It was a hectic few days of action with 22 matches in total around the county.
Group A- It was a manic beginning to the senior grade with Clane and Johnstownbridge engaging in a thrilling draw at Manguard Park on Friday evening. Goals in each half from Shane O’Sullivan and Cian O’Donoghue combined with a stoppage time O’Sullivan two pointer looked to have given Clane the spoils before Conor Flynn struck with a late goal in response as both teams had to be content with a point. The other game in the group was much more straight-forward as Celbridge claimed an emphatic 6-22 to 1-11 success with Killian Browne, Paddy Wall, James Dolan and Aaron Browne among the goalscorers for the 2023 and 2024 finalists.
Group B- Maynooth were the big winners in Group B as they ran out 14 point winners over Caragh in Newbridge with a hugely impressive display to boot. Ross Glavin’s team were in control from the off with goals from Ciaran Flanagan and Paddy Mahoney setting the tone for the success. The other tie saw Sarsfields win out on a 1-21 to 1-12 scoreline over Carbury as the Sash put to bed a slow start to run out expected winners with the returning Shea Ryan finding the net and Karl Hartley and Barry Coffey also showing well with Aaron O’Neill getting the goal in response for Carbury.
Group C- Raheens and Sallins was one of the standout games of the weekend and it had a fitting thrilling conclusion with Paddy Woodgate landing a match winning two pointer with the last kick of the game for Raheens. Sallins looked the more likely winners for long periods with Kildare star Colm Dalton scoring six points from play but with a second half Jack Taffee goal turning the tide, the scene was set for Woodgate’s late heroics. The other game saw Athy kick off the defence of their title with a double-scores success over Kilcock as Niall Kelly, Calum Keaveney and David Hyland stood out in a battling victory.
Group D- The last of the groups saw Naas and Moorefield clash in another thrilling encounter with the county town fending off a late comeback from the Newbridge side to claim the spoils. With Kildare players Alex Beirne and Darragh Kirwan scoring 11 points between them, Naas looked in control until Moorefield battled back with an Aaron Masterson goal inspiring a late revival that required a Luke Mullins save to preserve the points for Naas. Eadestown and Clogherinkoe also played out a cracker with goals from Darragh Jameson, Michael O’Brien and Ben Fitzsimons helping to see off the Jack Robinson inspired opponents.
Group A- It was all on the line when town rivals Leixlip and Confey met in a big derby clash in Conneff Park and with their need at it’s greatest, Leixlip claimed a 10 point win with two goals from Conor Lawlor and another major via Luke Mahon gifting them a crucial success. The other game saw Straffan overturn a round 1 defeat to get the better of Suncroft with John Tracey scoring 0-11 in total while Hugh Martin continued his bright start to the campaign with 1-3 for the beaten Suncroft men. The group is now perfectly poised with all four sides on two points ahead of the final round.
Group B- A late Neil Scanlon score kept Round Towers title hopes alive when they snatched a one point win over Monasterevan in Cedral St Conleth’s Park. An early Monasterevan goal from Kealan Meredith gave the Blues an early buffer and it was tightly fought from there to the finish until the Kildare Town outfit grabbed a much needed win. Elsewhere St Laurence’s made it two wins from two with a 1-22 to 1-11 victory over Kilcullen. The Larries were always in a degree of control with Ruadhri Lawlor scoring 1-2 and Dylan O’Dwyer and Joe Hanamy also starred as the South Kildare side put one foot into the quarter-finals.
Group C- Milltown went into the campaign as one of the pre championship favourites and they maintained that title when goals from Paddy Donoghue, Joe Dunne and Liam Kelly helped them to a 3-11 to 0-11 win over last year’s junior champions Grangenolvin. The other game in the group was practically a knockout affair with Nurney claiming a comeback success over Ballyteague. Led by a 10 point tally from Jimmy Hyland, Ballyteague led by seven at one stage bu Nurney battled back with Theo Hanlon, Mikey Conway and Tadhg Hagney instrumental in turning the game around.
Group D- Rathangan are in control of Group D after a second win over Castledermot with first half goals from Muiris Curtin and Austin Donegan setting them up for a seven point success. Castledermot remain rooted to the bottom of the group as a result with Gavin Keating top-scoring with nine points in defeat. Ellistown bounced back from a round 1 defeat to get the better of Two Mile House in a high scoring affair. A Tadhg Watson goal and three two pointers from Harry Donnelly proved decisive with second spot in the group very much still up for grabs.
Group A- Rathcoffey and St Kevin’s sit top of the group on the back of two wins from two. Rathcoffey were well tested by Robertstown but with Ethan O’Donoghue and Tom Moriarty bagging goals, they ran out seven point winners in the end. Kevin’s on the other hand were always in control during their 3-25 victory over Rheban where Ciaran Smyth x2 and Conor Murray netted the goals for the victors.
Group B- Castlemitchell maintain control of Group B after they backed up a round 1 win over Cappagh with another success at Kildangan’s expense last weekend. Goals from Evan Doogue and Jack McCabe saw the South Kildare side win out with six points to spare while in the other game, Cappagh were too strong for Ballykelly winning out on a 4-13 to 1-6 scoreline.
Group C- In the final group, Kill produced a big display to see off Athgarvan by three points in an entertaining affair. A Niall Murphy goal got Athgarvan going before Kill responded with three goals of their own in a short spell to take the points. The other game saw Ballymore Eustace maintain their 100% record with a 3-32 t 0-1 win over Ardclough last Friday evening in Manguard Park.
