Celbridge show their credentials
JOE MALLON (RENAULT) MOTORS SFC GP A, RD 1
CELBRIDGE 1-19
EADESTOWN 2-9
Daire Walsh at Manguard Plus, Hawkfield
Aaron Browne struck 11 points on Saturday as Celbridge recovered from a slow start to secure victory against Eadestown in Group A of the SFC.
A constant thorn in the side of the opposition defence, Browne will be one to watch for the would-be challengers in this year’s competition. He was ably-supported by Kevin O’Callaghan and David Hughes on a day when the Hazelhatch Road outfit put themselves firmly in line for a spot in the championship knockout rounds.
In defeat, goalscorers Eoin Doyle and Rian Boran did their utmost to keep Eadestown in contention. While the Sky Blues will naturally be disappointed to lose out in the opening game of the campaign, their biggest concern in the next few days will surround the wellbeing of Aidan Cassidy.
Following an unfortunate collision with one of his own team-mates, he was treated on the pitch for all of 41 minutes before being taken away in an ambulance. Prior to his withdrawal, Cassidy had played a significant part in Eadestown throwing down the gauntlet to their much-fancied counterparts.
An inter-county stalwart for many years, Emmet Bolton ventured forward to kick a deadlock-breaking point in the third-minute. That was swiftly supplemented by the maiden goal of the contest, Boran hammering home after executing a neat one-two with Padraig Tuohy. Although Celbridge responded with a successful mark from Browne, Doyle subsequently fired to the net on 13 minutes to give Eadestown a six-point cushion.
Celbridge soon found their rhythm and were on level terms by the 22nd minute. Browne kicked three points while O’Callaghan (two) and Mick O’Grady were also on target before Paddy Brophy curled between the posts on the run. Boran pointed to leave Eadestown two points in arrears at the interval (0-10 to 2-2).
On the resumption, Browne registered three more points in the space of six minutes.
Eadestown stormed back out of the blocks after the delay. Eoin Conneff and Ben Fitzsimons raised white flags to leave three points between the sides.
There was a sense of calm throughout the Celbridge team, though, and O’Callaghan’s sublime three-point finish effectively left Eadestown with too much of a mountain to climb.
Jack Sargent, Doyle (two) and Conneff contributed points for the latter in the closing minutes, but with Browne (two) and David Hughes (two) matching their efforts, Celbridge eased themselves over the line.
Scorers: Celbridge: Aaron Browne 0-11 (3 frees, 2 marks), Kevin O’Callaghan 1-2, David Hughes 0-2, Paddy Brophy, Patrick Wall, Tony Archbold, Cian Powell 0-1 each.
Eadestown: Eoin Doyle 1-3 (0-3 frees), Rian Boran 1-2, Eoin Conneff 0-2, Jack Sargent, Ben Fitzsimons 0-1 each.
CELBRIDGE: Danny Kilgallon, Niall Donnelly, Mick Konstantin, Tadhg Halpin; Patrick Wall, John Costello, Paddy Brophy; Mick O’Grady, Fergal Conway; Liam O’Flynn, Kevin O’Callaghan, Adam Synnott; Niall O’Regan, Aaron Browne, Tony Archbold. Subs: Conor Plunkett for Halpin (half-time), Cian Powell for Wall (42).
EADESTOWN: Aaron Lawler; Daire Dillon, Rony Slattery, Emmet Bolton; Johnny Deane, Jack Sargent, Adam Fitzsimons; Niall Cummins, Rian Boran; Aidan Cassidy, Conor McCarthy, Padraig Tuohy; Sean O’Sullivan, Eoin Doyle, Eoin Conneff. Subs: Ben Fitzsimons for Cassidy (42), Pat O’Sullivan for Slattery (54).
REFEREE: David Coady.