Clane back in senior ranks after Smith's late, late winner
Clane enjoy the moment after thrilling one point win over Leixlip in the UPMC Senior 'B' Hurling Championship win
When Caolan Smith fired over Clane's eighteenth point in the 65th minute he secured a dramatic one point win to secure the UPMC Kildare Senior ‘B’ hurling title and more importantly a return to the Senior ranks for 2026. In one of the best finals seen in many a year it was probably a pity there had to be a loser as Leixlip played their part in a wonderful advertisement for Kildare hurling. It was a game that ebbed and flowed over the 60 minutes with firstly Leixlip building up a good lead in the opening quarter, Clane getting back level before half time and in the second half Clane again had to come from five points down to secure a memorable victory. Both sides had some impressive individual performances.
It was Leixlip who were quickest out of the traps and they had created six scoring chances inside the opening five minutes. Three wides, one off the post, a brilliant hook from Tom Malone on Darragh Melville and a brilliant save from Mark Doyle from Sean O’Connor's shot was to Leixlip frustration.
Melville did eventually convert a sixth minute free before Jack Travers doubled the lead a minute later. It took Clane nine minutes to register a Paddy McKenna free and it was Hugh Muldoon who levelled from distance.
Leixlip captain Ben Travers pointed on 10 minutes before Cillian Harrington got on the end of Stephen Ryan's pass for the games opening goal. Cathal Dervian from play and a second Melville free had Leixlip six up at the end of the opening quarter. Clane had their sizeable support on their feet with six inspirational scores in a five minute spell.
Paddy McKenna landed a free from distance and two points from Hugh Muldoon and Caolan Smith had the gap down to three. Simon Healy, Caolan Smith and Paddy McKenna brought up the haul that had them in front for the first time. Sean O’Connor hit one Leixlip point in the middle of that Clane scoring burst.
As half time approached it was Melville who levelled from play before quickly adding a free and Leixlip had their noses in front again. County teammates Melville and McKenna traded points and it was Melville who hit his fifth of the half bit a wonderful score from Sean Shanahan levelled it for the fourth time. With one last attack in the third minute of injury time Jack Travers sent Leixlip to the dressing rooms 1-10 to 1-9 in front after a half you didn't want to end.
Leixlip returned to hit four in a row. Jack Travers hit his third, Melville hit two either side of Cillian Harrington's first. Clane were back chasing the game and it took 12 second half minutes for Paddy McKenna to get their opening score. Substitute Shane Henry reduced the gap to three a minute later.
It was surprising that over the last 15 minutes Leixlip could only add three Melville points as their accuracy failed them at crucial moments.
When Melville extended the lead to four it inspired Clane to hit four in a row. The introduction of the returning Sean Christanseen caused plenty of disturbance in that Leixlip defence.
McKenna hit two frees, firstly after Christanseen was fouled and he repeated the feet after Cian Shanahan was taken down.
Henry hit a beauty from close to the sideline and a second from Sean Shanahan meant we were level again. The closing minutes were to be spectacular.
Melville hit his ninth and tenth points either side of Paddy McKenna's seventh as Leixlip kept their slender lead. Mark Doyle pulled a Melville effort down as it looked like sneaking over.
A truly inspirational catch from Clane full back Dan Colbert saw him play a quick ball to Cormac Vizzard and the young defender took the return to level it three minutes into the the allocated five minutes of injury time. Leixlip had a chance to win it but Cormac Keegan's effort was just wide.
Cormac Doyle's last puckout would surely signal the end but Clane got a chance when McKenna's pass fell to Caolan Smith who made no mistake for the winning score.
Joyous scenes among the Clane players and fans as Fergus Devereux brought proceedings to a close. Clane are back senior after a two year break but Leixlip will have to wait another 12 months.
Clane had heroes all over the field and they will look back on this game as one where they never gave up and were worthy winners. They move on to a Leinster campaign.
Leixlip had been unbeaten coming into the final and they will feel that was one that maybe got away. You wouldn't bet against them coming back next year to finish the job. They are too good not to be playing senior.
Mark Doyle; Aidan Mooney, Dan Colbert 0-1, Michael Cahalan, Tom Malone, Sean Shanahan 0-2, Aaron Connolly; Hugh Muldoon 0-2, Simon Healy 0-1; Sean Malone, Cormac Vizzard, Caolan Smith 0-3, Paddy McKenna 1-7 (6f), Cian Shanahan, Daniel Malone.
Shane Henry 0-2 for Healy, 40; Eamon Little for Cahalan, 54; Sean Christanseen for Malone, 47.
Keith O’Callaghan; Cillian Nicholson, Ryan Doyle, Dara Mooney, Conor Higgins, Conor Burke, Jack McGoingle; Cathal Dervian 0-1, James Canning; Ben Travers 0-1, Jack Travers 0-3, Sean O’Connor 0-1, Cillian Harrington 1-1, Stephen Ryan, Darragh Melville 0-10(8f).
Cormac Keegan for Ryan, 42; Alan Murphy for Canning, 58.
Fergus Devereux.
