Christy Ring Cup Round One

Brendan Geraghty, Mayo Hurling PRO at St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge.

Mayo 0-15 Kildare 1-23

Mayo travelled to St. Conleth's Park in Newbridge on Saturday to take on Kildare in the first round of the Christy Ring Cup. Both teams came into this game with indifferent League form, with Mayo only getting three league points with a win over Armagh and a draw with Roscommon. Kildare remained in Division 2A by the skin of their teeth with their only win against Wicklow in a relegation play-off last month.

Conditions were perfect for hurling in Newbridge with warm sunshine beaming down on the carpet like surface; it was a day for the natural hurler to shine.

Kildare began the brighter and led by 5 points to 3 after 15 minutes with 19 year old corner forward Gerry Keegan slotting 3 from play. Mayo replied through an excellent Keith Higgins effort, and 2 from long distance frees from fellow midfielder Padraig O'Flynn. The game ebbed and flowed for the next 15 minutes with Kildare staying just ahead with scores from centre forward Paul Divilly and midfielder Eanna O'Neill. Mayo replied through Captain Derek McDonnell and 2 close in frees from teenager Sean Regan to leave Mayo just one behind, 8 points to 7 after 30 minutes of play. However for the remainder of the half Kildare pushed ahead outscoring Mayo 4 points to 1, to leave the half-time score Kildare 12 points, Mayo 8 points.

The third quarter mirrored most of the first half with Kildare nipping further ahead with points from Bernard Deay, Keegan and Divilly and with young Regan responding with three excellent pointed frees to leave it 15 points to 11 after 50 minutes played. At this stage Mayo were very much in the game but in the 51st minute, after sustained pressure on the away goal, Kildare full forward Deay blazed a shot past Mayo's Donal O'Brien to make it Kildare 1-15, Mayo 0-11. It was game over for Mayo at this stage.

The goal gave Kildare greater confidence and they cruised their way through the final 20 minutes with Mayo's only response by way of 4 frees from Regan and a point from play from Keith Higgins. The young Mayo side tried hard to get back in the game with Higgins forcing a superb save from the Kildare keeper on the hour mark. Dermody amazingly pushed it wide of the right upright at the expense of a 65, which Regan duly pointed.

Kildare will be reasonably satisfied with their performance, but will have to cut out the number of wides and frees conceded if they are to beat local rivals Meath in Round 2 next Saturday.

Mayo came away from Newbridge bitterly disappointed. When the stakes were raised in the final quarter they could not compete with the strength and speed of their more physical opponents. The return from the forward line was particularly disappointing with only one point from play from the six starting forwards. Once again Mayo were over-reliant on scores from placed balls with Regan getting 10 and O'Flynn getting 2 over the 70 minutes.

Best for the Red and Green on a disappointing day for Mayo hurling were goalkeeper Donal O'Brien, defenders Aiden Connolly, Brian Hunt and Paddy Barrett, midfield duo of Padraig O'Flynn and Keith Higgins and full forward Sean Regan.

Mayo now face a very difficult Round 2 clash away to Wicklow next weekend.

Mayo: D O'Brien, A. Brennan, A. Connolly, B. Hunt, S. Morley, P. Barrett, C. Charlton, P. O'Flynn (0-2, 1f, 1 65), K. Higgins (0-2), K. Feeney, D. McDonnell (0-1), S. Hoban, D. McTigue, S. Regan (0-10 f), D. Gallagher. Subs: G. McDonnell for Gallagher (40m), C. Finn for McTigue (50m) and G. Henry for Barrett (57m).

Kildare: P. Dermody, J. Doran, F. O'Muineachain, P. Curtin, N. O'Muineachain, M. Moloney, P. Reidy, E. O'Neill (0-1), K. Divilly, D. Harney (0-2), P. Divilly (0-7, 2f, 2 65), T. Murphy (0-1), M. Delaney, B. Deay (1-3), G. Keegan (0-7). Subs: D. Butler (0-2) for Delaney (61m), R. Kelly for K. Divilly (62m), M. Purcell for Murphy (67m), P. Keegan for F. O'Muineachain (69m) and P. Downey for Harney (70m).

Referee: Shane Hourigan (Limerick)


Brendan Geraghty
PRO Mayo Hurling Committee
Mob: 086-0693096 Tweet

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