Éire Óg Corrachoill turn on the style to topple Celbridge in Kildare SHC

UPMC Senior Hurling Championship Group A

Éire Óg Corrachoill 1-21

Celbridge 1-14

After the sleep fest of the opening game in the UPMC Kildare Senior Hurling Championship, we got some real competitive action in game no. 2 at Cedral St Conleth's Park as Éire Óg Corrachoill, who defeated Ardclough in a penalty shoot-out in the preliminary round came up against Celbridge who defeated Maynooth in their opener.

Right from the throw-in it was obvious this was a serious game, better atmosphere, more competitive action between two teams that went at it from the time referee Billy O'Neill got proceedings under way.

Celbridge raised the first two white flags courtesy of James Dolan (free) and Paul Hogan. It didn't take Éire Óg Corrachoill long to get their side of the score board moving with the accurate Liam Dempsey converting a free and two minutes later they hit the front after a great run by Sean O'Neill, he spotted Scott Cramer free on his left, pass, and the sliother was in the net. The Prosperous-Caragh side were in the lead and they stayed in that position for the remainder of the game.

Finnán Ó Dulaing reduced the lead but Sean O'Neill again showing great pace bore down on the goal but was brilliantly hooked by Odhran Conaty.

Points from Michael Clohessy and O'Neill extended the lead to three with just ten minutes on the clock. Paul Hogan got his second for Celbridge before Éire Óg Corrachoill's Gary Johnson pointed as the first water-
break arrived with the score standing at 1-5 to 0-4.

Two quick-fire points from James Dolan (Celbridge) reduced the lead; a lovely effort from Jack Higgins extended that as the game was hotting up with some fine play from both sides.

The next six points were shared before Conor Treacy and a free from Oisin Lynam had the sides level at the break 1-10 apiece.
Liam Dempsey extended that lead with a free soon after the resumption and when he added two points from play his side now led 1-13 to 1-10 after 36 minutes.

Conor Treacy and Jack Higgins exchanged points while James Dolan (Celbridge) left a point between the sides on 38.
Before the second water break Éire Óg Corrachoill put the foot on the gas and with points from James Dolan, Jack Higgins, Gary Johnson and Liam Dempsey opened a seven point gap — 1-19 to 1-12 — it was the decisive period of the game.

Andrew McNiffe reduced the lead as we entered the final quarter; Liam Dempsey replied with a free; James Dolan got one back for Celbridge but that was as good as it got; a long ball all in was brilliantly fetched by Liam Dempsey who was hauled down before sending over the resultant free as the final whistle arrived giving Éire Óg Corrachoill an impressive won 1-21 to 1-14.

Scorers: Éire Óg Corrachoill, Liam Dempsey 0-8 (5 frees, 65), Scott Cramer 1-1, Jack Higgins 0-4, Paul Dolan 0-2, Gary Johnson 0-2, Sean O'Neill 0-2, Michael Clohessy 0-1, James Dolan 0-1.

Celbridge, James Dolan 1-6 (3 frees), Paul Hogan 0-2, Conor Tracey 0-2, Andrew McNiffe 0-2, Finnium Ó Dulaing 0-1, Oisin Lynam 0-1 (free).

EIRE OG CORRCHOILL: Paul Dermody; Gary Dempsey, Cormac Byrne, Niall Cramer; Adam Delmer, James Dolan, Daniel Murray; Gary Johnson, Jack Higgins; Scott Cramer, Paul Dolan, Michael Clohessy; Sean O'Neill, Kevin Connor, Liam Dempsey. Subs: Donnchadh Fitzpatrick for Michael Clohessy (53 minutes).

CELBRIDGE: Fiachra Ó Muineacháin; Jack O'Brien, Ciaran Kirwan, Odhran Conaty; Finniun Ó Dulaing, Niall Ó Muinecháin, Sean Mimnagh; Paul Hogan, Oisin Lynam; Ben Elliott, Alan Goss, Andrew McNiffe; Conor Tracey, David Daly, James Dolan. Subs: Cian Degrieck for David Daly (49 minutes); Mark Maloney for Paul Hogan (56 minutes); Matthew Gallagher for Finnán Ó Dulaing (60 minutes).

REFEREE: Billy O'Connell.

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