Semi final place
CELBRIDGE…………………………………. 0-19
NAAS…………………………………………… 1-09
BY DAIRE WALSH
A strong final-quarter display by Celbridge proved crucial in Leixlip on Sunday morning, as Noel McMahon’s charges booked their place in the semi-final of the Kildare Senior Hurling Championship with an impressive seven-point triumph over Naas in a lively Round Five encounter.
The five-time champions now await the winners of a play-off between Ardclough and Clane, and based on their form for much of this tie, they will be hell-bent on reclaiming the crown that they last held in 2011. That was their third consecutive season as the top side in Kildare hurling, and despite going behind early on to a Conor O’Hehir free, they showed exactly why they are such a fearsome proposition for their would-be opponents.
Half-forward Mark Moloney kept the Celbridge scoreboard ticking away.
Naas were struggling to settle into the proceedings, and were coming off second best in many of the key battles around the field. However, they did receive a lifeline with 19 minutes gone, as midfielder Michael Purcell stepped forward to drill a 21-metre free to the back of Niall Lanigan’s net after O’Hehir had been upended in a dangerous position.
This was precisely the lift that Naas required, and with their counterparts having to replace the influential Donal Moloney because of injury, they suddenly themselves in contention for the points on offer. Celbridge continued to force Naas on the back-foot, but they were proving to be rather wasteful in front of goal, and a third pointed free by O’Hehir reduced the underdogs’ arrears to the bare minimum.
Celbridge were in top form during the second half and by the 50th minute were well out in front on the scoreboard. Naas’ first score from play was secured by Purcell after 52 minutes, but a quartet of points without reply courtesy of Kirwan, Butler (two) and substitute Eoghan Doddy meant that Celbridge were out of sight heading into the dying stages. To the credit of Naas, they battled until the very end, and brought the gap down to four but were unable to catch a confident Celbridge.
CELBRIDGE: Niall Lanigan; Tom Finnerty, Fiachra O Muineachain, Pa Curtin; Kevin Murphy (0-1), Neil O Muineachain, Sam White; Donal Moloney, Billy White (0-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘65’); Mark Moloney (0-2), Tony Murphy (0-1), Fergal Conway; Niall Kenny, Danny Butler (0-4), Shane O’Flynn (0-1).
SUBS: Eoghan Doddy (0-1) for D Moloney (18), Dave Kirwan (0-3) for Kenny (46), Marcus Kinsella (0-1) for Conway (55).
NAAS: Cormac Gallagher; Ross Bergin, Mark Carter, Donal McSweeney; Andrew Doyle, John O’Malley, Stephen Piggott; Michael Purcell (1-1, 1-0 penalty), Kevin Whelan; Ross Kelly, Richie Coyle, Paul Sullivan; Sean Gainey, Philip Cocoman (0-1), Conor O’Hehir (0-5, 5 frees).
Subs: Kevin Byrne (0-1) for Gainey (30), Mark Hennessey (0-1) for Coyle (55).