Celbridge weekly notes
July 05, 2011The senior hurlers had their second championship win of the year when they overcame Clane 2-16 to 1-13 on Saturday but the Intermediates went under to Ardclough on Thursday (1-10 to 2-10). The Intermediates play Maynooth in the league semi-final on this Wednesday @7.30pm in Ardclough. The senior footballers welcome Athy on Sunday evening @6pm while the senior B's received a walkover from Monasterevin on Monday last.
Don't forget to buy your duck for the big race on Saturday @5.30pm, at €2 a duck everybody should ensure they are in with a shout of winning the €100 first prize.
Also Kevin Concannon will have his captains prize outing on Saturday in Powerscourt with tee times available between 11am and noon. You could also confrim your team for the annual classic which will be held in Castlewarden on July 28 and €100 covers the cost of a 3 person which is outstanding value. Phone Mary O'Connell @0868515509.
Celbridge 2-16
Clane 1-13
On a glorius summers day in Ardclough, ideal for hurling, reigning champions Celbridge made hard work of disposing of stubborn Clane resistance. In fact it took an injury-time goal from teen star Gerry Keegan to finally seal a somewhat flattering 6 point victory. Clane, who were playing their second championship game in 2 days, opened the scoring through Dano Hoare in the first minute, which was equalised by a Billy White free in the 4th minute. A superb sideline cut from Hoare in the 5th minute put Clane back in front and they went further ahead when teenager Hugh Giffney had the first of his three points. Niall Doolan made 4 points to 1 with an excellent effort from 70 yards in the 7th minute. A second White free reduced the defecit before a great run through the heart of the Clane defence by Fergal Conway resulted in a simple finish for Tony Murphy to raise a green flag. Two points from play by Leo Quinn and a White free put Celbridge in front by the 20th minute before a goal-line clearance by Neil O'Muineachain from a David Harney free ensured the champions maintained a 3 point cushion. Giffney's second point added to by a Harney free left the minimum between the sides before Conway ensured a 2 point gap with a point on the stroke of half-time.
Two quick fire points from Conor Kenny and Mark Moloney seemed to confirm the half-time thoughts of many in the crowd that the blues would kick on and record a comfortable success. Clane, to their credit had other ideas and Giffney added his third point but a point from play by White cancelled this out. Doolan for Clane and Kenny swapped points before Murphy put Celbridge 5 clear. An injury to Fiachra O'Muineachain paved the way for the eagerly awaited debut of Gerry Keegan in a senior shirt. Following a point by Chris Bonus and a free from Harney, Keegan had his first point when he dispossessed his marker before shooting over from 50 yards. Harney pointed a free for the men in white before the blues replied through White, Murphy and Keegan to seemingly seal the game. A Harney goal from a 21 yard free put the fat back in the fire and ensured a lively finish to the game. Moloney for Celbridge and Bernard Deay for Clane exchanged points to leave 3 in it heading for injury time. A 65 for Clane which was "dropped in" was well cleared by the blues defenders and when the ball reached Kenny at the far end he set up Keegan for the game clinching goal.
Celbridge had outstanding performances from Tom Finnerty, Donal Moloney and Aidan McDonagh in defence, Billy White was very influential in the middle of the field while up front the main threat came in the shape of the young guns, Fergal Conway and super-sub Gerry Keegan. A win is a win in championship and although there is plenty to work on for the next day a semi-final berth is there for the taking.
Celbridge: N. Lanigan, T. Finnerty, F. O'Muineachain, C. Ryan, A. McDonagh, D. Moloney, N. O'Muineachain, B. White, J. Houlihan, M. Moloney, T. Murphy, L. Quinn, F. Conway, C. Kenny, S. White. Subs: G. Keegan for F. O'Muineachain (inj), P. Moore for S. White. Tweet
