Leinster JFC: Kildare leave it late to edge Wicklow
May 22, 2018
A view of the pitch at Joule Park, Aughrim.
©INPHO/Ken Sutton.
Kildare 2-11
Wicklow 2-9
Shane Maughan's late goal made all the difference as Kildare edged by Wicklow in this evening's Leinster junior football championship quarter-final in Aughrim.
In an entertaining contest, which saw the hosts jump into an early 1-2 to nothing lead thanks to Cian O'Sullivan's ninth minute goal, the Lilywhites hit six consecutive points between the 12th and 24th minutes to move into their first lead.
Conor Murray made it 0-7 to 1-3 before ex-senior star Tony Hannon landed a long range free for the Garden County on the half-hour mark, sending the sides in all square.
O'Sullivan and Hannon had Wicklow's noses in front again, but Mark Grace and Barry Noone raised white flags again to ensure things were square when Murray finished off a slick Kildare move low to the corner of the net.
The home side responded in kind via Paul Murtagh taking a superb pass from Tommy Kelly, tearing through the centre and rifling to the Lilys' net.
It was very much 'game on' in the closing quarter after that as Kildare got level through a Noone free before Hannon wound back the clock with a sublime point from distance, leaving it at 2-8 to 1-10 on 47 minutes.
The visitors tacked on the remaining scores from there, with Brian Travers curling one over ahead of Maughan's strike ensuring the brave Wicklow effort ended up in vain.
Kildare - D Campbell; K Corrigan, W Burke, C Sharkey; G Waters, E McMonagle, N Sherry; M Grace (0-3), L Power; D Malone (0-1), M Nolan (0-1), E Lawless; C Murray (1-1), J Jennings, B Noone (0-4, 2f). Subs: B Travers (0-1) for E Lawless, S Maughan (1-0) for J Jennings, S O'Leary for M Nolan, D Flaherty for B Noone.
Wicklow - J Byrne; S Bohan, S Murley, J Manley; K Hanlon, M Healy (0-1), S Farrell; P Murtagh (1-0), G Murray; E Doyle (0-1), J Merrigan (0-1), P O'Connor; C O'Sullivan (1-3), T Kelly, T Hannon (0-3, 1f). Subs: S Bouchier for K Hanlon, D Dawson for P O'Connor.
Referee - P Coyle.
Leinster JFC Quarter-Final
- Kildare GAA (@KildareGAA) May 22, 2018
Kildare 2-11
Wicklow 2-9
Full Time
Well done to the team and management.
Next up is Louth in the semi-final on Tuesday 12th June #KildareGAA pic.twitter.com/KmOZpWy44k
TweetAll over and @KildareGAA advance with a win by 2-11 to 2-9 and they probably just about deserved it. @wicklowgaa had a great start but filed to build on it. @gaaleinster Junior football championship.
- Wicklow GAA Online (@wicklowgaa) May 22, 2018
