It was a huge night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as the semi-finals of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial got underway and it was Kildare, who came into the Classic unraced that made everyone sit up and take note as he made it back-to-back wins to advance into the decider as a big player.
Trained in Mooncoin by Peter Cronin, The 6/1 outsider pinged the lids to lead the field into the opening corner. Meanwhile, last week’s star performer Magical Kuba also fluffed his lines, and he was forced to settle for fourth early doors, just behind Northern raider Da Bold Freddie.
Taking a two-length lead into the back straight, Kildare set a storming gallop down the far side as Swords Rex gave chase in second.
It was some five lengths back to Da Bold Freddie in third, while both Magical Kuba and Deadly Showtime looked hung out to dry at this point in the contest.
A son of Droopys Sydney and Palermo, the winner still had a length and a half in hand crossing the winning line. The race for the final qualification spot was very close. Da Bold Freddie has occupied the position for much of the contest, but Magical Kuba began to turn the screw between the bottom two bends, and he got the verdict, by a head, on the line.
The time for Kildare was a smashing 28.21 and it will be Swords Rex and Magical Kuba joining him in next week’s showpiece.
The draw for the final and nominated clubs:
- T1 – SWORDS REX – Pallasgreen GAA
- T2 – SCOOBY PRINCE – Cappamore Camoige
- T3 – DROOPYS EDISON – Gerald Griffins GAA
- T4 – KILDARE – Galtee Gaels GAA
- T5 – BALLINABOLA ED – Mungret St. Pauls
- T6 – MAGICAL KUBA – Patrickswell Camoige