Baker's boys book final spot
Ollie Baker has guided Maynooth into another Kildare Senior Hurling Championship Final
Goals either side of half-time from Kevin Dunne and Tadhg Forde swung this UPMC Senior Hurling Championship semi-final the way of Maynooth as they overcame a spirited Celbridge challenge to qualify for a third final in a row and a fourth in five years.
Celbridge had looked the livelier outfit early on and with two points apiece from Gerry Keegan (from placed balls) and Oisín Lynam and one from Michael Owens they opened up a five points to one advantage inside the opening eleven minutes, Maynooth’s only response coming from Martin Quilty.
But a quite brilliant goal, both in its creation and execution, from Tom Power signalled Maynooth’s awakening on eleven minutes. Conor O’Grady’s pass was brilliantly collected by Tadhg Forde who fed Power on the left side of the penalty area and he sent a rocket past Celbridge ‘keeper Fiachra Ó Muineacháin.
Maynooth drew level by the 17th minute at 1-4 to 0-7, and Ciaran Dunne put them ahead for the first time three minutes later. But underdogs Celbridge were proving stubborn opponents and after Gerry Keegan and Dunne exchanged points, two Keegan frees sandwiching a hard-earned point from play from Andrew McNiffe had Celbridge ahead by two (0-11 to 1-6).
Maynooth’s second goal helped turn the tide, however, four minutes from the interval. Two of the Dunnes, Harry and Kevin, combined with the former’s incisive pass finding the latter, who finished smartly to the net. Quickfire follow-up points from Quilty and Power gave Maynooth a slightly flattering three-point interval advantage (2-8 to 0-11).
The game needed a Celbridge score or two on the restart, you felt, but instead Maynooth wasted no time in extending their lead. Within a minute Ciaran Dunne’s effort was batted away by Ó Muineacháin, but the experienced former Kildare man Forde was on hand to finish to the net from the resultant play.
Seven of the next nine points went the way of the men in black and white with Quilty and the excellent Ciaran Dunne, who finished on four points from play, accounting for two each, opening up an eight-point gap by the 42nd minute.
Celbridge briefly threatened a fightback when McNiffe retrieved a low ball into the left corner and crossed for Conor Treacy to apply a fine finish, but Celbridge then went seven minutes without scoring, while Maynooth added further points from Harry Dunne and Power.
The sides shared eight points evenly in the final ten minutes but there was never a sense that Celbridge were going to pose a serious threat to Maynooth’s progression to another final against Naas in a fortnight’s time.
Seán Bean; Cian Brody, Matt Eustace, Kevin Carroll; Cian Forde, Cathal McCabe 0-1, Cormac Nolan 0-1; Dan O’Meara 0-1, Ciaran Dunne 0-4; Kevin Dunne 1-0, Martin Quilty 0-4, Harry Dunne 0-2; Tom Power 1-4 (0-3fs), Conor O’Grady 0-1, Tadhg Forde 1-1. Subs: Oran Byrne 0-2 for K Dunne 42, Ronan Dunne for C Forde 44, Luke Murnane for T Forde 54, Eoin Kelliher for Nolan 54, Kevin McNeill for Quilty 60.
Fiachra Ó Muineacháin; Jack O’Brien, Colmán O’Donovan, Ciarán Kirwan; David Daly, Alan Goss, Seán Mimnagh; Michael Owens 0-1, Conor O’Brien; Oisín Lynam 0-2, Conor Treacy 1-1, Kieran Rubotham 0-1; Andrew McNiffe 0-1, Gerry Keegan 0-11 (7fs,2’65s), Cian McGrath. Subs: Seán Gleeson for J O’Brien HT, Kevin Murphy for McGrath 40, Finnán Ó Dulaing for C O’Brien 55, Alan Walsh for Kirwan 59.
Niall Colgan.
