Spain has fun in the sun with late goals giving Ardclough victory over Celbridge in Senior Hurling Opener

Senior Hurling Championship Preliminary Round

Tony Spain was only on the field for fifteen minutes but his two stoppage time goals were crucial as Ardclough grabbed victory over Celbridge in a thrilling contest at St.Conleths Park.

Goals from Marcus Kinsella, Billy White and Paul Hogan looked to have set Celbridge up for victory but the Cloughs struck with the experienced Spain late on.

The Fitzgerald brothers scored 1-12 between them and they always ensured that Ardclough were within range before they struck for gold .

In saying that Celbridge will be kicking themselves for letting a four point lead slip in added on time as their opponents booked a place in the winners group when the Championship resumes in two months time.

Celbridge kickstarted the game with a Mark Moloney score before Paul Hogan rattled a shot off the outside of the post.

Paul Fitzgerald replied with a free but Celbridge were soon three points to the good when a long range Billy White free evaded everyone and went all the way into the corner of the net.

Moloney then knocked over a couple more scores before Ardclough finally got their house in order with points from the two Fitzgerald’s and Cillian Burke getting them back to within a point.

Celbridge looked a step ahead in the first half though and after Patrick Leahy and Marcus Kinsella knocked over points Paul Hogan forced in a 16th minute goal after the Ardclough defence failed to deal with a long free into the square adequately.

Sam White knocked over two quickfire points to give Damien Byrne’s side a 2-7 to 0-6 advantage but the comfortable lead was cut by the half time whistle as points from the Fitzgerald’s and Declan Molloy got Ardclough within two points at the break.

Ardclough continued that momentum at the start of the second period with a long range Martin Fitzgerald free followed up by a goal from Sean Whelan.

Celbridge responded with a pair of Sam White frees but Paul and Martin Fitzgerald were on target again as Ardclough opened up a 1-14 to 2-9 lead.

Ardclough didn’t score for another ten minutes though and Celbridge began to turn the screw with two efforts from Sam White levelling up the game while Hogan was out of luck when a goalbound effort was brilliantly saved by Ardclough stopper Ruairi Morrissey.

One of the stars of the Naas CBS Football team Drew Costello edged Ardclough back in front in the 48th minute but Celbridge soon struck for their third goal with Marcus Kinsella firing in on a bursting run after Patrick Leahy had earlier pointed from a difficult angle.

Ardclough kept in touch with scores from sub Tony Spain and Paul Fitzgerald but when Leahy, Kinsella and Sam White all scored Celbridge looked set for victory.

Leahy also had a goal chance saved during this period but with a four point lead entering injury time they looked safe but that didn’t turn out to be the case as Spain showed all his class in scoring a 60th minute goal on the back of an Aran Kelly pass to reduce the lead to just a point.

Moloney pushed Celbridge’s lead out again to two in what looked the insurance score but Spain rounded off a wonderful cameo with a last gasp goal to give Ardclough a brilliant come from behind success.

Ardclough: Ruairi Morrissey; Eoghan Walsh, David Collins, Sean Buggy, Ronan Maguire, Aran Kelly, Ben Reddan, Martin Fitzgerald 0-5 (0-1f, 0-1 65) , Liam Hanley, Drew Costello 0-1, Donal Delahunt, Declan Molloy 0-2, Sean Whelan 1-0, Cillian Burke 0-1, Paul Fitzgerald 1-7 (0-4fs).

Subs used: Niall Delahunt for Molloy 37 mins, Tony Spain 2-1 for D.Delahunt 45 mins, Mark Lynam for Whelan 59 mins, Tadhg McCarthy for Collins 60 mins.

Celbridge: Niall Lanigan; Sean Leonard, Fiachra O’Muineachain, Sean O’Sullivan, Kevin Murphy, Niall O’Muineachain, Patrick Curtin, Aaron Doran, Billy White 1-0, Sam White 0-7 (0-5fs, 0-1 65) Mark Moloney 0-4, Michael O’Donovan, Patrick Leahy 0-3, Marcus Kinsella 1-2, Paul Hogan 1-0.

Ref: Dave Coady