Top class game, despite the wet conditions
Harte shines brightest as Celbridge dismiss Carbury
CELBRIDGE……………………………….. 0-14
CARBURY………………………………….. 0-11
DAIRE WALSH
A five-star performance from Shane Harte made all the difference at a rain-soaked Kilcock last Friday evening, as Celbridge held off a determined challenge from Carbury to book their place in the semi-final of the 2014 Joe Mallon Motors SFC.
When Celbridge reached the last-four of the competition back in 2011, they were on the receiving end of a three-point defeat (1-11 to 0-11) to the Parsonstown lads, and though it was by no means a faultless display from the 2008 champions (who were minus the services of Australia-bound Paddy Brophy), they have every reason to feel confident after emerging victorious.
In order to fully utilise the talents of inside duo Colm Kearney and Terry Rossiter, Carbury opted to employ Kenny McNamara around the middle-third of the field, and with the half-forward line also dropping deep when Celbridge were in possession, there was plenty of scope for the 11-time winners to create space inside.
However, it was wing-back Steven McKeon who opened the scoring five minutes in, when he split the posts at the end of a fine run on the right-wing. This eye-catching effort was immediately supplemented by a well-worked score from Rossiter, and though Celbridge eventually opened their account with an eighth-minute point from play by Adrian Cahill, Rossiter was once again on target via excellent approach play by the bustling Kearney.
In comparison to their opponents, Celbridge were taking their time to settle into the contest, but thanks to a brace of expertly-struck Harte frees – the first of which was from an awkward right-hand angle – parity had been restored by the end of the first-quarter.
The in-form Rossiter added his third point of the evening 18 minutes in after Kearney knocked down McKeon’s cross-field delivery, but at the far end of the pitch, Carbury netminder Declan Conroy was twice forced into action when Hugh McGrillen and Mark O’Sullivan broke through on goal.
Celbridge passed up these potentially-crucial opportunities, but when Harte stepped forward to negotiate another dead-ball opportunity, he made sure that a fourth white flag was raised in his side’s favour.
O’Sullivan’s opening point five minutes before the break offered Celbridge the lead for the first time, but with the O’Flaherty brothers, Morgan and Eoghan, adding their name to score sheet, Carbury led 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.
It was still too early to predict the eventual outcome of the game, however, and although Celbridge capitalised on a close-range Willie Groome miss with a 0-2 salvo from Harte, Eoghan O’Flaherty’s trusty right-boot quickly levelled matters.
This was the fifth time that the sides had been level, and the way events were transpiring, it seemed unlikely that it would be the last. Celbridge had other ideas, though, and when Harte followed up his first score from play with a successful free from a straightforward position, there was a sense that they could build some sustained momentum.
Rossiter’s black-card dismissal for a foul on Celbridge full-back Mick O’Grady after 43 minutes also gave them a psychological edge and following a fisted contribution from O’Sullivan, their lead had increased to three with 15 minutes left.
Yet, despite losing Rossiter Carbury showed no sign of throwing in the towel, and by the 50-minute mark, they had narrowed the deficit to a minimum after Colm Kearney’s sharply-executed score was added to by a 40-metre Eoghan O’Flaherty effort.
This led to some anxious moments for Celbridge, but with county panellist Michael Konstantin making an impact upon his introduction into the north Kildare side’s half-forward division, they never allowed panic to creep into their play.
Though more understated than Harte and O’Sullivan, corner-forward Cahill is a lively operator, and he registered his second point as Celbridge kept the scoreboard ticking away. Fortunately for Carbury, Eoghan O’Flaherty was just as effective from placed-balls as Harte and his fourth score brought his team into double-figures with 52 minutes gone on the clock.
Yet, the spirits of the travelling Hazelhatch Road faithful were raised once again when Harte brilliantly found his range from beyond the 45-metre-line.
With his first kick following his entrance into the fray, Carbury substitute Joe Crowe’s fine point set-up a tantalising finale. Yet, unfortunately for the men in blue and gold, this was as close as they came to swinging the pendulum in their direction, and after the way he had led his side’s charge throughout the hour, it was fitting that Harte would have the final say for Celbridge.
His third point from play left Carbury needing a goal approaching the end of normal time, and when referee Brendan Cawley moved a free into a central position owing to dissent from Carbury, the outstanding Harte brought his astonishing personal tally up to 0-10, and ultimately secured the triumph for a jubilant Celbridge outfit.
CELBRIDGE: Shane McNamara; Mick Deegan, Mick O’Grady, Pauric Carty; David Murphy, Ollie Lyons, Fergal Conway; Hugh McGrillen, Conor Brophy; Padraig Fitzgerald, Dylan Corcoran, Cormac McEvoy; Adrian Cahill (0-2), Mark O’Sullivan (0-2), Shane Harte (0-10, 7 frees). Subs: Michael Konstantin for McEvoy (37), David Byrne for Fitzgerald (50), Ray Flynn for Cahill (54), Ben McCarthy for Murphy (57, BC).
CARBURY: Declan Conroy; Garry Mangan, Danny Boyle, Darren Moore; Steven McKeon (0-1), Morgan O’Flaherty (0-1), Daryl O’Brien; Sean Costello, Brian O’Flaherty; Willie Groome, Eoghan O’Flaherty (0-4, 4 frees), Michael Kelly; Kenny McNamara, Colm Kearney (0-1), Terry Rossiter (0-3). Subs: Andy Dermody for Rossiter (44, BC), Joe Crowe (0-1) for Kelly (52).
REFEREE: Brendan Cawley (Sarsfields).
Snippets
Turning Point of the game
With three points to his name inside the opening-quarter, Terry Rossiter was the focal point in the Carbury attack. After shaky early moments, the Celbridge defence was keeping a tight rein on the Carbury danger man as the game wore on, but when Rossiter received a black-card for a foul on Celbridge’s Mick O’Grady 13 minutes into the second half, it was a significant blow to Carbury’s prospects.
Man of the Match
In a game where every score was a hard-earned one, the importance of a reliable free-taker could not be underestimated. Eoghan O’Flaherty did finish with a very respectable 0-4 tally from placed-balls, but with an impressive personal haul of 0-10, Shane Harte was effectively the difference between the teams. In addition to seven points from frees, Harte also contributed 0-3 from play, and was an elusive presence in the Celbridge attack.
Score of the game
There were many fine efforts to pick from throughout the course of the contest, but once again it is left to Harte to claim the plaudits in this regard. With just one point separating the teams, and only six minutes remaining on the clock, Harte was faced with the daunting task of converting a free from beyond the ‘45’, but he made light of the circumstances by clearing the upright with quite a bit to spare for a vital score.