U21 Football and Hurling Championship Semi Finals
Football:
Clane 1-14 Celbridge 0-13
Date: Sat. 13th Nov.
Venue: St Conleths Park
Hurling:
Clane 6-13 Kilcock 0-03
Date: Sun. 14th Nov.
Venue: Clane
U21 Football and Hurling semifinals 2010 Match Reports
As the 2010 Club GAA calender draws to a close, it’s good to see that Clane are still involved in football and hurling championship action. It may be mid-November but this weekend (Nov 13/14) saw the penultimate rounds of the U21 championship take place in both codes.
U21Football Report
Clane 1-14 Celbridge 0-13
On Saturday 13th November, the footballers were in action against Celbridge at St Conleths Park, Newbridge on a very typical November afternoon – bitterly cold with frequent showers making playing conditions very difficult. In truth, it won’t go down as a classic but Tom Cribbin, Brian Murphy and Billy Farrell will not worry too much about that. The first half of this encounter was lacking in intensity with Celbridge coming out marginally on top in the opening half hour. Indeed, Clane had to depend on Danny Egan from placed balls and a Cathal Maguire effort from thirty metres to stay in touch as Celbridge took a grip on the middle third. Celbridge, however, did not convert their territorial advantage onto the scoreboard and what was also notable was that Robbie Eyres was never really tested between the Clane posts. Credit to a hard working defense well marshalled by Niall Brennan and Noel Haverty in the centre.Equally though it was the Celbridge defense who controlled matters at the opposite end. What was to prove a significant switch took place approaching the break when Karl Darragh had to depart proceedings to be replaced by Cian Kilkenny. Kilkenny took up station in the corner and was a real thorn in the Celbridge defense for the remainder of the game. At half time, the men in blue had opened up a 0-07 to 0-04 lead and so it was Clane who were going to have to answer the bigger questions in the second period.
The second thirty minutes began in much the same vein as the first half had ended and when Celbridge opened up a five point lead after eight minutes one wondered where the inspiration was going to come from. Suddenly, Clane upped the tempo which seemed to coincide with another substitution – the introduction of Ryan McGrath. His enthusiasm seemed to inspire those around him. Now Clane were a different outfit and playing with a swagger that didn’t appear to be there in the previous thirty nine minutes. Both wing backs, Eoin Kelly and Craig Gartland, were raiding. There was noticably more movement in the Clane forwards but none more so than from Conor Murphy. He was simply terrorising the Celbridge full back. In a ten minute spell midway through the second half we saw the best football provided by any Clane team in 2010. The All-Whites hit 1-05 without reply and each score was better than the last. A fine solo effort from Eoin Kelly, two absolute monsters from no. 14 Conor Murphy, a trademark gem from Danny Egan and when Egan converted from the spot with no little ’Egan Calmness’, the spirit was ripped from Celbridge hearts. That score pushed Clane four points to the good, 1-12 to 0-11. From here, there was no way back with Clane dominant in almost every sector. Barry Egan was an inspiration at corner back during this revival as was Bernard Deay who repeatedly won ball in the midfield area and cut through the Celbridge defense to set up the vital scores. Fitting also maybe that the final score of the contest should fall to the afore mentioned Cian Kilkenny. He put alot of ball throough his hands and that effort left the final tally 1-14 to 0-13 in Clane’s favour.
Clane advance to the 2010 U21 decider against Athy in seven days time.
Team: Robbie Eyres, Karl O Sullivan, Niall Brennan, Barry Egan, Eoin Kelly, Noel Haverty, Craig Gartland, Karl Martin, Peter Conroy, Karl Darragh, Danny Egan, Paul Hunt, Cathal Maguire, Conor Murphy, Bernard Deay. Subs: Cian Kilkenny for Darragh, Ryan McGrath for Conroy, Gary Hunt forMaguire.
U21 Hurling Report
Clane 6-13 Kilcock 0-03
Sunday 14th November was thankfully a more pleasant day meteorlogically speaking. It was U21 Hurling semi final day and Clane were to get home advantage due to the fact that so many other grounds in the county were unplayable as a result of the recent heavy rainfall. The opposition was provided by neighbours Kilcock who were making their first appearance in this years competition while Clane had the benefit of an earlier round against Maynooth. This was to prove significant as Clane simply sprinted out of the blocks. Questions may be asked as to why Clane are competeing in Division 2 of this competition. While the Benny Langan/David Harney/David Cafferty trained outfit can only play the opposition that’s put in front of them, it would appear that this side would have been extremely competitive for any side in Division 1. That said they have won nothing yet but must now be favourites to claim the silverware against Broadford in two weeks from now.
The pattern of the game was clear from an early stage as team captain Chris Bonus easily skipped away from a leaden defense to crash an effort off the upright. The goals did come shortly afterwards as did some fine points with literally no reply from Kilcock in the entire opening thirty minutes. This would have to be credited to a defense of Cillian Ryan, Sean Christanseen, Eoin Kilbride, Ryan McGrath and Colm Giffney. An interval lead of 4-07 to 0-00 allowed the Clane management team the opportunity of resting some dual players in the second period following the exertions of the previous evenings work. Centre back, Ryan McGrath, didn’t even make it to the short whistle as the big hearted former All Ireland minor medal winner had to succumb to the toil of full blooded effort on consecutive days. Clane were also to line out without Robbie Eyres who was carrying a slight injury following the previous day’s football. Other dual players who featured on the day were Danny Egan and Craig Gartland in the middle of the field with the stylish Bernard Deay opperating in the forwards. The only contest that could possibly be discussed after the final whistle had sounded was who hit the score of the game. There were a number of fine efforts in the mix – Danny Egan admired his own point when he fielded a puck out on the 65 and returned it with interest over the crossbar, substitute Eoghan Bracken’s white flag from the tightest of angles on the sideline, Bernard Deay’s point from underneath the covered stand which sailed over or David Gibbon’s point which initially seemed destined for outer space before returning with a curl that pulled it inside the upright. Either way all scores amounted to a final tally of 6-13 to Kilcock’s 0-03.
The final is scheduled for two weeks time with Clane being the likely venue.
Team: Paddy McKenna, Sean Christanseen, Cillian Ryan, Eoin Kilbride, Ryan McGrath, Colm Giffney, Danny Egan, Craig Gartland, Peter Conroy, David Gibbons, Bernard Deay, Hugh Giffney, Chris Bonus. Subs: James McCreevy for McGrath, Sean O Rourke for Egan, Tom Darcy for Conroy, Eoghan Bracken for H Giffney.
ean O’ Shea, Conor Lynch , Donal O’ Donovan and Eamon Little.
