Confey's 24-year senior stay ends as Clane win relegation final
Clane's Neil Vizzard in possession in front of Confey's Paul Divilly Photo: Sean Brilly
Confey will play outside the Kildare SHC in 2027 for the first time since winning the Intermediate title in 2002 after Clane retained their senior status with an 11-point victory over Confey in the relegation final at Manguard Park, Hawkfield, on Friday evening.
Despite only three points separating the sides at the interval, Clane showed greater hunger and composure in the second half, outscoring their opponents by 0-11 to 0-3 after the break.
A superb team performance, allied to an outstanding display from county goalkeeper Paddy McKenna, who contributed 0-10 over the hour, laid the foundation for Clane's victory as last year's Senior B champions produced a thoroughly deserved win.
Clane made the early running through scores from Hugh Muldoon and Paddy McKenna frees on either side of a neat effort from Neil Vizzard. The winners had chances to extend their lead but were wasteful, and Frank Bass capitalised on a Sean Christensen over-carrying offence to register Confey's opening score.
Confey's second point arrived on nine minutes in unusual fashion when, after a good piece of defending by Paddy Connolly, his attempted back-pass to Mark Doyle drifted over his own crossbar.
McKenna and Bass then traded scores from play before a pass from Muldoon released Daniel Colbert for a fine point. Further scores from Muldoon and Caolan Smith stretched Clane's lead to four with seven minutes remaining in the half.
The closing stages of the opening period saw Confey work their way back into contention as they outscored Clane by 0-3 to 0-1. Bass converted two more frees and Cathal Jennings also found the target. However, a late McKenna free ensured Clane went in at the break leading 0-9 to 0-6.
The opening exchanges of the second half were tightly contested and, despite renewed pressure from Confey, it was Clane who struck first when McKenna converted another free after Neil Vizzard was fouled.
Confey responded with a point before first-half substitute Neil Ryan got his name on the scoresheet.
With so much at stake, there was no shortage of intensity as neither side gave an inch. After a period of stalemate, Smith landed his second point of the game on 42 minutes and, although Ryan replied a minute later, it proved the catalyst for Clane to increase the tempo and pull clear of a fading Confey challenge.
Three further white flags from McKenna, including a '65, were followed by scores from Shane Henry, Daniel Colbert, Simon Healy and Tom Malone as Clane finished strongly, conceding only a late Bass free on their way to a comfortable win.
Mark Doyle; Adam Corbett, Paddy Connolly 0-1 (own point for Confey), Riann O'Neill, Daniel Colbert 0-2, Caolan Smith 0-2, Sean Malone, Tom Malone 0-1, Daniel Malone, Sean Christensen, Hugh Muldoon 0-3 (1f), Paddy McKenna 0-10 (7f, 1 '65'), Neil Vizzard 0-1, Cian Shanahan, Cormac Vizzard.
Subs: Shane Henry 0-1 for N Vizzard (43); Simon Healy 0-1 for Malone (49); Aidan Mooney for Corbett (56); Cillian Ryan for Colbert (59); Ben Muldoon for C Vizzard (59).
Shane Quinn; Cian O'Sullivan, Ben O'Boyle, Aidan Crean, Kieran Kilbane, Paul Divilly, Colm Noctor; Enda Bannon, Sean Quigley; Cathal Jennings 0-1, Frank Bass 0-5 (4f), Philip Quigley, Paul Ferrick, Kevin Chan, Luke Quinn.
Subs: Neil Ryan 0-2 for K Chan (21); Colm Chan for Ferrick (HT); Sean Leamy for Bannon (39); Sean Maher for Ryan (57).
Niall Colgan
