Kildare 1-14
Roscommon 1-11
IT WAS THIRD time lucky for Kildare as they were crowned All-Ireland U21B Hurling champions in Thurles this evening.
A second-half goal from Ryan Casey and a man of the match performance from captain Gerry Keegan proved decisive as the Lilywhites ran out three-point winners against Roscommon.
It was a sweet victory for Kildare who have been Leinster champions at this grade for three straight years but lost by a point in the All-Ireland final in 2012 and again in 2013.
They led by four points at the break and had one hand on the trophy when Coill Dubh’s Casey struck the game’s opening goal to put them 1-12 to 0-8 ahead after 43 minutes.
Roscommon kept fighting until the final whistle and were rewarded by a goal from Thomas Featherson in the final minute.
It cut the margin to a respectable three points but by that stage, it was far too late to deny Kildare their long-awaited All-Ireland title.
