Kildare GAA: Ardclough minors take Div 2 title

Ardclough came out on top in a close run MHL Division 2 final on Wednesday evening at Hawkfield.
Close throughout the sides were level on five occasions in the opening half before a Tadhg Kelly goal gave EECC the edge when they led 1-7 to 0-8 after 30 minutes and that lead was pushed out at the break to four points as they led 1-9 to 0-8.
Ardclough came back strong on the resumtpin with man of the match, Patrick O'Malley, in sparkling form the big midfielder hitting a very impressive 1-11, the goal coming from a penalty.
Mid-way through the second half EECC still held a three point lead but that O'Malley penalty set Ardclough on the comeback trail and a second goal from Tim Ryan in the 51 minute clinched victory despite EECC throwing everything at the winners late on but Ardclough held out with some excellent defending late on.
Referee Eoin Murphy sent four players to the line after a scuffle broke out in the 66 minute — two from each side (Patrick O'Malley and Hugh Donegan for Ardclough; and Curran and Manders for EECC) in what up to that point was a very well contested and non-controversial contest.
Score of the game saw Fionan Manders brilliantly convert a sideline cut for the losers but the winners deservedly held on for a two point victory on a score line of 2-14 to 1-15.

ARDCLOUGH: Finn Leech; Oisin Philips, Gavin Keane, Martin Purchel; Ben O'Reilly, Conor Kelly, Darragh Millar; Patrick O'Malley 1-11 (65, penalty), Tim Ryan 1-1; Cormac Graham, Christian Barry, Kyle Kelly 0-2; Billy Corcoran, Hugh Donegan, Gavin Walsh. Subs: Andrew Moore for Ben O'Reilly h/t; Ronan O'Malley for Billy Corcoran h/t; John McKenna for Oisin Philips 45m; Odhran Byrne for Gavin walsh 45m; Harry Haughan for Kyle Kelly 60m.

EIRE OG CC: Conor Taaffe; Caolan O'Toole, Conor Sullivan, Ben Brennan; Ruadh Curran, Niall Creamer, Brian Merrigan; Jack Courtney, Billy Brennan (04, 2f); Shane Malone 0-1, Tadhg Kelly 1-1, Fergal McKennedy; Donnchadh Fitzpatrick, Cian O'Reilly 0-5 (3f), Fionan Manders 0-4 (2f, s/l).

REFEREE: Eoin Murphy.