Meath 0-22
Kildare 1-16
(after extra-time)

Meath hit five unanswered points during the first half of extra-time to overcome Kildare in an exciting Christy Ring Cup clash at Newbridge. Meath restricted the Kildare men to three points from placed balls, two frees and a '65' by Gerry Keegan while the Lillywhites' were wind assisted in the final ten minutes during which Steven Clynch also pointed a free.

The Royals forced extra-time thanks to late points from Sean Heavey and Bart Hanley and Cillian Farrell's charges overtook the hosts in extra-time.

Kildare will look back on the dismissal of captain Paul Divilly in the first half of extra-time following an off-the-ball incident as contributing to their fadeout during this period.

After Steven Clynch opened the scoring against a strong breeze with a difficult free Gerry Keegan gave Kildare the perfect start when finding the back of the Meath net in the second minute. A further Steven Clynch free and a Stephen Morris point in the tenth minute kept Meath in the game. A '65' from Paul Divilly in the 12th minute got Kildare back on the scoreboard and he followed with a free on 13 mins, a David Harney point from play left Kildare a goal to the good (1-3 to 0-3) but a further Clynch free eased Meath nerves by the 18th minute and when a Paul Divilly 21st minute goal attempt from a 20 m free was deflected out for a '65' one felt that Meath were not going to go down without a fight even if Divilly did convert the '65' Steven Clynch added a further free as the Kildare rearguard struggled with the smaller but pacier Meath forwards as their right full back and centre back received yellow cards. Then Kildare got a new lease of life as David Harney, Kieran Divilly (2) Paul Divilly (2 frees) to Peter Durnin's solitary pointed reply in the 32nd minute. During this period lady luck also smiled on the hosts as a Barry Slevin goal attempt came back of the crossbar left them ahead by 1-9 to 0-7 at the break.

In the second half wind-assisted Meath clawed their way back into contention with, Mark O'Sullivan, James Kelly and a Clynch free leaving it Kildare 1-9 to 0-10 by the 7th minute. Points from Paul Divilly from a free and play put Kildare 4 clear again but points from Paddy Conneely, Adam Gannon and Steven Clynch (2) to one by Divilly left the minimum (1-12 to 0-14) in it by the 17th minute. Astonishingly for a high scoring game we had to wait a further 11 minutes for the next score a pointed free from Paul Divilly in the 28th minute of the half. This turned out to be their last score as Sean Heavey and Bart Hanley added points in the 31st & 32nd minutes levelled matters at Kildare 1-13 to Meath 0-16 but the drama did not end there as Kildare 'keeper Paul Dermody brought off a fine save to prevent a Stephen Morris goal attempt in the 33rd minute and so the game went to extra time.

A Clynch free gave the team in green and gold the lead and further points from Mark O'Sullivan (2), Paddy Conneely and a free and '65' from leading scorer Steven Clynch left them five ahead at the mini-break and they subsequently booked their place in the last four.

Meath - S McGann; D Donoghue, D Healy, C Reilly; J Kelly (0-1), J Togher, S Heavey (0-1); S Morris (0-1), S Clynch (0-11, 9 f, 2 '65'); P Conneely (0-2), M O'Sullivan (0-3), E Marsh; B Slevin, A Gannon (0-1), P Durnin (0-1). Subs: T McGrath for Slevin, B Hanley (0-1) for Marsh, Stephen Donoghue for Heavey and Phil Garvey for Durnin.

Kildare - P Dermody; J Doran, F Ó Muineacháin, P Curtin; N Ó Muineacháin, M Moloney, P Reidy; E O'Neill, K Divilly (0-2); D Harney (0-2), P Divilly (0-9), T Murphy; M Delaney, B Deay, G Keegan (1-3). Subs: M Purcell for Delaney, R Kelly for O'Neill, D Butler for K Divilly.

Referee - F Horgan. (Tipperary) Tweet

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