Coill Dubh back from the brink against Ardclough

UPMC SHC Group A, Round 3

Coill Dubh 3-14

Ardclough 1-16

Rule 6.21 has gone from being a relatively unknown rule to notorious championship terminator in recent weeks. The new rule which changes the criteria for teams finishing level on points, meant that between 59 minutes and the full time whistle, Coill Dubh went from being out of the championship to booking themselves a semi-final berth against Celbridge.

Ardclough opened the scoring in the first minute from a Sean Whelan free. Dylan Brereton replied from play for Coill Dubh. Patrick O’Malley put Ardclough back in front before Mark Delaney pointed his first score of the game from a free. Delaney and Whelan would trade scores for the rest of the half. Both sides would have been frustrated at half- time as their wides tally exceeded that of their points tally.

The teams were level at six points each at half time, and as it stood, with a quick glance to the scoreboard on pitch 1, Coill Dubh were headed for the semi-finals and Ardclough’s campaign was ending.

Sean Whelan opened the scoring in the second half, with another free for Ardclough, before Conor Carew opened his account for the evening from a placed ball. Ardclough then moved up a gear and got the next six points without reply putting themselves into the driving seat of the game, and a semi-final spot in the group table.

On 42 minutes Coill Dubh were back in it. Second half substitute, Ryan Casey charged through the Ardclough defence, played the ball to Jack Kenny, who laid it off to Mark Delaney whose shot from distance rifled to the back of the net for Coill Dubh’s first goal of the game.

Conor Carew followed up with a free which left his side trailing by one. Ardclough rallied and scored a goal and a point inside a minute, the goal coming from Tony Spain, re-establishing a five-point gap between the sides. That meant Coill Dubh were out, and Ardclough on their way to a semi-final as full time approached.

In the 60 th minute, Coill Dubh were given a free from 20 metres out. Mark Delaney, who hadn’t been having his best game from placed balls, stepped up, hit his shot low and hard to the back of the Ardclough net. Coill Dubh now had the bit between their teeth, and a minute later were in on goal again. Jonathan Byrne’s shot looked to be falling just short before Ryan Casey appeared to gently nudge the sliotar over the line.

Ardclough equalised with another free from Sean Whelan, but Coill Dubh kept the pressure on. Conor Carew’s long range free dropped short, but the Ardclough clearance was intercepted by Ryan Casey who got his shot away and over the bar. Johnny Byrne got the last two points of the game from play to help his side over the line with 4 points to spare, in what was one of the most incredible turn-arounds in this year’s championship.

Heartbreaking for Ardclough, who gave their all throughout the game.

ARDCLOUGH: Finn Leech, Sean Buggy, David Collins, Peter Coleman, Liam Hanley, Martin Fitzgerald, Drew Costello (0-1), Niall Devane, Sean Whelan (0-11, 8 frees), Kevin Sexton, Patrick O’Malley (0-1), Tony Spain (1-1), Tadhg McCarthy (0-1), Eoghan Walsh, Michael Small. Subs: Cillian Burke for David Collins (44 mins), Jonathan Reeves (0-1) for Tadhg McCarthy (50 mins).

COILL DUBH: Owen Lenehan, Conor Gordon, Mark Grace, Fionn Moran, Éanna O’Neill, Declan Flaherty, Ross Carew, Enda Keane, Dylan Brereton (0-1), Mark Delaney (2-5, 5 frees), Jack Kenny, Jamie Kenna, Oran O’Sullivan, Johnny Byrne (0-2), Conor Carew (0-5, 5 frees). SUBS: Ryan Casey (1-1) for Oran O’Sullivan (41 mins), Joe Kenny for Fionn Moran (45 mins), Keenan Brereton for Joe Kenny (50 mins (injured)).

REFEREE: Conor Daly.