Kildare GAA: Clane capture Aldridge Cup

Clane captured the pre-season Aldridge Cup at Manguard Park, Hawkfield, this evening, with a one point win over Sarsfields in an entertaining game that looked liked it was heading to extra time before Clane were awarded a 20m free after the Newbridge side fell victrim to the 3x3 rule in the 63 minute.

It was Clane who looked the better team in the opening half and went in at the break leading by three 0-9 to 0-6 with Alan Fanning and Sam McCormack leading the way.

However, Sarsfields upped their game on the resumption and while it was not until the 53 minute before the leveled, it was no more than they deserved.

A free from substitute, Jake Loakman, on 60 minutes pushed The Sash ahead but with three minutes to come in time added on it was still all to play for.

Sam McCormack leveled up matters with a free as extra time was on cards.

However, Sarsfields attacked the Milltown end and were awarded a free, close to the stand side, some 45m or so out but referee Ray Flynn, then indicated that Sarsfields had breached the 3x3 new rule, and duly brought the ball forward for a 20m tap over free, Sam McCormack converted and the final whistle arrived with Clane clinching the Cup on a final score fo Clane 0-14 Sarsfields 0-13.

Scorers: Clane, Sam McCormack 0-5 (5 frees),Killian O'Sullivan 0-4 (two two-pointers, one free), Adam Fanning 0-2, Sean Dunne 0-1, Tadhg Montgomery 0-1, Adam Fitzpatrick 0-1.

Sarsfields, Shane Doyle 0-4 (3 frees), Conor Hartley 0-3, Conor Hartley 0-1, Darragh Ryan 0-1.Cian Costigan 0-1, Harry Redmond 0-1, Gavin Anderson 0-1, Jake Loakman 0-1 (free).

CLANE: Hugh Muldoon; Conor Walsh, Sean Callan, Cian Shanahan; James Donlon, Hugh Prendergast, Shane McCormack; Daragh Mullaly, Sean Dunne; Killian O'Sullivan, Sam McCormack, Tadhg Montgomery; Adam Fanning, Shane O'Sullivan, Oisin Tighe. Subs: Adadm Fitzpatrick for Cillian O'Sullivan (39 minutes); Cormac Vizzard for Oisin Tighe (43 minutes); Shane O'Connor for Shane O'Sullivan (48 minutes); Stephen Bereton for James Donlon (61 minutes).

SARSFIELDS: Marc Courtney Byrne; Daragh Conlon, Kieran Dwyer, David Higgins; Daragh Ryan, Shea Ryan, David Shalvey; Gavin Anderson, Tadhg Hoey; Harry Redmond, Cian Costigan, Ryan Kearney; Karl Hartley, Conor Hartley, Shane Doyle. Subs: Jack Keogh for Gavin Anderson (blood sub 3-10); James Aspell for Daragh Ryan (blood sub 20-23); Jack Mahon for Tadhg Hoey (41 minutes); Jake Loakman for Daragh Conlon (43 minutes); Cian McHugh for Shane Doyle (49 minutes); Conor O'Donovan for Karl Hartley (49 minutes); James Aspell for Cian Costigana (57 minutes).

REFEREE: Ray Kelly.