Clane progress to Leinster semi-final
Clane's Micheal Cahalane bursts out of defence
Clane produced a superb team performance in recording a seven point win over Louth champions Naomh Moninne as they moved into the semi final of the AIB Leinster junior hurling championship.
After a Senior B victory over Leixlip in the Kildare final Clane stepped it up again and despite been behind at the break they hit 2-7 to Naomh Moninne's 0-2 in eleven second half minutes to set them up for the 2-24 to 2-17 win. The long journey north to Pairc Naomh Brid grounds in Dowdallshill on the outskirts of Dundalk saw perfect conditions on a heavy surface.
It was the visitors who settled best and four points inside three minutes gave Clane the perfect start. Caolan Smith opened the account and Dan Colbert landed two monsters from half back before Paddy McKenna got his first from a free wide on the left. The home side settled and Fionn Cumiskey and Conor Murphy had two on the board after six minutes.
The opening exchanges were fast and furious and the sides had ten points on the board in as many minutes. Hugh Muldoon,from distance and Cormac Vizzard added points either side of a second from Conor Murphy and an first free from team captain Darren Geoghegan. The Naomh Moninne midfielder would ad the next three points to push the home side into a 0-7 to 0-6 lead for the first time. Points from a free,from play and a 65 bringing Geoghegan's tally to four.
If the Louth side could hit three in a row Clane were quick to respond with their own. Dan Colbert added his third before Paddy McKenna combined with Sean Christanseen to push Clane back in front again and a third from the county goal keeper left two between the sides. Clane were holding the upper hand points from Hugh Muldoon and Simon Healy looked like leaving a nice gap as half time approached. Conor Murphy added his third to reduce the lead to three but with one eye on the break Clane were punished with two scores in a minute. A long ball from centre back John Casey caused panic in the Clane full back line and corner forward Mark Gahan nipped in for a levelling goal. Darren Geoghegan converted a last gasp free to leave it 1-9 to 0-11 at the break.
Willie Banks had some calming words at the break and despite Naomh Moninne moving three ahead inside the opening three minutes Clane were on the verge of hitting top gear .Six unanswered points turned a three point deficit into a three points lead. Three Paddy McKenna frees ,two from Keelan Smith and a second from Cormac Vizzard had the Kildare side in the ascendancy. Naomh Moninne's only score in 10 minutes came from a Geoghegan free but when Mark Doyle found Hugh Muldoon with the puckout his long ball fell kindly for Shane Henry who pulled first time to the net.
Clane moved nine ahead when Paddy McKenna landed two scores in a minute, A 65 was quickly followed by a second goal after Keelan Smith played him in on goal. Shane Henry and Vizzard responded to a John Casey effort from play but with 10 minutes remaining Clane were comfortable. Naomh Moninne corner back Kyle Rafferty saw red for his second two yellow and despite two goal bound frees, that were both blocked expertly by Cormac Vizzard,the home side never looked like bridging the gap.
Paddy McKenna rounded off an impressive individual performance of 1-8 before Keelan Smith added his fourth and fifth of the game.Conor Murphy had time for a consolidation goal and when Mark Gahan pointed it finished their tally. The final whistle was warmly greeted by the large travelling Clane contingent.
A home semi final meeting with Clonad of Laois awaits Clane and with two weeks of recovery ahead they will be well up for the challenge ahead.
