Celbridge edge high quality affair

CELBRIDGE 1-15 ATHY 3-8 

Last year’s beaten finalists Celbridge looked the most likely challengers to Naas’ four-in-a-row ambitions again as they edged out Athy in an enthralling, high-quality Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship Group B encounter in Manguard Park on Saturday evening.

Players from both sides put their hands up for inclusion in new Kildare manager Brian Flanagan’s thoughts, none more so than the Browne brothers and Dean O’Donoghue of Celbridge.

There were sterling performances from Kildare stalwarts too, none more so than the retired Fergal Conway at centre-back and Mick O’Grady in midfield for Celbridge and Barry Kelly for Athy, but injuries that forced the early departure of county stars Kevin Feely and Kevin Flynn will concern the new man as well as their clubs.

Both looked like hamstring strains, with Flynn particularly distraught having had his share of injury and suspension issues this year.

Athy were worthy opponents and both sides will surely go deep into the championship, but Celbridge have an array of current and former inter-county players at various grades and their spread of scorers (nine to Athy’s six) was a key differentiator.

Playing with wind advantage, Athy had the early momentum thanks to a third minute goal. Ben Purcell’s low shot was blocked and touched on the ground by a defender and Feely made no mistake in sending Shane McNamara the wrong way from the spot kick.

That goal remained the difference at the end of the first quarter with Athy ahead 1-2 to 0-2 but with their attacking half-back line causing problems, Celbridge hit their stride with five points in succession, playing some wonderful football.

Their scores were of the highest quality with both Aaron and Killian Browne on target and Flynn, O’Donoghue and Liam O’Flynn all getting forward from deep for scores.

They might have had a couple of goals during that spell with Aaron Browne and O’Donoghue both hitting the crossbar.

Athy hit back though with a second goal to regain the advantage in the 23rd minute. Barry Kelly was instrumental, winning a turnover and feeding Colm Moran, who finished clinically.

Unfortunately, Feely was injured in the run-up to the goal and had to hobble off and three minutes later they lost Brian Maher to a black card for a drag down on Flynn. Still, they held a one-point advantage, slightly against the run of play, at the interval.

Half-Time: Athy 2-4 Celbridge 0-9 While Maher was away the mice played as Celbridge hit Athy for their crucial goal a minute after the restart, the younger Browne, Killian, palming home Mick Konstantin’s fisted cross at the back post.

Celbridge continued in the ascendancy, but Athy were never too far away and frees from Niall Kelly and substitute Cian Keaveney helped keep the gap to just a point heading into the final minutes.

But points from Aaron Browne, a wonder point from O’Grady, his second, from a perceptive Hugh McGrillen pass and an injury time point from Killian Browne seemed to settle matters with them ahead 1-15 to 2-8.

Athy showed they are made of stern stuff, however. Michael Spillane drew a foul in the penalty area and Niall Kelly finished with similar aplomb to Feely earlier to the top right corner.

With only a point between them there was more drama to follow. Maher won the kick-out and when the ball was worked into substitute Liam McGovern he was brought down by Niall O’Regan.

That gave Niall Kelly the chance to earn a share of the spoils from about 40 metres into the wind but as soon as it left his boot you knew it was tailing wide and that proved to be the final act.

CELBRIDGE: Shane McNamara; John Clarke, Cian Powell, Mick Konstantin; Kevin Flynn 0-1, Fergal Conway 0-1, Liam O’Flynn 0-1; Hugh McGrillen, Mick O’Grady 0-2; Niall O’Regan, Tony Archbold 0-1, Dean O’Donoghue 0-1; Davy Hughes 0-3 (3fs), Aaron Browne 0-3 (1m), Killian Browne 1-2. SUBS: Paddy Wall for Powell HT, James Dolan for Flynn 53.

ATHY: James Roycroft; Pádraig Spillane, Cathal McCarron, Darren Lawler; Michael Spillane, James McGrath, Brian Maher; Paschal Connell, Kevin Feely 1-0 (pen); Barry Kelly 0-1, Kieran Farrell 0-2, Colm Moran 1-0; Niall Kelly 1-3 (1-0 pen, 2fs), Ben Purcell, Cian Reynolds. SUBS: Ryan Bowden for Feely 24, Cian Keaveney 0-2 (2fs) for Reynolds 36, Liam McGovern for Purcell 43, Seán Bride for Connell 48, John Moran for Farrell 51.

REFEREE: Brendan Cawley