Browne's late, late show breaks Clane hearts
Aaron Browne
On the night that the Late, Late Show returned to Irish television screens, it was Aaron Browne who came up with a late, late show of his own to break Clane hearts.
The Celbridge marksman scored a last gasp winning point in the 63rd minute that sparked great celebrations on the Celbridge sideline – but in the grand scheme of things actually meant more to Johnstownbridge.
After taking four points from their opening two games, Celbridge were assured of topping the group as long as they avoided defeat but with Johnstownbridge comfortably ahead against Allenwood in Manguard Park, Clane needed at least a draw to reach the quarter-finals.
It looked like a two-point free in the 60th minute by Shane O’Sullivan would be enough to clinch that result. A 3-up breach by Celbridge offered Clane a free kick but with time ticking by, O’Sullivan elected to kick the two-pointer and nailed it superbly.
To then have a quarter-final place snatched out of their hands so late on by Browne’s clinically taken score was cruel on a Clane side who battled so hard to get themselves into a positive position, but they couldn’t quite see it out.
It had been a close game throughout, with James Dolan’s 25th minute goal helping Celbridge into a 1-6 to 0-8 half-time lead.
The experienced Davy Hughes came off the bench at half time and kicked three second half points and they were still three points ahead going into the final ten minutes but Clane fought back and seemed well placed until Browne’s dagger to their hearts.
Shane McNamara; Eoghan Light, Dean O’Donoghue, Hugh McGrillen, Peter McAteer 0-1, Kevin Flynn 0-1, Tony Archbold; Kevin O’Callaghan 0-1, Paddy Wall; Mick Konstantin, Fergal Conway 0-1, Killian Browne 0-1, James Dolan 1-1, Aaron Browne 0-5 (1tp,1f), Luke Murray 0-1. Subs: Cian Bolger for Wall, h/t; Davy Hughes 0-3 for Murray, h/t; Cian Powell for McGrillen, 50; Liam O’Flynn for Konstantin, 55; Daragh Colton for K Browne, 59.
Cian Burke; Harry O’Neill, Shane McCormack, Hugh Prendergast, Calum Doran, Cian O’Donoghue, Cian Shanahan; Daragh Mullahy, Daniel Colbert 0-3 (1tp); Rhys Vaughan, Adam Fitzpatrick 0-1, Eoin Twohig, Sam McCormack 0-3, Brian McLoughlin 0-4 (2fs), Shane O’Sullivan 0-4 (1tpf, 2fs). Subs: Eoghan Maguire 0-1 for Doran, 40; Sean Tighe 0-1 for Twohig, 48; Killian O’Sullivan for Shane McCormack, 56; Oisin Tighe for Colbert, 59.
Frank Delaney.
