Kildare assured themselves of at least a home semi-final in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League with a deserved win over Kerry in Newbridge today.
David Herity's team made it four wins from four in this season’s league with a hard-working and spirited display that was sprinkled with the magic dust of two magnificent second half goals from Brian Byrne and Gerry Keegan.
They now face Offaly next Sunday knowing that a win will secure them a place in the league final, leaving just one win away from Division One hurling, while knowing they have the safety net of a home draw in the semi-final even if they lose.
The Lilywhites started well with the opening two points but even against the wind, Kerry proved that this game was going to be no walk in the park when they answered back with four points of their own to lead 0-4 to 0-2 by the tenth minute.
With the gauntlet thrown down to them, Kildare answered back with a run of five points including a couple superb efforts from captain James Burke and Gerry Keegan.
Two Padraig Boyle frees got Kerry back to within a point of the hosts before one of the key spells in the game. A monster point from play from inside his own 45 by goalkeeper Paddy McKenna sparked a run of seven unanswered points before the half-time break, leaving Kildare 0-14 to 0-6 ahead.
Kerry tried to make a fight of it in the second half and Keith Carmody and Padraig Boyle scored the first two points after the restart before Kildare struck for their first goal in the 39th minute.
A move that started with goalkeeper McKenna was played through a number of Kildare players including Rian Boran, Paul Divilly and Keegan ended with a powerful finish by Byrne.
At one stage, Kildare stretched their lead to eight points but with Shane Conway hitting form and clipping over a couple of lovely points, Kerry had cut that back to five heading towards the last ten minutes and the feeling was that they were building momentum towards a big comeback.
However, a moment of brilliance from Keegan in the 60th minute settled the game. He wriggled free from his marker and then from the 20 metre line to the left of the goal drilled his shot past O’Halloran.
Kerry wiped out that goal by scoring the next three points but time was running out on them and Kildare made sure of the win with an injury-time point by substitute Mark Delaney.
Kildare: Paddy McKenna 0-1; Niall Ó Muineacháin, Simon Leacy, Cormac Byrne; Cian Shanahan, Rian Boran, Conan Boran; Paul Dolan 0-1, Cathal McCabe 0-1; James Burke 0-12 (10fs), Gerry Keegan 1-2, Paul Divilly; Brian Byrne 1-0, Declan Flaherty 0-1, Cathal Dowling 0-1.
Subs: Jack Travers for Shanahan, h/t; Cian Boran for Divilly, 47; Mark Delaney 0-1 for Flaherty, 57; Jack Higgins for Keegan, 66; Drew Costello for McCabe, 70+ 4.
Kerry: John B O'Halloran; Cillian Trant, Eric Leen, Eoin Ross; Evan Murphy, Michael Boyle, Paudie O'Connor; Daniel Collins 0-1, Gavin Dooley 0-2; Kyle O'Connor, Fionan MacKessy, Michael Leane; Shane Conway 0-10 (5frees, 1’65), Daithi Griffin, Padraig Boyle 0-6 (5fs).
Subs: Keith Carmody 0-1 for Griffin, h/t; Niall Mulachy for O’Connor, h/t; Jordan Conway 0-1 for P Boyle, 46; Jason Diggins for Trant, 49.
Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).
