Second half blitz sees Celbridge past Athy and into league semi-final

Celbridge booked their place in a Hanlon Concrete Kildare Senior Football League Division 1 semi-final with a win over Athy on home soil. Despite an opening half that left plenty to be desired, the eventual winners dominated things in the second and outscored Athy to 2-8 to 0-3 to win by eight points.

In a game where they could secure a league semi-final spot, Celbridge started aggressively and with intent; grabbing the game’s opening two points through Killian Browne and Dean O’Donoghue, both of which the fourth minute of proceedings.

Athy culled the home side’s intensity with a quick-fire goal in response. It was the side who led after five thanks to Niall Kelly’s green flag-raising effort that ultimately dominated a decent portion of the opening half. Kelly, after producing a fine finish to hit the net in his side’s first attack, then knocked over a free to give them a 1-1 to 0-2 lead soon after.

A lovely Cathal Kennedy point for the leaders was matched by Mick O’Grady at the other end with the gap still at two past the 10-minute mark.

Athy, if they hadn’t already, took over from here and hit the game’s next four scores in a dominant 10-minute spell. Niall Kelly followed a close-range free, which had been brought up for dissent, with a two-pointer after he was afforded far too much space for a premier shooter.

Athy kept a good shape and smart possession with Seán Moore setting up Conor Doyle before scoring himself to give his team a seven-point 1-7 to 0-3 lead after 20 minutes.

Celbridge have been described as patchy this season but those patches in games have been rather deadly at times and proved fruitful once again here as they rattled off four without reply of their own, including a two-pointer from Aaron Browne. Browne then added a single to Luke Murray’s two white flags to complete the sequence.

Seán Moore stopped the rot for the leading side before Johnny Owens threatened to level things but saw his effort hit the top of the bar and bounce over.

Ben Purcell carried possession forward and struck a gorgeous two-pointer for Athy seemingly from nowhere. It was however more than welcome for the depleted county champs who were being pegged back at a rapid rate.

Killian Browne got the first and last score of this game’s opening half as his side trailed Athy 1-10 to 0-10 at the interval.

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Athy got the perfect start to the second half with a Niall Kelly point from play and another from a free to move five clear.

Less than two minutes later this game was level. Tony Archbold slotted a two-pointer after he was given meaningful space by a retreating wall of red before Celbridge produced an excellent fast-moving counter-attack to grab a goal. Their rapid ascension up the pitch ended with Luke Murray fisting across to full-back Dean O’Donoghue who carried his momentum towards the ‘keeper to score despite Shane Jackman getting a hand on his low, blasted effort. The game sat at 1-12 apiece after 35 minutes.

It would be seven minutes before the game’s next score and it was a second Celbridge goal. Aaron Browne’s shot from outside the arc went higher than it did far but was brilliantly fetched by Davy Hughes who spun sharply and bounced the ball into the far corner of the net in staggeringly clinical fashion.

The home side never looked back and didn’t concede again until the four minutes from the end. Mick O’Graddy grabbed his second before four points without reply came from Aaron Browne when he nailed two frees and a two-pointer.

Celbridge added one more through Luke Murray before Cathal Kennedy closed the day’s scoring at the other end. Celbridge booked a place in the league semi-finals with 2-18 to 1-13 win.

Celbridge: Aaron Browne 0-7 (0-2 frees, 2 x 2pt), Dean O'Donoghue 1-1, Davy Hughes 1-0, Luke Murray 0-3, Killian Browne 0-2, Tony Archbold 0-2 (1 x 2pt), Mick O'Grady 0-2, Johnny Owens 0-1.

Athy: Niall Kelly 1-6 (0-4 frees 1 x 2pter), Seán Moore 0-2, Ben Purcell 0-2 (1 x 2pt), Cathal Kennedy 0-2, Conor Doyle 0-1.

CELBRIDGE: Shane McNamara; Eoghan Light, Dean O'Donoghue, Cian Powell; Hugh McGrillen, Mick O'Grady, Tony Archbold; Paddy Wall, Cian Bolger; Killian Browne, Niall O'Regan, Conor O'Sullivan; Luke Murray, Aaron Browne, Johnny Owens. Subs: Davy Hughes for Hugh McGrillen (Half-time), Kevin O'Callaghan for Johnny Owens (40 minutes), Darragh Colton for Tony Archbold (45 minutes), Tadhg Halpin for Conor O'Sullivan (56 minutes).

ATHY: Shane Jackman; Killian Mulhall, Mark Hyland, Niall McEvoy; Brian Maher, Paidi Behan, Seán Moore; Conor Kelly, Jack Dooley; Ben Purcell, Calum Keaveny, Conor Doyle; Jamie Griffin, Cathal Kennedy, Niall Kelly. Subs: Jay Leigh for Conor Kelly (52 minutes).

Referee: Frank Delaney