SHC final preview: Difficult to split two teams who know how to win when it matters

Winning when it matters is something that both Ardclough and Celbridge have been able to do in recent years. They are by no means the most consistent two teams in the Kildare Senior Championship since 2016, but they are the most successful in terms of silverware. This year, like last year, Naas are the only team in the championship to lose just one game, and Saturday’s finalists have managed to lose a couple each and still progress to the decider. Winning when it matters is very much the mantra.

When Celbridge won their last county title in 2016 they really clicked into gear when it came to the knockout stages, ultimately triumphing over Naas with relative ease. When Ardclough lifted the Tony Carew Cup last year they did so after starting slowly and building to a remarkable crescendo before the big finale.

Speaking to two of the main protagonists from each camp, you could almost swap their explanations for their poor early season form and gradual improvement, and it would still hold the same weight.

“For the first group match against Confey we had only 16 or 17 togged out due to holidays and things like that,” Ardclough captain Paul Fitzgerald told the Kildare Post.

“I think when lads are back and you know it’s the business end of the championship, you know the end of August you need to start peaking, win the last match and then to get into the quarter-final. It’s about momentum; you start winning games and you start playing a bit better and it just keeps building and building and building.”

Celbridge centre-forward Mark Moloney almost mirrored his counterpart’s comments, stating; “It was hard to get a consistent team out, and we found that early in the championship we had a different 15 in each of the early games for different reasons.

“We found a little bit of form and we’re just looking to capitalise on it now. We scraped through to the semi-finals on scoring difference, and it was unlucky on whatever team – it ended up being Coill Dubh – that would go out, but we were just lucky to be one of the two that qualified, and I suppose it opened up a huge opportunity for us to get back to the final.”

Saturday’s game is one of those that you could sit down all day contemplating the outcome, but there are so many variables that it is inherently difficult to call. Neither team will hold any fear of one another, and it should prove to be an open and engaging encounter from the off.

Both sides are built on fairly stout defensive platforms and they possess some excellent man-markers. There are few better in Kildare club hurling than Patrick Curtin who has been a superb corner-back for a number of years now, while Fiachra Ó’Muineacháin boasts a wealth of experience and class at full-back. They will have their hands full with an Ardclough attack that has looked scintillating at times over the last couple of months. Martin Fitzgerald is playing close to his best, and along with a small handful of players in Kildare he is capable of winning games almost singlehandedly. His elder brother Paul has proven a man for the big occasion before, and while he was quiet in the win over Naas, there are few more likely to pop up for a key goal on Saturday. If Celbridge can nullify the threat of the Fitzgerald pair, along with Mark Lynam who is having a great season at centre-forward, they will go some way to winning this game.

The midfield battle is one that will provide a beautiful contrast capable of deciding the tie. Niall Delahunt and Paudie Ryan are the most energetic and diminutive pairing in the county, and the Ardclough duo will come up against Billy White and possibly Shane O’Flynn who offer a bit more brawn in that area. It could lead to the fascinating situation where all four midfielders let each other off to do their own thing and cause a relative shootout in that area.

Celbridge’s forward line has been sensational at times in recent games, and having racked up 4-23 against Clane they followed up by scoring 2-16 in the semi-final win over Confey. The re-integration of country footballer Fergal Conway has been paramount to their upturn in form, and his ability to break through defensive lines and garner scores is a key facet of Celbridge’s gameplan. In the attack alongside Conway is the big figure of Tom Fitzgerald who has been chipping in with decent scoring tallies throughout the championship. His presence gives a real focal point to the attack and allows the likes of Leo Quinn and Tom Finnerty to buzz around him.

Like recent county finals there is likely to be very little separating these teams and it is an almost impossible game to call. A draw is a strong possibility, but if Celbridge can lock down the Ardclough attack they may just have enough of their own options up front to edge this one.

Verdict: Celbridge