Maynooth just ahead of Clane
MAYNOOTH………………………….. 2-10
CLANE…………………………………… 1-11
DAIRE WALSH
A 54th minute goal by centre-forward Mark Cummins proved pivotal at Hazelhatch Road, Celbridge on Saturday, as Maynooth emerged victorious in a tightly-contested second round encounter in Group Two of the 2013 Kildare Senior Hurling Championship.
A strong second-half fightback by Ronnie Hanks’ charges had set up a grandstand finish, but a much-needed triumph means last year’s Intermediate winners still have a realistic opportunity of making the knockout stages.
Clane had entered this tie as favourites, but despite opening up an early two-point cushion with fine scores from play by Lorcan Harney and Niall Doolan, Maynooth soon levelled matters with a brace from the bustling Cummins. Direct opponents David Harney (play) and Cummins (free) proceeded to trade points, but some incisive play by Clane led to fine efforts courtesy of corner-forward pair Hugh Giffney and Sean O’Rourke.
John Byrne’s men were the dominant side during the second quarter. A terrific goal by full-forward Neil Delaney straight after O’Rourke’s point got the ball rolling, and successful attempts by Cummins and Michael Gillick, as well as a couple of excellent white flag strikes from lively inside forward Cian Forde, gave Maynooth a 1-7 to 0-5 interval lead.
Cummins registered his fifth point out on the left-wing. Crom Abu remained in control when Gillick’s second cancelled out a 40-metre Lorcan Harney free on 36 minutes, but within five minutes of this score, the gap had narrowed to just three points thanks to David Harney, Lorcan Harney and Eoin Bracken.
Clane had once again found their feet in the contest, and with David Harney firing over his third point of the day from a ‘65’ with 18 minutes to go, Maynooth were starting to come under pressure. A fine Niall Doolan point reduced the deficit to the minimum.
A spell of 18 minutes without a score came to an end six minutes from the end when Cummins burst through the heart of the Clane defence before clinically striking beyond the reach of inter-county netminder Paddy McKenna.
This was a confidence-building three-pointer for Maynooth, and Delaney opened up a five-point lead just moments later. A close-range goal by Shane Ryan on 56 minutes threw a spanner into the works, however, and there were some nervy moments for the Maynooth rearguard during the closing stages. Maynooth had done enough to come away with the two points.
MAYNOOTH: Shane Nolan; Andrew Horan, Shane Barry, Paul Moylan; Eanna Lohan, Harry Oliver, Brendan Coffey; Fiachra Lohan, Graham Kenny; Michael Gillick (0-2), Mark Cummins (1-5, 0-4 frees), Fergal Molloy; Cian Forde (0-2), Neil Delaney (1-1), Conor Nolan. Subs: Sean Bean, Edmond Cooney, Molloy.
CLANE: Paddy McKenna; Ryan McGrath, Kieran Brady, Michael Cahalan; Dermot Crowley, David Harney (0-3, 0-2 ‘65’), Christian Smith; James McNeill, Lorcan Harney (0-3, 0-1 free); Shane Ryan (1-0), Niall Doolan (0-2), Cathal Egan; Hugh Giffney (0-1), Dano Horan, Sean O’Rourke (0-1). Subs: Eoin Bracken, Craig Gartland.
Referee: Tim O’Sullivan (Celbridge).