NEWS ROUND-UP:KILDARE AND Kerry booked home semi-finals in the Christy Ring Cup with victories over Wicklow and Westmeath respectively on Saturday.
Kerry had six points to spare over Westmeath in Tralee, winning on a scoreline of 3-14 to 2-11. John Meyler’s men had the sharpshooting of Darragh O’Connell to thank. He accumulated a personal tally of 1-9.
O’Connell and Shane Nolan struck for goals to give the winners a 2-8 to 0-10 interval advantage and John Mike Dooley added a third early after the resumption.
Despite playing into the wind, Westmeath rallied with goals from Joe Clarke and Stephen Bardon.
That reduced the tally to three points, but Brendan Murtagh missed a penalty for Kevin Martin’s side and Kerry finished strongly to take the honours.
Kildare needed a goal from man of the match David Harney six minutes from the end to secure a 1-19 to 1-16 victory against Wicklow in Newbridge.
Two goals form Noel Kirby and a clinical display of free-taking by Noel Hackett that yielded eight points ensured Meath’s progression to the quarter-finals at Derry’s expense on a 2-16 to 0-15 scoreline.
Down beat Mayo 3-19 to 2-12, despite having Ruairí McGrath sent off after just four minutes for a dangerous pull.
In the Ulster senior hurling championship, a hat-trick of goals from Brian McNaughton was the highlight as Armagh proved too strong for Tyrone. Their 3-20 to 2-9 win earned his side a crack at Down.
London had to work hard to get the expected victory over Monaghan. A goal from Paul Stephenson, and a brace from Martin Finn were the key scores as the Exiles prevailed 1-15 to 3-6.
In the Leinster minor hurling championship, Dublin earned a hard-earned 0-22 to 2-14 victory over Carlow, while two pointed frees from Stephen Quirke in injury-time snatched a 0-16 to 0-14 win for Offaly over Westmeath.
Next Up . . .
KILDARE and Kerry have qualified for the Christy Ring Cup semi-finals, fixed for June 5th. They will be joined by the winners of next weekend’s ties, with Down meeting Westmeath, and Meath taking on Wicklow.
