Celbridge edge Ardclough to claim second senior hurling title in 3 years

Haven Hire SHC final By Robert Cribbin

Ardclough’s hopes of winning back to back Senior Hurling Championships is at an end after a powerful Celbridge team roared to a four point success.

The win sees Celbridge achieve two titles in three years and it was a fully merited victory as they dominated for long periods.

Ardclough had looked in fine fettle when leading 1-9 to 1-5 in the early stages of the second half but they struggled from there with Tom Fitzgerald’s goal setting Celbridge up for victory.

Fitzgerald was a star turn for the winners in hitting 1-3 from play and along with the likes of Fergal Conway and Mark Moloney, the Blues always had that bit too much.

The defending was also immense as they shut down a vaunted Ardclough defence. It only took Celbridge a minute to register the first point of the game with Kevin Murphy knocking over from a difficult angle.

The Hazelhatch road club looked set for goal afterwards when the powerful Fergal Conway stormed forward and laid off to Mark Moloney but the sturdy Ardclough defence stood tall and averted the danger.

Ardclough then equalised moments later with Tony Spain splitting the posts from near the sideline.

The defending champions went three points clear in the 4th minute with a Richie Hoban pass finding Martin Fitzgerald and the full forward brilliantly spotted his brother Paul free inside and he made no mistake in firing past Niall Lanigan for the opening goal.

Celbridge responded well though with points from Sam White and Leo Quinn narrowing the Ardclough lead to just the minimum.

Celbridge then got a goal of their own halfway through the half with Kevin Murphy delivering a crossfield ball into the direction of Fergal Conway and the Kildare Senior Football star got the better of three defenders before rifling a brilliant shot into the net.

Tom Fitzgerald had another opportunity two minutes later but this time Ronan O’Malley was able to make a save. Ardclough would hit three scores on the bounce between the 20th and 23rd minutes as Niall Delahunt, Tony Spain and Martin Fitzgerald all found the target to edge them 1-4 to 1-3 ahead.

Successive scores from Sam White and Tom Fitzgerald did have Celbridge back in front but their shooting was costing them dear with ten first half efforts going wide off the target.

Ardclough punished their opponents for those misses with Paul Fitzgerald levelling up matters before a Martin Fitzgerald free and a storming Paudie Ryan effort gave Ardclough a 1-7 to 1-5 lead at the interval.

Conditions got worse at the beginning of the second half but it seemed to suit Ardclough as they continued where they left off in the first half knocking over the first two scores.

Tony Spain and Martin Fitzgerald found the target while Mark Lynam also went close for a second goal but Lanigan did well to deny the corner forward.

Ardclough didn’t score for five minutes and Celbridge hit as many points in that time to go level.

Mark Moloney took advantage of defensive mistakes to knock over a couple of efforts while Tom Fitzgerald and Billy White also scored to leave the sides deadlocked at 1-9 each.

A Martin Fitzgerald free had Ardclough back in front but it would be the last time they would hold that title as Celbridge hit back.

A Billy White free brought the sides level for the fourth time before Tom Fitzgerald forced in a goal in the 42nd minute.

It was a lead Celbridge wouldn’t relinquish from there with quickfire scores from Conway, Moloney and Tom Finnerty pushing them six points clear. Fitzgerald and Spain responded but scores from Tom Fitzgerald and Leo Quinn gave Celbridge breathing space again.

Ardclough made something of a comeback in the final few minutes as Ryan and Fitzgerald shot over to reduce the gap to three.

Ardclough needed a goal though and when Martin Fitzgerald shot into the side netting, they knew the cup was slipping out of their grasp as a late Billy White free put the seal on the victory for Celbridge who win their first Senior Title since 2016.

Scorers for Celbridge: T.Fitzgerald 1-3, F.Conway 1-1, B.White 0-3 (0-3fs), M.Moloney 0-3, S.White 0-2 (0-2fs), L.Quinn 0-2, T.Finnerty 0-1, K.Murphy 0-1. Scorers for Ardclough: M.Fitzgerald 0-7 (0-5fs, 0-2 65), T.Spain 0-4, P.Fitzgerald 1-1, P.Ryan 0-2, N.Delahunt 0-1.

Celbridge

Niall Lanigan; Patrick Curtin, Fiachra O’Muineachain, Sean O’Sullivan, Kevin Murphy, Niall O’Muineachain, Michael O’Donovan, Shane O’Flynn, Billy White, Sam White, Tom Fitzgerald, Fergal Conway, Leo Quinn, Mark Moloney, Tom Finnerty.

Subs used: Francis O’Reilly for S.White 52 mins.

Ardclough

Ronan O’Malley; Sean Buggy, David Collins, Ronan Maguire, Aran Kelly, Enda Duane, Richie Hoban, Niall Delahunt, Paudie Ryan, Tony Spain, Jonathan Reeves, Liam Hanley, Mark Lynam, Martin Fitzgerald, Paul Fitzgerald.

Subs used: Colm Buggy for Reeves 40 mins, Sean Whelan for Kelly 45 mins, Robbie Spain for Lynam 45 mins, Matt Stapleton for Duane 52 mins.

Ref: Niall Colgan