HURLING/Kehoe Cup semi-finals: Midfielder Jonathan O'Neill spearheaded Wicklow hurlers to a 1-14 to 0-15 win over neighbours Carlow in their Kehoe Cup semi-final at Arklow yesterday, thereby keeping alive their bid for a third title in a row.
Fielding a team made up mainly of minor and Under- 21 players, Carlow burst from the traps at the start of each half but the more battle-hardened Wicklowmen reeled them in both times and the sides were level seven times in all over the 70 minutes.
Midway through the second half Jonathan O'Neill crashed a penalty to the net to level the scores for a fifth time at 1-9 to 0-12 and then he lofted over three smashing points in the last seven minutes, two of them from play, to set up the victory and bring his total for the game to an impressive 1-6.
In the second semi-final, first half goals from Colm Buggy and Daragh Nolan set Kildare on their way to a 3-17 to 2-3 victory over Louth in Drogheda. The visitors led by 2-9 to 0-2 after a fine first-half display.
Louth full forward Aidan Callan netted twice for the home side late on but a third Kildare goal, from Seán O'Carroll on 66 minutes, sealed victory.
SCORERS: Wicklow - J O'Neill (1-6), R O'Brien (0-3), J Murphy, M O'Brien (0-2 each), T Collins (0-1; Carlow - P Coady (0-7), J Coady (0-3), S Murphy (0-2), G Doyle, S Smithers, L Kenny (0-1 each).
SCORERS: Kildare - S O'Carroll (1-3), C Buggy (1-2), D Nolan (1-1), T Carew (0-4, 3fs), D Harney (0-3), J Dempsey, C Boran, T Spaine, P Brennan (0-1 each); Louth - A Callan (2-0), M Boland (0-2),S Byrne (0-1)
