Celbridge into last four but Maynooth far from out
UMPC SHC Group B Round 3
Celbridge 1-13
Maynooth 0-14
Celbridge booked their place in the semi-final of the UPMC SHC with a two point win over Maynooth at Manguard Park on Thursday evening last.
Celbridge led at the break by a single point in what had been a very competitive and intense affair up to that point and while that continued in the second half what did change was the playing conditions.
The rains came just before half-time but during the break an absolute downpour arrived and continued for most of the second half making conditions extremely testing for the players.
David Qualter opened the scoring inside the first minute with a free and Leo Quinn got the Celbridge scoring off with a fine individual effort.
Qualter added a second but Gerry Keegan, from a placed ball, had the sides level for the second time on ten minutes.
The game certainly did not lack intensity as Maynooth hit four points in a row from Cathal McCabe, Adam Jordan and two from David Qualter, —a 65 and a point from play — to open a four point game, 0-6 to 0-4 as we reached the half-way point.
Ciaran Kirwan reduced the lead with a fine point before David Qualter stretched the lead back to four again.
Celbridge came more into the game at this stage, Pat Leahy hit a fine point before a brilliant pass from Mark Moloney found Sean Gleeson who laid it off to James Dolan who duly fired it to the left hand corner of Sean Bean's net to make it Celbridge 1-6 Maynooth 0-7.
Ciaran Kirwan stretched the lead to two but Maynooth hit back with that man Qualter finding the range again.
Gerry Keegan fired over his second but before the half-time break Daniel O'Meara reduced the lead to one at the break, Celbridge 1-7 Maynooth 0-9.
Two quick points from Adam Jordan and David Quarter (free) edged Maynooth into a one point lead.
Gerry Keegan leveled up for the fourth time with Maynooth continuing to convert good chances into scores, just as they did in the opening half.
Keegan and Qualter exchanged points before Celbridge took the lead through Sean Gleeson and increased it with a Gerry Keegan free.
Cathal McCabe left one separating the sides but an Aron Doran point and another from substitute Billy White pushed the lead out to three.
Maynooth did get one back through Ciaran Flanagan but the final whistle arrived with Celbridge joining Naas in the semi-final (that before Naas played their final group game).
It does not mean the end of the line however for Maynooth as they now progress to the quarter-final where they will meet the team that finishes third in Group a
Scorers: Celbridge, James Dolan 1-0, Gerry Keenan 0-5 (2 frees), Pat Leahy 0-2, Ciarán Kirwan 0-2, Leo Quinn 0-1, Sean Gleeson 0-1, Billy White 0-1, Aron Doran 0-1.
Maynooth David Qualter 0-8 (6 frees, 65); Cathal McCabe 0-2, Adam Jordan 0-2, Daniel O'Meara 0-1, Ciaran Flanagan 0-1.
CELBRIDGE: Fiachra Ó Muineacháin; Sean O'Sullivan, Tom Finnerty, Aron Doran; Sean Gleeson, Mark Maloney, Niall Ó Muineacháin; Leo Quinn, Alan Goss; Pat Leahy, Gerry Keegan, Shane O'Flynn; James Dolan, Andy Shanagher, Ciaran Kirwan. Subs: Jamie Connolly for Andy Shanagher (44 minutes); Paul Hogan for Gerry Keegan (60 minutes).
MAYNOOTH: Sean Bean; Matt Eustace, Michael Hogan, Luke Murnane; Ronan Dunne, Cian Forde, Ciarán Flanagan; Eoin Kelliher, Daniel O'Meara; Kevin Dunne, Cormac Nolan, Graham Kenny; David Qualter, Cathal McCabe, Adam Jordan. Subs: Rory Byrden for Matt Eustace (half-time); Harry Dunne for Graham Kenny (54 minutes).
REFEREE: Brian Kearney.