Tracey's goal make the difference for Celbridge
Athgarvan's Luke Keena and Celbridge's Odhran Conaty Photo: Sean Brilly
A well taken opening half goal from Cillian Tracey meant Celbridge left Athgarvan as victors in the Division 2A of the Kildare Minor Summer League.
A brace of points on four and seven minutes opened Celbridge’s account as they quickly settled int the game. Hoping to convert their possession into points Celbridge looked to pour forward once more but with Athgarvan refusing to allow the final ball stick they looked to respond. A Euan Brown free had Athgarvan off the mark before an attempt from Eoghan Dunne fell short.
Have being judged to have been fouled in the build up, Brown made us of the advantage to level matters.
Starting to grow into the tie Athgarvan poured forward in numbers. A strike from Dunne forced Thomas Gallagher into a quick block, again recycling to Brown. Celbridge were once more on hand to prevent his effort with a well executed block. Breaking out of defence, Cillian O’Neill soon found himself on the end of possession and chipped over to again edge Celbridge clear.
A trading of frees from O’Neill and Brown maintained the one point Celbridge advantage until six minutes before half-time. A second from Odhran Conaty followed by a well taken goal from Cillian Treacy had Celbridge five clear at the break. A deserving advantage with all matters taken into account in the opening period.
O’Neill extended the Celbridge advantage to six before Brown and a point from play from Daniel Malone had Athgarvan within four. This could have been so much more as Celbridge looked to turn the screw on the home side.
Working their way into the heart of the Athgarvan defence O’Neill brought Sean O’Mullane into action with a sharp shot low to his right. Looking to be on target, O’Mullane was forced to make the save. Moments later again Celbridge were in hunt for their second goal of the tie. This time it was first half goal hero, Tracey, who drifted into the right side of goal. Unmarked, he picked his spot but could only find the outside of the near upright, leaving the sides unchanged.
With the tie wearing on it wasn’t until the three quarter hour mark that Athgarvan again looked to force their way into the game. Again, it was Brown who proved to be Athgarvan’s only bright light. Twisting inside his man, Brown chipped over to leave Tracey’s first half goal being the only thing to separate the sides.
Looking to keep his and Celbridge’s account ticking over O’Neill added his fifth of the night before Matthew Deasy again left three between the sides with ten minutes remaining. A trading of points from Brown and Conaty in the final ten done little to change the tide of the encounter as Celbridge remained calm in their approach as a late free from O’Neill ensured to wrap up victory two minutes from time.
A late long range free from O’Mullane proved to be little more than conciliation for the home side as Scorers: Celbridge: Cillian O’Neill 0-6 (4f); Cillian Tracey 1-0; Odhran Conaty 0-3. Athgarvan: Euan Brown 0-6 (5f); Daniel Malone 0-1; Matthew Deasy 0-1; Sean O’Mullane 0-1 (1f).
Celbridge: Conor McDonnell; Caolan Montgomery, Brian Sinnott, Thomas Gallagher, Darragh Colton, Danny Matthews; Conor O’Brien, Sean Mimnagh; Cillian Tracey, Odhran Conaty, Michael Owens; Peter Fagan, Ciaran Wooten, Cillian O’Neill.
Athgarvan: Sean O’Mullane; Adam Kennedy, Mark Connolly, Eoin Ryan; Adam Byrne Ward, Rian Smithers, George Wells; Daniel Cummins, Eoghan Dunne; Matthew Deasy, Luke Keenan, Daniel Malone; Euan Brown, Luke Smith, Darragh Dempsey.
