Celbridge prove far too good for Ardclough

THE opening game of the UPMC Kildare Senior Hurling Championship saw near neighbours Celbridge and Ardclough get the 2024 campaign underway with this preliminary round encounter. The 2018 champions Celbridge had eleven points to spare in a game that never hit the heights you would expect of an championship meeting.

Celbridge move into the winners group while Ardclough will have to make do with the losers group.

Celbridge corner forwards Andrew McNiff and James Dolan had Celbridge two up inside four minutes. Ardclough to their credit had enough possession in the opening minutes, hitting four wides before Sean Whelan converted a 30 metre free. There wasn’t much between the sides in that opening quarter but Celbridge were more economical with their scoring chances. Coleman O’ Donovan, Andrew McNiff, with his second, and Pat Leahy extended their lead to four.

Ardclough responded with a Drew Costello point from play but they added three further wides when they could have reduced the gap. Niall

Ó Muineacháin, from a free, and Sean Buggy traded points before Sean Whelan added a second free to close the gap to 0-6 to 0-4 as the game moved inside the last 10 minutes of the half. Celbridge were guilty of some poor misses themselves and they ended the half with eight of their own.

Celbridge finished the half the stronger outscoring Ardclough 1-3 to 0-2 over the closing eight minutes. James Dolan, from a free, and Conor Treacy pointed either side of a Cillian Burke white flag. After Burke’s point Celbridge went short with the puckout and when Pa Curtin found himself in acres of space he launched a 60 metre ball on top of James Dolan. He had the space and pace to get clear of two defenders before firing to the net. Ardclough substitute Matthew Stapleton and Conor Treacy swapped late points but Celbridge went to the dressing rooms 1-9 to 0-6 ahead.

Celbridge were slow to return but they were quick to extend the lead. Inside three minutes Niall Ó Muineacháin from 65 and a free and James Dolan left none between the sides. Ardclough played their best hurling over the next ten minutes. They hit five points in response to a sole James Dolan free for Celbridge. Two points each from Cillian Burke and Matthew Stapleton and a long range effort from Sean Whelan left a more manageable five point deficit as we entered the last quarter.

The sides shared the next six points but Ardclough couldn’t get that all important goal. Patrick O Malley did have two great chances, firstly shooting wide with the goal at his mercy and then forcing a good save from Fiachra Ó Muineacháin .Celebridge heeded the warning and finished out the game in style.

The introduction of Gerry Keegan was a boost for Celbridge and he quickly fired over a point.A lovely flick from James Dolan released midfielder Paul Hogan and he fired home a second Celbridge goal and we hit the fourth minute of injury time Dolan rounded off the evening with his fifth point and fourth free to leave it 2-19 to 0-14 when Conor Daly brought proceedings to a close.

Celbridge will need improvement as they head into the winners group. They hit seventeen wides over the hour and if they are to move into the knockout stages they will need to eradicate these mistakes. Ardclough showed enough over the hour to suggest they will cause problems in the losers group.

CELBRIDGE: Fiachra Ó Muineacháin, Tadhg Halpin, Pa Curtin, Matthew Gallagher, Ciaran Kirwan 0-2, Niall Ó Muineacháin 0-3 (2fs, 1’65), Kieran Rubotham, Colman O Donovan 0-1, Paul Hogan 1-0, Liam DillonSean Holmes, Pat Leahy 0-1, Andrew McNiff 0-2, Conor Treacy 0-4, James Dolan 1-5 (4 frees). SUBS Gerry Keegan 0-1 for Holmes, 53; Billy White for Gallagher, 58.

ARDCLOUGH: Finn Leach, Tadhg McCarthy, James Casey, Ronan Maguire, David Collins, Aaron Casey, Drew Costello 0-1, Niall Devane, Patrick O Malley 0-1, Kieran Brady, Sean Whelan 0-4 (3 frees, Sean Buggy 0-1, Gavin Stapleton, Cillian Burke 0-5, Eoghan Walsh. SUBS Matthew Stapleton 0-3 for McCarthy, 19; Peter Coleman for Stapleton, 39.

REFEREE: Conor Daly