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2025 Joe McDonagh Cup Hurling – Kerry 1-17 Kildare 0-19

April 19 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Kerry defeated Kildare by 1-17 to 0-19 in Round 1 of the Joe McDonagh Cup on Saturday April 19th at Cedral St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge.

Moriarty and Maunsell break Kildare hearts in sensational Kerry win

Report by Murt Murphy courtesy of the Irish Examiner newspaper

Joe McDonagh Cup: Kildare 0-19 Kerry 1-17

Kerry snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a dramatic ending to this Joe McDonagh Cup thanks to a sensational point from captain Oisin Maunsell.

It was a tension-filled, almost unbearable finale for both sets of supporters as Kildare appeared to be cruising to victory as they led 0-19 to 1-12 in the 64th minute, as Kerry were gasping for air.

But somehow the Kingdom drove on, led by the inspirational Paudie O’Connor at midfield, despite losing leading marksman Podge Boyle in the 58th minute due to a calf strain.

They rallied as Dylan Moriarty, who replaced Boyle, scored four of the last five points, to level the contest in the 72nd minute.

Then in the remaining two minutes of added time, a long delivery found Oisin Maunsell wide on the left and the skipper who broke Brickey Rangers in Munster Club in Waterford last November with a last-second winner, repeated the feat, and Kerry had completed an Easter Saturday resurrection.

Winning point for Kerry by Oisin Maunsell

Kerry never gave up and their bench players Dylan Moriarty, Rory Mahony, Shane Nolan and Adam Segal played massive roles in the miraculous comeback.

But Kildare will be kicking themselves as their last five efforts at the post were wide of the target, and though they outscored Kerry 0-7 to 0-2 during the opening 20 minutes of the second half – mainly due to the accuracy Davy Qualter (3) and points from Cathal McCabe, Gerry Keegan, Cian Boran and Darragh Melville – they just could not hang on as Kerry and Moriarty had other ideas.

Kerry enjoyed a bright opening in a low-scoring opening quarter with Podge Boyle giving them an early lead from a free as Kildare were penalised for a second illegal hand pass in a row.

Kildare responded after Kevin Goulding conceded a free and Davy Qualter leveled the contest.

Gerry Keegan then converted from play after Kerry ‘keeper Louis Dee denied Darragh Melville a certain goal. Both sides were guilty of some bad misses with Kerry and Boyle, from placed balls, being the guilty party.

Oisin Maunsell leveled the contest in the 10th minute, but Qualter edged Kildare in front from play a minute later.

Then came the Kerry goal and it was a long delivery from Tom Doyle that was brilliantly fetched by Podge Boyle before he turned and blasted the sliotar to the roof of the Kildare net.

First Half Kerry Goal by Podge Boyle

Kevin Goulding added a point from play, and it was nip and tuck for the next 10 minutes with Boyle continuing to keep Kerry in front while Darragh Melville and Cathal McCabe kept Kildare within three points of the Kingdom.

When Kerry notched up their seventh wide in the 27th minute, Kildare rallied and scored the next four points with Qualter converting three frees and Cathal McCabe taking advantage of a Kerry turnover to level the contest 0-9 to 1-6 approaching half time.

Qualter then missed a difficult effort, but Podge Boyle from his own ’65 landed a monster free to give Kerry a 1-7 to 0-9 advantage and left everything to play for in the second-half.

Scorers for Kerry: P Boyle (1-7, 5fs), D Moriarty (0-5, 3fs, 1’65), O Maunsell (0-3), K Goulding (0-2)

Scorers for Kildare: D Qualter (0-10, 8fs, 1’65), C McCabe (0-3), G Keegan and D Melville (0-2 each) P Dolan and C Boran (0-1 each).

KILDARE: P McKenna; L O’Reilly, S Leacy; R Boran; P Dolan, C McCabe, D O’Meara; D Guerin, C Boran; D Qualter, G Keegan, D Melville; J Sheridan, J Burke, J Higgins.
Subs: M Curtin for J Higgins (46), J Travers for D Guerin (54), J Dolan for D Melville (70).

KERRY: L Dee; Kyle O’Connor, F McCarthy, D Kearney; D Shanahan, K Goulding, D Conway; P O’Connor, D Griffin; T Doyle, K Hayes, L Crowley; R Walsh, P Boyle, O Maunsell.
Subs: S Nolan for L Crowley (48), S Brosnan for D Griffin (56), D Moriarty for P Boyle (58), a Segal for K Hayes (68), R Mahony for R Walsh (69).

Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)

Team News

KERRY: Louis Dee; Kyle O’Connor, Flor McCarthy, Dara Kearney; Darragh Shanahan, Kevin Goulding, Darragh Conway; Paudie O’Connor, Daithí Griffin; Tom Doyle, Killian Hayes, Luke Crowley; Ronan Walsh, Padraig Boyle, Oisín Maunsell.
Subs: Darren Delaney, Rory Mahony, Seánie McGrath, Seamie Foran, Seánie Brosnan, Adam Segal, Dylan Moriarty, Niall Mulcahy, Shane Nolan, Luke Rochford, Eric Leen.

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Liam O’Reilly, Simon Leacy, Rian Boran; Paul Dolan, Cathal McCabe, Daniel O’Meara; Daire Guerin, Cian Boran; David Qualter, Gerry Keegan, Darragh Melville; Jack Sheridan, James Burke, Jack Higgins.
Subs: Mark Doyle, Jack Travers, Harry Carroll, Richy Hogan, James Dolan, Oisin Lynam, Muiris Curtin, James Dolan, Conn Kehoe, Matt Eustace, Cormac Byrne.

Details

Date:
April 19
Time:
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Venue

Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge
Ireland + Google Map

GAA Units

Clare GAA
Cork GAA
Kerry GAA
Limerick GAA
Tipperary GAA
Waterford GAA
US GAA