4-25 to 4-22; Maynooth and Ardclough share a classic Kildare SHC fixture

A total of 55 scores in this enthralling UPMC Kildare SHC, Group B game at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, on Saturday afternoon, saw Maynooth edge out Ardclough by just three in a mighty game of hurling.

The difference between the sides were two second half incidents, the first, a second yellow card for Ardclough full back David Collins in the 40 minute, and the second, six minutes later, when a long delivery from Maynooth's Oran Byrne, deceived Finn Leach and ended up in the back of the net.

Cillian Burke and Eoghan Walsh opened for The Cloghs before Oran Byrne got Maynooth up and running and a minute later a Cathal McCabe goal put the boys in black into the lead.

The scores came thick and fast in the opening quarter and by the fifth minute Maynooth led 1-4 to 0-4. That was extended with points from Ciaran Dunne and Cathal McCabe but Eoghan Walsh and Cillian Burke reduced that lead to three with a mere seven minutes on the clock.

The next four points were shared equally before Maynooth found the net again, this time from the stick of Kevin Carroll.
Sean Whelan and the impressive Tom Power exchanged points as the half-time whistle arrived Maynooth leading 2-15 to 0-15.

Tim Ryan and Tom Power (free) exchanged points on the resumption before Ardclough came storming back into the contest hitting four points on the trot to level it up 1-19 to 2-16.

Maynooth hit back again with white flags from Ciaran and Kevin Dunne but that second yellow for David Collins and Tom Power took full advantage popping over the resulting free.

Ardclough however, came storming back with an excellent move involving Eoghan Walsh, Tony Spain ended with Cillian Burke blasting to the Maynooth net to tie it up again at 2-19 apiece.

On 46 minutes Maynooth got a fortuitous goal when Oran Byrne's long distance effort ended up in the back of the net.
Tony Spain replied but two Tom Power points followed by a Kevin Dunne goal, after a great save by Finn Leach and when Michael Hogan added a point Maynooth now led 4-22 to 2-20 with 51 gone.

Ardclough, showing their renowned never-say-die attitude, were not done just yet and hit back three points but with Tom Power, Luke Murnane replying it left the score board reading Maynooth 4-24 Ardclough 2-23 56 minutes gone.

A minute to and Martin Fitzgerald found the Maynooth net on the second attempt from a 20m free, Kevin Dunne replied for the boys in black before Eoghan Walsh hit the Maynooth again but it was not enough as the final whistle arrived Maynooth winning, after a titanic game 4-24 to 4-22.

Scorers: Maynooth, Tom Power 0-10 (7 frees), Kevin Dunne 1-3, Cathal McCabe 1-2, Oran Byrne 1-1, Kevin Carroll 1-1, Cian Forde 0-2, Ciaran Dunne 0-2, Tadhg Forde 0-1, Matt Eustace 0-1, Luke Murnane 0-1, Michael Hogan 0-1.

Ardclough, Sean Whelan 0-10 (5 frees), Cillian Burke 1-4, Eoghan Walsh 1-3, Martin Fitzgerald 1-1 (2 frees), Tony Spain 1-2, Drew Costello 0-1, Tim Ryan 0-1.

MAYNOOTH: Sean Bean; David Eustace, Conall Knox, Conor O'Grady; Ronan Dunne, Matt Eustace, Kevin Carroll; Ciaran Dunne, Oran Byrne; Cian Forde, Cathal McCabe, Tadhg Forde; Tom Power, Kevin Dunne, Michael Hogan. Subs: Luke Murnane for Ronan Dunne (8 minutes); Cian Brody for David Eustace (59 minutes).

ARDCLOUGH: Finn Leach; Sean Buggy, David Collins, Tadhg McCarthy; Drew Costello, Maurice Sexton, Aaron Casey; Tim Ryan, Martin Fitzgerald; Ronan O'Malley, Patrick O'Malley, Sean Whelan; Eoghan Walsh, Cillian Burke, Tony Spain. Subs: Conor Kelly for Aaron Casey (51 minutes); Harry Maughan for Ronan O'Malley (51 minutes); Sean Coulston for Tony Spain (55 minutes).

REFEREE: Paul Donnelly.

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