Celbridge Minor Footballers lifted the Hosey Cup on Friday December 9th after an empathetic 1-10 to 0-04 win over Eire Og of Carlow in the Leinster Minor Football Final. Despite the near freezing temperatures, playing conditions were ideal lending to an open and free flowing game officiated by 2008 All-Ireland referee Maurice Deegan of Laois.

Celbridge were first to raise a white flag with big full forward Fergal Conway opening the account for the Kildare champions. A further two followed from midfielder Jason Doran and a free from corner man Jordy Morrissey before Eire Og responded with a free from wing forward Ronan O'Brien to leave the score 3pts to 0-01 in favour of Celbridge half way through the first half. A heavy knock to Celbridge centre half back Conor Daly forced his substitution at this early stage and a reshuffle of the Celbridge line up moving Conway to centre back and introducing late arrival Davy Hughes to the forward line. Hughes impact was immediate with a point from play almost immediately.

As the midfield battle between highly rated Eire Og captain Mark Fitzgerald and Celbridge's county man Paddy Brophy intensified, both sides battled for scraps around the centre with little to separate them in the possession stakes. However, it was the Celbridge defence who were gaining the upper hand on their Carlow counterparts with ferocious work-rate and tackling frustrating the Eire Og youngsters time and again. Indeed the move of the game started deep in the Celbridge rearguard with Gerry Keegan picking up the break from a Dylan Corcoran block and embarking on a blistering run through the heart of the Eire Og team to finish with an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net. Shane O'Flynn followed up with a point for the Hazelhatch youngsters before Fitzgerald replied for Eire Og in the last action of the half to leave the score line at 1-05 to 0-02 in favour of Celbridge.

On the change of ends both teams were slow to settle into a rhythm with several stoppages and errors, however, it was the Celbridge outfit who were first to score - a fantastic solo effort from team captain Davy Hughes finishing with a neat point from 21 meters after a 30m run straight through the middle. Keegan was next up with another mazy run from defence and superb point from wide on the right. Not to be out-done Eire Og corner men raised the next two white flags - Darragh O'Brien with his sides first effort from play, and the ever dangerous Niall Quinlan with his sides third pointed free of the evening as Fitzgerald and Mark Furey enjoyed a spell of dominance around the middle. However, this was to be the last score of the game for the Carlow champions as Celbridge began turning the screw and closing out the contest. Shane O'Flynn's selfless runs were rewarded on the 20th minute mark with his second point of the game which was quickly followed up by a difficult point under pressure from Kevin Murphy now operating at full forward. The final score of the contest was fittingly kicked by the tireless Paddy Brophy whose work-rate, energy and discipline epitomised the Celbridge display from start to finish.

Great credit must go to both teams for a fantastic, action packed game deep in December after long campaigns. Indeed the hunger and passion displayed by both sets of players is a credit to their clubs and augers well for football in the province. Credit also to the Eire Og club organisers who once again had pitch and facilities in spectacular conditions to host this event. For Eire Og Mark Fitzgerald, Niall Quinlan & Darragh O'Brien really caught the eye while Celbridge had star performers in Shane O'Flynn, Paddy Brophy & man of the match Gerry Keegan. In front of a large travelling support the Hosey cup was presented to Celbridge Captain Davy Hughes to end the year on a high for the Kildare champions.

Teams:
Celbridge:
Shane McNamara, Niall Donnelly, Liam McDonagh, Eoghan Konstantin, Gerry Keegan (1-01), Conor Daly, Dylan Corcoran, Jason Doran (0-01), Paddy Brophy (0-01), Shane O'Flynn (0-02), Eoghan Markey, Kevin Murphy (0-01), Ronan Byrne, Fergal Conway (0-01), Jordy Morrissey (0-01f); Subs used: David Hughes for Conor Daly (15 mins), Bryan Flynn for Eoghan Konstantin (H/T), Barry Donovan for Eoghan Markey (45 mins)

Eire Og
Danny Curry, Fiach O'Toole, Kelvin Chatten, Aaron Mullins, Ross Hennessy, Niall Swan, Conor Murphy, Mark Fitzgerald(0-01f), Mark Fury, Ronan O'Brien, Cormac O'Toole, Eoin Maddock, Niall Quinlan (0-02f), Chris Blake, Darragh O'Brien(0-01) Tweet

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