Kildare claimed the Christy Ring Cup when accounting for Derry by eight points in their hugely entertaining decider at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.
Of course, their reward is a place in next year's Joe McDonagh Cup and their ability to create and take the goal chances that came their way proved the telling difference between both teams.
Derry took their time to settle, allowing their opponents the chance to build up a head of steam and it was the Lilies that claimed the lead through a 3rd minute point by Simon Leacy.
Matters deteriorated for Derry a minute later as some defensive indecision was punished as Muiris Curtin gathered possession before firing an unerring shot into the top corner of Oisín O’Doherty’s goal.
A free from Cormac O’Doherty opened the Derry account in the 6th minute but they were playing second fiddle for the larger part as Kildare pushed clear through points by Cathal McCabe and Conan Boran.
Darragh McGilligan chipped in with Derry’s first score from play in the 10th minute but some loose marking was punished as Kildare continued to impress through scores by Paul Dolan and Leacy.
However, Derry were beginning to gain some foothold in the game, as reflected in scores from John Mullan and Cormac O’Doherty, trimming their margin to a more manageable three points towards the end of the first quarter.
Kildare could well have added a second goal in the 19th minute but Oisin O’Doherty dived full length to thwart a marauding James Burke and Derry seemed to take huge inspiration from this intervention.
Mullan in particular was galvanised in the ensuing four minutes, accruing three excellent points from play, and suddenly, Kildare’s lead was down to the bare minimum by the 23rd minute.
Jack Sheridan landed a settling free for Kildare soon after, ending a scoreless period of seven minutes in the process and he added a cracking point from play to restore a degree of control on the scoreboard.
That control was enhanced even further in the 33rd minute as Burke was fouled after collecting a lengthy delivery and Sheridan did the necessary from the resultant penalty to push his side seven points clear approaching the break.
An excellent Cian Boran point added to the Kildare lead but Derry finished the half through points from Cormac O’Doherty and Christy McNaughton to trim their arrears to six points by half-time.
Derry made further inroads into their deficit as the contest resumed with Cormac O’Doherty and the hugely influential Mullan clipping over scores inside the first minute of the second-half.
The former popped over a brace of frees to ensure that they maintained the initiative, especially with Kildare hitting two sloppy wides, reflecting their general unease as their lead diminished further.
However, they gained some traction as Sheridan converted a brace of frees and they managed to hand themselves further breathing room in the 49th minute as David Qualter gathered possession thirty metres from goal and a sharp turn afforded him sufficient space to plant an unstoppable finish beyond the despairing dive of O’Doherty.
A fourth goal arrived for Kildare as Burke followed up on a rebound in the 68th minute and while Derry placed concerted pressure on the Kildare goal in the dying moments, their sole reward was a penalty converted by O’Doherty, scant consolation for Derry by the final whistle.
Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Mark Grace, Rian Boran, Cian Shanahan; Paul Dolan (0-01), Conan Boran (0-01), Daniel O’Meara; Simon Leacy (0-02), Cathal McCabe (0-01); Daire Guerin, James Burke (1-02), Cian Boran (0-03); Jack Sheridan (1-09, 0-8f, 1-0 pen), David Qualter (1-01), Muiris Curtin (1-00).
Subs: J Dolan for Guerin (46), D Flaherty (0-1) for Curtin (54), H Carroll for Shanahan (55), C Dowling for McCabe (62), M Delaney for Burke (71).
Derry: Oisín O’Doherty; Paddy Kelly, Mark Craig, Niall Farren; Seán Cassidy, Richie Mullan (0-01), Meehaul McGrath; Callum O’Kane, Corey O’Reilly; Darragh McGilligan (0-1), Cormac O’Doherty (1-11, 9f, 1-00 pen), Cahil Murray; John Mullan (0-06), Christy McNaughton (0-01), Ruairí Ó Mianáin.
Subs: J Cassidy (0-02) for O’Kane (40), S Quinn for Farren (50), S Kelly for McNaughton (53), D Mooney for O’Reilly (62), J Friel for Murray (67).
Referee: Brian Keon (Galway).
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