Celbridge get past Leixlip to book place Division 1 hurling league final
The visitors ran out 2-16 to 1-16 winners on the day
Cleaning Legends SHL Division 1 Semi-Final
Celbridge 2-16
Leixlip 1-16
It was Celbridge who booked their place in the Division 1 league final with a comeback win over close rivals Leixlip on Friday night.
Despite having a man advantage for three quarters of this game, it was only in the fourth that Celbridge finally took the lead that would win them this game.
It was tit for tat until the 10th minute as both sides put 0-4 on the board in response to one another as the eight scores seemingly came in pairs.
Leixlip took the lead in the 12th minute following a brilliant John Roche free from long-range.
Just 60 seconds later, they were down to 14 men following the dismissal of centre-back Ryan Doyle for his involvement in a scuffle that followed the awarding of an opposition free.
Celbridge full-forward Patrick Leahy was yellow carded for his involvement in the melee and the sense of injustice, valid or not, lifted both the home support and the team.
Leixlip would then fire themselves into the lead with a goal after Jack McGonigle won his side a penalty on the 15-minute mark.
John Roche’s effort was nearly kept out by Fiachra Ó Muineacháin, but that mattered little when it crossed the line to give his side a 1-5 to 0-5 lead.
Leixlip pushed six clear following a brilliant score from Jack Travers and two converted frees from John Roche.
The trailing side put together their own run of three on the trot with scores from Patrick Leahy, Finnán O'Dulaing and Kieran Rubotham.
The team’s would raise one more white flag at either end before the break with Ben Travers’ score being matched by O'Dulaing at the other end to send the sides in at 1-9 to 0-9 in favour of the 14-man home team.
Two John Roche frees and one at the other end from O'Dulaing kept Leixlip four clear in the early parts of the second half.
This game would turn just before the 40-minute mark however when Patrick Leahy found the net for Celbridge. The full-forward swept the ball home following a brilliant save from Keith O'Callaghan in the Leixlip goal to make it 1-11 to 1-10.
Celbridge levelled in incredible style following an outrageous score from out wide from Andrew McNiffe.
Finnán O'Dulaing pushed his side one clear from a set-piece before substitute Paul Hogan doubled their advantage after latching on to a loose ball.
The Celbridge purple-patch naturally took the wind out of the home side’s sails, who had done so well to lead for so long with a man less. Hogan then put the leading side three clear with a free in the 48th minute.
John Roche nailed a long-range free to stem the flow in the other direction for Leixlip, who despite looking worn out, only trailed by two points with 10 minutes to go.
Paul Hogan would get his third and fourth points since his introduction as he assumed the position of free-taker following O'Dulaing’s departure.
Trailing by four with seven minutes remaining, John Roche decided to aim his close-range free below the crossbar and almost to great success as he found the top corner. His effort was brilliantly parried over the bar by one of the defenders accompanying Fiachra Ó Muineacháin on the line. In truth, Roche could scarcely have hit his strike any better.
It would be Leixlip’s last stand as three minutes later Celbridge found the net for the second time.
After a swift counter-attack, the ball broke to James Dolan who drilled his effort into the roof of the net from outside the box. A score worthy of winning any game.
Celbridge now progress to the Division 1 league final with Kildare Senior Hurling Champions Naas who received a walk-over from Éire Óg Corrachoill who could not field a team.
Scorers: Celbridge, Finnán O'Dulaing 0-8 (0-6 frees), Paul Hogan 0-4 (0-2 frees), Patrick Leahy 1-1, James Dolan 1-0, Kieran Rubotham 0-1, Oisín Lynam 0-1, Andrew McNiffe 0-1.
Leixlip, John Roche 1-8 (1-0 penalty, 0-7 frees), Dara Mooney 0-3, Sean O'Connor 0-1, James Canning 0-1, Jack Travers 0-1, Jack Gonigle 0-1, Ben Travers 0-1.
CELBRIDGE: Fiachra Ó Muineachain; Matthew Gallagher, Ciaran Kirwan, Jack O'Brien; Colman O'Donovan, Niall Ó Muineachain, Tadhg Halpin; Kieran Robotham, Oisín Lynam; Liam Dillon, Andy Shanagher, Finnán O'Dulaing; Andrew McNiffe, Patrick Leahy, James Dolan. Subs: Paul Hogan for Andy Shanagher (39 minutes), Conor Treacy for Finnán O'Dulaing (46 minutes), Ben Elliott for Oisín Lynam (46 minutes), Coan Kelly for Patrick Leahy (56 minutes).
LEIXLIP: Keith O'Callaghan; Dylan Doherty, Tomas Seale, Eoghan O'Sullivan; Conor Higgins, Ryan Doyle, Conor Burke; Sean O'Connor, James Canning; Ben Travers, Jack Travers, Dara Mooney; Stephen Ryan, John Roche, Jack McGonigle. Subs: Kian Myles for Tomas Seale (39 minutes).
REFEREE: Matthew Redmond