Kildare and Down qualify for Christy ring semi-finals

Kildare and Down both qualified for the semi-final stage of the Christy Ring Cup at the weekend – and will play Kerry and Meath respectively next weekend.

Kildare booked their place a result of a winning point from a free by their top scorer Gerry Keegan in the dying minutes of their game against Wicklow – 0-17 to 2-10 – at Arklow on Saturday.

Wicklow clawed their way back from six points down at half time 0-3 to 0-9, drew level at 2-10 to 0-16 with three minutes left, but were left to rue missed opportunities and 19 wides at the final whistle.

Goals by Andy O’Brien and substitute Christy Moorehouse brought Wicklow back into contention with five minutes to go. but in the dying moments Gerry Keegan showed nerves of steel as he shot the winner for Kildare from a pressure free.

Three second-half goals gave Down a 3-7 to 0-9 victory over Ulster rivals Derry at Páirc Esler.

The teams went in level at 0-5 apiece at the break on a sodden pitch . Paul Braniff drilled in the first goal against the run of play and Michael Turley hit the net seconds later. Paddy Hughes missed a second Derry penalty before Jonny McCusker sealed Down’s win with an injury-time goal.

Down struck the game’s first goal on 48 minutes when Braniff sent a free on the 21 metre line into the top corner to give the Mourne men a lead they scarcely deserved.

Within 45 seconds of their first goal, Down scored a second – substitute Turley managed to flick the ball beyond the onrushing McDermott and into the net.

Down finished the match with a third goal through substitute McCusker.
Nicky Rackard Cup Quarter-finals – Monaghan 5-12 Sligo 2-7; Roscommon 2-14 Louth 0-13.