The Kildare squad is managed by Barney Rock, the Dublin sharpshooter from the eighties. The Big Apple boss Seamus Sweeney and his mentors will be quite pleased with this performance as the crew played well together. They were tenacious in defense while the score taking was exemplary, especially in the second half. The team appeared to be fit and supported each other well as they moved the ball with purpose. However the New York mentors will be shrewd enough not to attach too much significance to this result as the opposition had only about half their first team players plus the fact that they were on tour may also have blunted their match fitness.
New York got down to business straight from the throw-in as midfielder Sean O'Neill set up Ken O'Connor for the first score. Indeed O'Connor, aka Big Bird, enjoyed his return to the Big Apple squad as he proved to be a very ample target man in every sense of the word. He also displayed an arsenal of scoring weapons as he fisted over while also scoring off both feet. Corner forward Johnny Murtagh also displayed his considerable repertoire of skills as he cut through for a fine score after Lonan McGuire and Aidan Morton did the approach work. Celbridge were slow to settle down plus their early attacks fell wide off the target. At the halfway stage, Richie O'Sullivan had their opening score when he finished off good support play by Padraig Carty and Dave Byrne. However, Dan Doona responded immediately with a fine effort after linking up well with Ken O'Connor and Mark Dobbin. The exchanges were fairly even at this stage as both sides traded a brace of points. Ken O'Connor and James Moynagh were on the mark for the Big Apple squad while Richie O'Sullivan and Padraigh Carty replied for Celbridge. Ronan Caffrey added two further points for New York to leave them leading by 7 points to 3 at the break.
Straight from the restart, Sean O'Neill pointed after Dan Doona picked him out with a good pass. At the other end, good defensive work by New York forced a turnover which Murtagh punished with a point. The next score was the turning point and the best score of the match as Murtagh burst down the right wing and fired a great shot to the net.
New York were clearly in control as Caffrey followed up with a minor. Cormac McEvoy got one back for the Kildare boys after midfielders Fitzgerald and Byrne did the support work. Paurie Carty and Ken O'Connor exchanged points at the twentieth minute mark. New York cruised through the last ten minutes, with Paddy Smith hitting the net while Michael Sloan and O'Connor had points.
Overall it was a useful challenge for New York as the mentors tried out some new players. Brendan McGourty slotted in well at full back while Alan Raftery was commanding at number six. Ronan Caffrey was very productive at wing back while the other defenders played smartly. The midfielders had the edge with O'Neill displaying a good work rate. Up front, O'Connor and Murtagh stole the show while Doona directed well from the forty. Despite being out played for much of the game, the Kildare boys battled away to the end. Donal Moore, Padraig Carty, and Robbie Hannon tried hard in defense while midfielders Fitzgerald and Byrne had their moments. Up front the main threat came from Mark and Richie O'Sullivan. New York's next scheduled opponents will be Boston as they continue their preparations for the championship.
New York: Pa Ryan, Lonan McGuire, Brendan McGourty, John Goldrick, Aidan Morton, Alan Raftery, Ronan Caffrey (0-3), Sean O'Neill (0-1), Pat Madden, Mark Dobbin, Dan Doona (0-1), Ross Conovan, James Moynagh (0-1), Ken O'Connor (0-5), Johnny Murtagh (1-5)
Subs: Paddy Smith (1-2), Michael Sloan (0-1), Kevin McGeeney, Alan Carolan, Conor Brady, Patsy Martin, Robbie Moran, Aidan Power, James Huvane, Shane Carty
Celbridge: Paul Spratt, Mick Deegan, Jim Creighton, Donal Moore, Dara McEvoy, Robbie Hannon, Paurie Carty (0-2), Padraigh Fitzgerald, Dave Byrne, Ollie Lyons, Cormac McEvoy (0-1), Shane Harte, Alan Meaney, Mark O'Sullivan, Richie O'Sullivan (0-3)
Subs: David Lyons (0-1), Emmett Rice, Robbie McNamee, John Fitzgerald, Sean Murtagh, Kevin Lawler
Referee: Tom Fahey
