Dubh shows lot of hunger, appetite and skill against Celbridge to reach SHC final

UPMC SHC semi-final

Coill Dubh 0-15

Celbridge 0-10

Coill Dubh are back in the Senior Hurling Champion-

ship final for the first time since 2019, ironically the year Naas went on their winning run that has seen them unbeaten since.

It was back in 2015 when Coill Dubh last lifted the trophy, making it back-to-back titles and in a remarkable co-incidence the boys in red and white have the same man back in charge, Paddy Kelly, now as they had then.

And make no mistake Coill Dubh are there on merit, They out-played, out-fought, outmaneuvered a Celbridge side that at times were all over the place, hit wide after wide, especially in the second half, at one stage five in a row.

This Coill Dubh victory was built at the back where Conor Gordon, Mark Grace, Fionn Moran and Declan Flaherty were superb throughout.

Add in the excellent display of Mark Delaney along with the top class performance of Ryan Casey and you have the difference between the two sides.

Manager Kelly admitted after the game that Saturday's encounter, along with a fine display in their previous game against Ardclough “is exactly what we needed; these game will bring us on a ton regardless of who we meeting in the final.”

And how right he is.

On an absolute miserable day for hurling, on soft, soggy underfoot conditions, with lots of surface water making top class hurling impossible it was the hungrier side that emerged to book their place in the decider in two weeks time.

Ryan Casey, listed at 17 on the programme, who got the show on the road inside the opening minute but Celbridge took an early grip and with points from Leo Quinn, Gerry Keegan, James Dolan (after a brilliant fetch by Sean Gleeson) and another mighty effort from Leo Quinn saw Celbridge lead 0-4 to 0-1 after just six minutes.

Slowly Coill Dubh moved into gear, Ryan Casey got his second, saw another effort come off the upright before an easy close-in free missed the target.

Enda Keane hit the deck as Dinny Baker could be heard in Milltown calling for a yellow card, which did not materialise, before a handling offence saw Mark Delaney convert a free and a minute later it was Delaney again who had the sides level at 0-4 apiece with 15 minutes on the clock.

Alan Goss, who had an excellent game for Celbridge, regained the lead and Pat Leahy put two between them on 18 minutes.

Mark Delaney and Eanna O'Neill tied up the sides again and it was Dubh who hit two more points before the break from Delaney (free) and a lovely Ryan Casey effort from an acute angle, to see Coill Dubh lead at the break 0-8 to 0-6.

The boys in red got off to the perfect start with a monstrous effort from Declan Flaherty, a little shimmy giving him the room to strike.

Pa Curtin picked up a yellow for a high challenge on Ryan Casey and Mark Delaney punished the indiscretion with a pointed free.

Coill Dubh were gaining more and more a foothold at this stage; Conor Carew put five between them as another Ryan Casey effort came off the upright.

Andy Shanagher got his side's opening point of the second half; Eanna O'Neill replied to push the lead back out to five.

Poor wides on both sides followed before Leo Quinn was next to see his effort hit the upright and cleared but a minute later it was Quinn who found the range.

Coill Dubh continued to dominate as Celbridge's shooting was way off. Conor Gordon got forward to stretch the lead to five but Oisin Lynam reduced it back to four again with 54minutes on the clock.

One felt even at that stage that Celbridge needed a goal but with the Dubh defence in stubborn mode chances were few and far between.

Three wides did nothing for the boys from the north of the county and while Gerry Keegan finally converted a free it was Coill Dubh who finished the stronger knocking over a brilliant sideline cut from the mercurial Delaney quickly followed by the final score of the game — a fine Johnny Byrne effort — as Coill Dubh advanced to the decider on a final score line of Coill Dubh 0-15 Celbridge 0-10.

GAME AT A GLANCE

MAIN MAN

Mark Delaney

A few contenders including the entire full back line of the winners, add in Declan Flaherty, Ryan Casey and Mark Delaney but it was Delaney who shaded on this occasion who was the main man all things considered.

TURNING POINT

No real turning point it has to be said but Declan Flaherty's absolute monstrous effort right at the start of the second half certainly saw Coill Dubh put down a big marker.

TALKING POINT

The pitch, just about playable but considering the crazy amount of games it has taken in recent weeks was probably as good as it could have possibly been.

Another big talking point was the disappointing display of Celbridge who never really showed the appetite or the hunger required at this level and in such an important game.

WHAT NOW?

Coill Dubh back in the final for while Celbridge the season comes to an end.

Scorers: Coill Dubh, Mark Delaney 0-6 (4 frees, s/l cut), Ryan Casey 0-3, Eanna O'Neill 0-2, Conor Gordon 0-1, Declan Flaherty 0-1, Conor Carew 0-1, Johnny Byrne 0-1.

Celbridge, Leo Quinn 0-3, Gerry Keegan 0-2 (1 free), Alan Goss 0-1, Pat Leahy 0-1, Andy Shanagher 0-1, Oisin Lynam 0-1, James Dolan 0-1.

CELBRIDGE: Fiachra Ó Muineacháin; Sean O'Sullivan, Tom Finnerty, Pa Curtin; Sean Gleeson, Niall Ó Muineacháin, Aaron Doran; Leo Quinn, Alan Goss; Pat Leahy, Gerry Keegan, Shane O'Flynn; James Dolan, Andy Shanagher, Ciarán Kieran. Subs: Mark Moloney for Tom Finnerty (24 minutes); Oisin Lynam for Pat Leahy (50 minutes); Billy White for Andy Shanagher (50 minutes):

COILL DUBH: Eoin Lenehen; Conor Gordon, Mark Grace, Fionn Moran; Jamie Kenna, Declan Flaherty, Ross Carew; Dylan Brereton, Johnny Byrne; Enda Keane, Eanna O'Neill, Mark Delaney; Ryan Casey, Jack Kenny, Conor Carew. Subs: Oran O'Sullivan for Jack Kenny (half-time); Keenan Brereton for Ross Carew (54 minutes);

REFEREE: Fergus Devereux.