Maynooth take Kildare Minor 'A' Hurling title after classic final

Maynooth are the Future Ticketing Minor A Hurling champions after they had two points to spare over Celbridge in a hugely entertaining Kildare final played in Manguard Park on Sunday lunchtime.

Celbridge played their part in a very tight and lively encounter but an inspired closing five minutes saw Maynooth crowned champions.

A crisp and dry morning followed 48 hours of heavy rain but Manguard Park was in remarkably good condition and it lead to a classic game between two evenly matched sides. They were level on no fewer than nine occasions over the hour.

Celbridge enjoyed the brighter start and they had 1-2 on the board before Maynooth had a shot at goal. Wing forwards Patrick O'Brien and Harry Rubotham opened the Celbridge account before a long ball from Michael Owens fell kindly for Darragh Colton and the full forward found the net to help open a early five point advantage.

It took Maynooth 10 minutes to register their opening score and it came from a wing forward Tom Power when he found himself unmarked 40 metres from goal.

Maynooth were starting to grow into the game and senior star Oran Byrne fired over an inspirational point from just outside his own 45 metre line. Cian McGrath responded with the first of his three points in that opening half.

Second Quarter
As the game entered the second quarter Ciaran Dunne was denied a levelling goal after good blocks from Caolan Montgomery and Elliott Dwyer but the ball broke kindly for corner forward David Duffy who finished high to the Celbridge net.

Cian McGrath and Tom Power traded frees before Celbridge struck for goal number two. Celbrige again went route one and a breaking ball off Darragh Colton fell kindly for Gavin O'Reilly who made full use of the opportunity to push his side three ahead.
Maynooth were never to far away and despite Ciaran Dunne forcing another good save from Elliott Dwyer goal number two was on the way.

Oran Byrne played in David Duffy and from a tight angle his pace gave him the chance to land his second goal.
A late free from Cian McGrath meant the sides were level at 2-5 each as they went to the dressing rooms.

Two Cian McGrath frees inside a minute of the restart had Celbridge back in front before another Tom Power free reduced the gap to the minimum.

The scores were coming thick and fast and although Harry Rubotham left two in it again it was three in a two minute spell that had Maynooth back in front again. Jack Carroll, Tom Power and Ciaran Gorman all on target.

Cian McGrath, from a free, levelled it at 2-9 each and points Ciaran Gorman and Patrick O Brien meant the sides couldn't be separated.

Jerry Molloy tried his luck from distance and in keeping with the flow of the half he had Maynooth back in front.
A save from Maynooth keeper Cillian Madden from Patrick O Brien saw the ball fall to Gavin O Reilly who finished his second goal.

Four clear
The closing quarter was drama all the way. Sean Tobin and Harry Rubotham pushed Celbridge four ahead but somehow Maynooth found the resolve to draw level again. Jack Carroll added his second before substitute Padraig Reilly got it at the second attempt to level with a third Maynooth goal. Jerry Molloy and Harry Rubotham traded points.

Maynooth driven on by Oran Byrne pushed for one last time and points from Ciaran Ward Jerry Molloy and two from David Duffy helped them into a four point lead but just when you thought Celbridge were done they forced a 60th minute penalty when a flying hurl left referee Brian Kearney with no option.

Cian McGrath made no mistake and with three minutes of injury time remaining Celbridge searched for a leveller. Time ran out as Tom Power from a free sealed the two point win with a late free.

A brilliant advertisement for Kildare hurling. Pity there had to be a loser.

MAYNOOTH: Cillian Madden; Cillian Price, Conall Knox, Joe Harrington; Daibhi Reynolds, Ciaran Ward 0-1, Ciaran Dunne; Oran Byrne 0-2, Ciaran Gorman 0-2; Jack Carroll 0-2, Jerry Molloy 0-3, Tom Power 0-6 (5f); David Duffy 2-2,Harry Egan, Aaron Larkin. Subs: Paidi Knox for Harry Egan 37; Padraig Reilly 1-0 for Jack Carroll 47.

CELBRIDGE: Elliott Dwyer; Caolan Montgomery, Tom Wright, Conor O'Brien; Tomas Gallagher, Michael Owens, Zach Hughes; Odhran Conaty, Adam Warren; Harry Rubotham 0-4, Gavin O Reilly 2-0, Patrick O Brien 0-2; Cian McGrath 1-6 (penalty,6f), Darragh Colton 1-0, Sean Tobin 0-1. Subs: Jack King for Zach Hughes 36; Matthew McLoughlin for Sean Tobin 50; James Murphy for Caolan Montgomery 55.

REFEREE: Brian Kearney.

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