Moorefield pipped after huge effort against Coill Dubh in Kildare SHC clash

Coill Dubh were pushed all the way in recording their second win of the UPMC Kildare Senior Hurling Championship but Moorefield paid no heed to their underdog tag with a brilliant display that saw them fall short by the bare minimum after a hugely entertaining game.

A late free from Declan Flaherty had pushed Coill Dubh four ahead, as we moved into injury time, and despite a late Alex Bell penalty for Moorefield the time ran out on a gallant effort.

Johnny Byrne opened the scoring for Coill Dubh before Conn Kehoe, operating from full forward, quickly levelled after 3 minutes.

Coill Dubh were quicker to settle and six unanswered points before the 13th minute had the warm favourites into a comfortable lead.

Declan Flaherty added three, two from Johnny Byrne and one from Mark Delaney left it 0-7 to 0-1 and Moorefield were struggling to get a foothold.

Tommy Walsh and Mark Delaney, from a free, traded points before Eanna O'Neill got his first of the day as he fired over from all of sixty metres.

Alex Bell teamed up with Conn Kehoe to reduce the gap but Coill Dubh were back on the board from the restart as John Dee found Mark Delaney who landed a monster from the middle of the field.

With 17 minutes on the clock Coill Dubh were seven ahead but they would only a single Declan Flaherty point before the break as Moorefield came right into the game.

Coill Dubh were missing the influence of the injured Mark Grace in defence and Moorefield took advantage with some wonderful hurling as they showed their promotion to the Senior ranks was well founded.

Alex Bell, Adam Flood and Conn Kehoe helped reduce the gap with three good points and with 9 minutes to the break the gap was back to four. Coill Dubh did have their chances but 10 first half wides told its own story.

Moorefield sensed that they had a chance and they hurled accordingly. Sean Maher and Adam Flood were solid in the half back line and a free from Maher had the Moors back within one score.

Reece Gavin had been quiet in the opening stages but his three points, including one free, had the sides level as we entered the closing minute of the half. Declan Flaherty had time for a closing Coill Dubh point as he fired over from the Moorefield 65 metre line. Coill Dubh went into the break leading 0-11 to 0-10.

Two quick Mark Delaney frees had Coill Dubh three ahead two minutes into the second half. Brendan Buckley replied for Moorefield and despite a fourth Reece Gavin point it was Johnny Byrne who kept daylight between the sides.

Mark Delaney added a free on 37 but the all important score of the half arrived a minute later. As Coill Dubh corner forward Colm Cordon bore down on goal he was met by three Moorefield defenders but Killian Jones adjudged he was fouled and Mark Delaney made no mistake as he fired low past Dave Carroll. Coill Dubh were suddenly six ahead.

As in the opening half Moorefield didn't flounder and points from Sean Maher and Conn Kehoe helped reduce the gap to four.
Coill Dubh had disappeared in the opening half when Moorefield had got back on level terms but they weren't about to caught a second time.

The impressive youngster John Dee,Mark Delaney and Enda Keane quickly opened a seven point lead and you expected Coill Dubh to push on to a comfortable success.

Sean Maher, from a free and Johnny Byrne swapped points before Maher with another free and Reece Gavin helped keep the Moorefield hopes alive.

The influential Johnny Byrne added his sixth but three in a row from Reece Gavin meant we were in for a tight closing 10 minutes. Enda Keane and Reece Gavin pointed for their respective sides to keep four between the sides.

Conor Gordon then turned a Coill Dubh hero when he got back to clear an Aidan O Brien effort off the line with Owen Lenehan beaten. Reece Gavin converted a 54 minute free but the experienced duo of Declan Flaherty and Mark Delaney helped extend the lead. You had to admire Moorefield's resolve as they quickly added two Aidan O'Brien points to reduce the gap back to three again.

The 60 minute point from Flaherty would prove the insurance score and despite that late Alex Bell penalty it leave Moorefield trailing by one as the whistle sounded.

COILL DUBH: Owen Lenehan, Jamie Kenna, Dylan Brereton, Conor Gordon, John Dee 0-1, Ross Carew, Keenan Brereton, Mark Delaney 1-7 (2 frees,1 penalty), Niall Keane, Sean Dunne, Declan Flaherty 0-6 (2 frees), Eanna O Neill 0-1, Colm Gordon, Johnny Byrne 0-7, Enda Keane 0-2.

MOOREFIELD: Dave Carroll, Cian Brannigan, Graham Cregoe, Conor Price, Adam Flood 0-1,Sean Maher 0-3 (3 frees), Oisin Kelly, Danny Morgan, Conn Kehoe 0-3,Brendan Buckley 0-1, Reece Gavin 0-10 ( 4 frees, Alex Bell 1-2 ( 1 penalty), Aidan O Brien 0-2,Tommy Walsh 0-1, Niall Barry. Subs: Shane Delmer for Cian Brannigan 42; Paul Dawson for Sean Maher 57.

REFEREE: Killian Jones.

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