant Kildare spell.
The half was 19 minutes old before Kevin Ross converted a free to add to Meath’s first half tally. Ross then found the net with a low drive to give his side hope and when substitute John Keane pointed on 59 minutes it left the game back in the balance, Kildare ahead by the minimum, 2-16 to 2-15.
Meath failed to create anything of note in their efforts to snatch an equaliser and it was another substitute Declan Flaherty who doubled Kildare’s advantage in the first of four added minutes. Meath eventually finished with 14 after centre back Conor Dempsey was dismissed on receipt of a second yellow card.
KILDARE: Declan Campbell 0-3 (2f, 1’45); Kevin Corrigan, Willie Burke, Cian Sharkey; Graham Waters 0-1, Eoghan McMonagle 0-1, Nathan Sherry; Liam Power 0-1, Brian Travers 0-1; David Malone 0-2, Mark Nolan 1-0, Kevin Foley; Conor Murray 0-3 (1f), Seamus Hanafin, Barry Noone 0-3 (2f). Subs: Eoghan Lawless 1-1 for Foley (20), Tom Barron for Sharkey (46), Tom Dore for McMonagle (BC 48), Shane Maughan for Hanafin (52), Declan Flaherty 0-1 for Noone (52), Stephen O’Leary for Murray (61).
MEATH: Conor McHugh 0-1 ‘45; Ciaran O’Rourke, Cian McPartland, Michael Flood; Nicky Judge, Conor Dempsey, Thomas O’Reilly; Conor Farrell, Kevin Traynor; Danny Quinn 0-3 (1f), Peter O’Connell 0-3, Cathal McConnell; Kevin Ross 1-3 (0-1f), Luke Martyn, Daire Rowe 1-3 (2f). Subs: John Keane 0-1 for O’Reilly (36), Sean Clare 0-1 for Traynor (37), Ger Reidy for Flood (38), Paul Lynch for Rowe (47), Eamon O Donachada for Farrell (53).
REF: D Sheppard (Dublin).