Moorefield put up good show on return to Senior Hurling Championship
Moorefield's Aidan O'Brien under pressure from Confey' Adam Flood and Paul Divilly
Long standing top tier stalwarts Confey were given a fright by newly promoted Moorefield before emerging with their place in the winners section secure after a hard-fought UPMC Senior Hurling Championship Preliminary Round tie in Clane on Saturday evening.
Confey’s experience eventually told, with Paul Divilly as involved as ever around the field, while it was county panellist Frank Bass whose first half goal gave them the impetus to fight back from a disastrous opening 21 minutes in which Moorefield shot into a nine point lead having registered 1-10 of their final total.
Confey had opened with two quick points from Brian Keane and Neil Ryan, but the Moores began registering scores from all over the field with seven different players contributing to that 1-10 tally.
Those scores included a marvellous long-ranger from his own half by Adam Flood and some excellent sharp-shooting from Reece Gavin with four points.
Moorefield had gained confidence from a seventh minute goal from Ian McDonnell. Aidan O’Brien’s high delivery found Alex Bell and with ‘keeper Shane Quinn out of his goal, Bell set up McDonnell for the finish to the net.
After another Keane point and three Bass frees, the latter’s goal, a powerfully driven shot to the roof of the net after 25 minutes gave Confey a chink of light, bringing the gap to four points and that gap remained at half-time as they trailed 1-11 to 1-7.
Gavin scored two of the first three points of the second half, both from frees, to stretch the gap to five but a purple patch between the 39th and 52nd minute saw the Leixlip side draw level with five unanswered points from Bass (two frees), substitute Kevin Chan within a minute of his arrival, the impressive Keane and Ryan.
Back came Moorefield to lead through a Gavin close range free for a foul on Conn Kehoe but that was to be their last score. Confey finished with another five in a row, four of those coming from the influential Bass and the other from Brian Grimes five minutes into injury time.
The win secures Confey’s place at senior level for another year and puts them into a winners section featuring Naas, Celbridge and Éire Óg Corra Choill while Moorefield face a daunting looking losers’ section with Maynooth, Coill Dubh and Ardclough for company.
Shane Quinn; Michael Mullarkey, Enda Bannon, Aidan Crean; Ben O’Boyle 0-1, Seán Leamy, Luke Quinn; Brian Keane 0-3, Colm Chan; Brian Grimes 0-1, Frank Bass 1-9 (8fs,1’65), Philip Quigley; Neil Ryan 0-2, Paul Divilly, Colm Noctor 0-1. Subs: Kevin Chan 0-1 for Noctor 39, Noctor for Leamy 60+4.
Dave Carroll; Cian Brannigan, Graham Cregoe, Connor Price; Adam Flood 0-1, Seán Maher 0-1 (f), Oisín Kelly; Danny Morgan, Reece Gavin 0-8 (6fs); Rob Croke, Conn Kehoe 0-1, Aidan O’Brien; Alex Bell 0-2, Ian McDonnell 1-0, Niall Barry 0-1. Subs: Eoin Carroll for Croke 42.
Paul Donnelly.
