Galway are too strong for their hosts Kildare in Leinster U20 Hurling Championship
Galway proved too strong for Kildare in the Leinster U-20 hurling championship at Manguard Park, Hawkfield, on Saturday, writes Tommy Callaghan.
In the end, there was 13 points separating the sides and, in fairness, reflected the gulf between the teams despite Galway fielding without senior players Aaron Niland and Jason Rabbitte.
The visitors took control early on and had the home defence under heavy pressure. Galway off to a fine start with points from Ciaran Leen and Tiarnan Lohan.
Kildare opened their account on six minutes, with top scorer Tom Power converting a free from 50m. Luke Kennedy added one for Galway before Power replied with a point from play to make it 0-3 to 0-2 in favour of the boys in maroon with just seven minutes on the clock.
Kildare 'keeper, Corman Doolan kept his side in the game with a brilliant save denying Brian Callanan, before the winners added points from Luke Kennedy and Callanan again.
The Galway forwards were certainly testing the Kildare defence and an excellent point from wide on the right from Michael Burke extended the lead as Kildare squandered two scoring chances.
Galway’s half-back line was cleaning up and they added points from Callanan and Sean Moran before the only goal of the game arrived on 17 minutes. Ciaran Leen found full-forward Vince Morgan and the Loughrea player made no mistake in blasting past Cormac Doolan in the Kildare goal.
A converted free from Leen and a point from Darragh Counihan extended the lead before Kildare’s custodian made another brilliant save, this time denying Morgan for his second of the game.
Galway added another point before the break, through corner forward Leen but Kildare hit back with points from Tom Power after Michael Owens made a penetrating run before being fouled and Power popped over the free and then just before the break, the Maynooth man was on target again this time after Tom Boran was fouled to leave the half-time score reading, Galway 1-11 Kildare 0-5.
Kildare came out in the second half with more intent and fired over the opening three points from Tom Power (two frees) and a quality effort after a fine solo run from Oisin O’Neill to give them some hope.
Galway though hit back, Brian Callahan getting his third of the game with Ciaran Leen, his fourth, easing any worries they might have had.
The Kildare defence continued to work extremely hard with Paddy Connolly and the Clubber man-of-the-match, Darragh Devine, both putting in excellent displays.
Moran and substitute Ronan Cahalan extended the lead and while Tom Power added a pointed free there was no denying Galway as they added points from defender Jonah Donnellan and Cahalan to easily maintain their 100% record.
GALWAY: C Callanan; T Blake, M Fallon, E O'Reilly; J Donnellan (0-1), D Campbell, G Maher; M Burke (0-1), S Moran (0-2); L Kennedy (0-2), D Counihan (0-2), T Lohan (0-1); B Callanan (0-3), V Morgan (1-0), C Leen (0-4, 0-2 frees). Subs: H Holmes for Leen (40); J Shaughnessy (0-1, free) for Lohan (40); R Cahalan (0-2), for Kennedy (46); G King for Sean Moran (51); E Mulleady for V Morgan (56).
KILDARE: C Doolan; P Connolly, D Devine, D Doherty; C Power, C Brody, O Conaty; M Owens, T Ryan; O O’Neill (0-1), A Bell (0-1), O Byrne, R O'Malley, T Power (0-7, 0-6 frees), T Boran (Naas). Subs: J Bedford for Doherty (46); C Carroll for O'Malley (46); S Quigley for Owens (51); M Kiernan (Sallins) for Bell (51); L Kelly for Ci Power (59).
REFEREE: Kevin McDonnell.