Kildare Under 17’s cruise to victory for a place in the semi-finals

Leinster GAA Under 17 Football

Quarter Final

Kildare 6-15

Wexford 1-08

The Kildare Under 17 team secured their place in the semi-final of the Leinster GAA Under 17 competition with a comfortable victory over Wexford on Wednesday evening 10^th July.

The young Lillie’s got off to a flying start when full forward Padi Behan opened the scoring with a great goal within the first minute. Billy Maher, Shane O’Sullivan and Behan added three quick points to put them into a 1-03 after seven minutes. Wexford kicked the next three points of the games but Kildare replied with an excellent point from corner forward Billy Maher. Wexford pointed from a free in the 18^th minute to leave a goal between the teams but Cian McQuillan won possession from the kick out and made a great run from midfield to kick a brilliant point from play followed by a well worked score from wing forward Jack Doyle.

Kildare were playing brilliantly and working great balls into their full forward line and over the next five minutes kicked 2-01 coming from Billy Maher (1-00), Padi Behan (1-00) and Darragh Kirwan (0-01) to put them into a comfortable 3-07 to 0-04 lead. DJ Earley and Shane O’Sullivan added points in the 28^th and 29^th minute before Wexford kicked the last point of the half to leave a half time score of 3-09 to 0-05.

Kildare were first to raise the white flag in the second half when centre half forward Shane O’Sullivan kicked a good point from play. Wexford replied with a point before corner forward Darragh Kirwan netted the Lillie’s fourth goal of the game in the 36^th minute.

Sam McCormack and Padi Behan added points in the 41^st and 43^rd minute before Wexford kicked their 7^th point of the game. Shane O’Sullivan was excellent in the second half and kicked a brilliant point from play in the 45^th minute before the lively Billy Maher scored his second goal a minute later.

Wexford refused to give up and were battling hard and their hard work paid off when they scored a goal in the 50^th minute but Kildare responded brilliantly with a goal from Shane O’Sullivan and an excellent point from corner back Karl Hartley. Both teams added a point each in the closing stages of the game to leave a final score of 6-15 to 1-08.

Kildare will now play Meath in the semi-final on Tuesday 18^th July at 7pm in St. Conleth’s Park.

Scorers Kildare – Billy Maher 2-03, Padi Behan 2-02, Shane O’Sullivan 1-04, Darragh Kirwan 1-01, Jack Doyle, Cian McQuillan, Karl Hartley, DJ Earley and Sam McCormack 0-01 each.

Kildare: Eric Evans, Leon Tsang, Conor Lynch, Karl Hartley, Justin Reilly, DJ Earley, Brian Milmoe, Cian McQuillan, Adam Steed, Sam McCormack, Shane O’Sullivan, Jack Doyle, Billy Maher, Padi Behan, Darragh Kirwan.

Subs: Shane Masterson, Oisin Byrne, James Ebbs, Cian Powell, James Behan, Chris O’Mahony, Conchur O’Giollain, Mark Cully, Eoin Conneff.

Extended Panel: Darren Judge, Shane O’Connor, Murray O’Byrne, James Carey, Nick Jackman, Alex Beirne, Kevin Kelliher, Liam Horan, Paddy Wall, Gary Kelly, Matthew Anderson, David Bonass.