Éire Óg Corra Choill rally late to set up last four tie against Naas
Players from Confey and Éire Óg Corra Choill battle to get the ball into hand Photo: Michael Anderson
Éire Óg Corra Choill produced a stirring late comeback to book their place in the semi-finals of the UPMC Kildare Senior Hurling Championship, overturning a five-point deficit in the final 12 minutes to edge out Confey by two points.
Seven unanswered points down the stretch broke Confey hearts after the Leixlip side had battled superbly despite being reduced to 14 men six minutes before half-time. Confey appeared destined for a place in the last four for long periods, but Éire Óg dug deep when it mattered most to keep their championship ambitions alive.
Frank Bass opened the scoring from a second-minute free before Cormac Byrne replied from distance. Sean Maher and Byrne then traded scores as the sides remained level in the early exchanges.
Paul Divilly restored Confey's advantage with an excellent point from around the Éire Óg 45, but Michael Clohessy quickly responded. The teams remained inseparable through much of the opening half, with the sides level on five occasions before Bass, with two points, and Divilly helped Confey move three clear.
A major setback arrived for Confey six minutes before the interval when full-back Ben O'Byrne received a straight red card following an incident involving Sean O'Neill. Despite that blow, Confey held firm and a late Paul Dolan free left them 0-9 to 0-7 ahead at the break.
Bass and Clohessy exchanged four pointed frees in the opening six minutes of the second half, while Bass and Dolan added further placed balls to keep two points between the sides. When Luke Quinn found space 40 metres out and split the posts, Confey's lead stretched further.
The numerical disadvantage was having little impact on Confey and, after two more Bass frees, they looked on course for their first championship victory as their advantage grew to five points.
Éire Óg Corra Choill introduced Liam Dempsey in search of inspiration and, despite picking up a yellow card shortly after coming on, the substitute proved the catalyst for a remarkable turnaround.
Dempsey ignited a run of seven unanswered points when he converted two frees either side of a massive Michael Clohessy score from inside his own 45. Another Dempsey free followed after Paul Dolan was fouled.
With four minutes remaining, a breaking ball fell kindly for Jack Higgins and the Éire Óg forward drove forward before firing over the equaliser.
Sensing victory, Éire Óg continued to push on. Cormac Byrne then picked out Paul Dolan and the influential defender struck what proved to be the winning point, a superb effort from around his own 45-metre line.
Dempsey added his fourth free of the afternoon to seal victory and complete a dramatic comeback.
Éire Óg Corra Choill now face reigning champions Naas in the first semi-final, while Confey must turn their attention to a relegation semi-final clash with Ardclough.
Daniel Gleeson; Cormac Byrne 0-2, Niall Cramer, Cathal McGrath, Daniel Boyle; Paul Dolan 0-4 (2f), Shane Malone; Jack Higgins 0-3 (1f), Daniel Murray; Jack Courtney, Michael Clohessy 0-4 (3f), Simon Connolly; Conor Kielty, Sean O'Neill, Rian Cramer.
Conor Sullivan for Daniel Boyle (37), Liam Dempsey 0-4 (4f) for Simon Connolly (44), Fionnan Manders for Shane Malone (47).
Shane Quinn; Cian O'Sullivan, Ben O'Byrne, Aiden Crean; Kieran Kilbane, Paul Divilly 0-2, Colm Noctor; Enda Bannon, Sean Quigley 0-1; Cathal Jennings 0-1, Frank Bass 0-8 (7f), Philip Quigley; Sean Maher 0-1, Kevin Chan 0-1, Luke Quinn 0-1.
Paul Ferrick for Kevin Chan (34), Sean Leamy for Cathal Jennings (46), Liam Ryan for Sean Maher (46).
Conor Daly.
