Tag Archives: celbridge gaa

Celbridge Footballer to kick 2500 footballs for St.Vincent de Paul

By Robert Cox Dec 13th

On Sunday December 20th next, Celbridge footballer Aaron Browne will kick 2500 frees from the 21 yard line to raise money for St.Vincent de Paul.

Browne 18, who was one of the stars of the Kildare Gaa Minor Football team that won the Leinster Final against Dublin in 2019, will take on the mammoth task on his home pitch at Celbridge Gaa.

The talented forward scored 1-07 in that 2019 decider and a further 0-05 as Kildare bowed out at the All-Ireland semi final stages to Galway. Browne later went on to be named at wing-forward on the Minor Football team of the Championship following his fine displays.

*Aaron Browne Kildare, made the 2019 Minor Football Team* of the Year.

2020 hasn’t been as busy for the former Salesian College student but he did help Celbridge minors to the semi final of the championship before restrictions and lockdowns called it all to a premature halt. A call up to the Club’s senior team also came his way and a bright future looks on the cards.

For now though, Browne is not looking beyond next week’s challenge and is delighted to be doing his part for a charity he firmly believes in;

“I’ve been busy building up to the big day. Getting down to the pitch and getting as many kicks as I can. Today (Sunday) I did 500. I plan to do it all in one day, maybe over the course of ten hours. I’ll use about 40-50 footballs and do about 52-55 rounds, incase I miss any! Thankfully a few of my friends have agreed to come down and help me out and hopefully I’ll get underway around 7am.

Aaron practicing at Celbridge Gaa a week out from the challenge.

I’m only too happy to help St.Vincent de Paul out. They are a charity who do great work for families and children, especially in the run up to Christmas.

Any donations made would be greatly appreciated and thank you so much to everyone who in advance”

Aaron has raised €2569.00 to date, just over a euro for every shot!! If you would like to donate to his fundraiser you can do so by clicking on the link below ⬇️

https://www.gofundme.com/f/my-attempt-at-kicking-2500-balls-from-21-yards?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Aaron, on the right, with fellow Salesian College student and Kildare team mate from 2019 Johnny Owens, showing off the Leinster Cup in the school.

Costa Rica, Dinosaurs and Magpies; Meet Mick O’Grady

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We caught up with Kildare and Celbridge defender Mick O’Grady recently to try and get to know him a bit better.

On the pitch he is one of the tightest markers in the country but off it find out why magpies, dinosaurs and Costa Rica are of interest to him!

Name: Mick O’Grady

Club/county: Celbridge and Kildare

Current position: Full Back

Any superstitions before a game? I have to salute a magpie if I see one on its own.

If there was a Gaa transfer market, what 2 players(male/female) would you want your team to sign? Michael Murphy and Sean O’Shea

What is your greatest achievement? Playing with Kildare/Making it through college alive.

Favourite Position(on the pitch)? Full Forward – I’m wasted in the full back line.

Played my first game: An under 10 competition with Celbridge and against AIT in the O’Byrne cup in 2014 for Kildare.

Favourite players growing up: Darragh Ó Sé and Dermot Earley

What or who made you want to play football: My Dad is a Kerry man so I grew up watching them win All Ireland’s in the 2000’s and I think that was a major factor in why I wanted to play football

Best piece of advice for up coming player: Don’t let any setbacks define you. There’s always another path if you work hard enough.

Other sports you play or would like to play: I used to play hurling and soccer. I’d love to play a competitive American Football match.

What was the best sporting event you ever witnessed? Liverpool’s comeback in the Champions League final 2005.

If you could go back in time to witness an event, what would it be? Building of the Pyramids or Prehistoric times to see dinosaurs roaming.

Where would you love to go on holiday? Macchu Picchu or Costa Rica

Favourite TV show? Father Ted

What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done? Grabbed hold of Mark Donnellan’s beard

Favourite month of the year and why? December – Christmas and silly season

Cats or Dogs? Dogs

Skinny or chunky chips? Chunky

Tayto or King? King

Fanta Orange or Club Orange? Club Orange all day

Tea or Coffee? Coffee

Quickest teammate: Daniel Flynn

Funniest teammates: Keith Cribbin/Mark Donnellan

Most skillful teammate: Niall Kelly

Fittest teammate: Paul Cribbin

Player who spends most time in front of mirror: Kevin O’Callaghan

Most Committed: Eoin Doyle

Best Dresser: David Slattery

Worst Dresser: David Hyland without a shadow of a doubt

Last Four Pairings Decided In Kildare Junior B Championship

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Cappagh before their win over Rheban.

Table-toppers Cappagh will have home advantage when they face 4th placed Celbridge in the semi final of the Kildare Ladies Junior B championship semi final next Tuesday, September 5th.

Cappagh, who were the only side to go through the group stages unbeaten (with a 100% record to boot), finished off their round-robin campaign in style with a 5-10 to 2-4 victory at home to Rheban.

They will now face old foes Celbridge, managed by Cappagh man John Mulligan, for a place in the showpiece and the girls on the Meath border will be confident of getting there unscathed, having come out on top in all previous meetings this year.

Mulligan may have the last laugh yet though and his knowledge of the Cappagh girls style of play could bear fruit fruit for his new club!!

Speaking after his sides last round loss (1-14 to 3-6) at home to Milltown on Tuesday night, Mulligan said; “We struggled last night. We just weren’t focused on game in front of us, I think a lot of us had our minds on the semi finals. We had all possession in the first half but couldn’t convert it into scores. We changed our game in the 2nd half and played better”.

On the subject of returning to his home pitch of Cappagh, Mulligan let out a wry smile before saying; I can’t wait for next Tuesday v Cappagh. There’s going to be a right bit of banter with the lads for the week in the build up but come game time we will be ready for them”.
In the other semi final Milltown will face Rheban. Milltown leap-frogged Celbridge in the table after Tuesday nights win, to avoid Cappagh but with nothing much to seperate them and Rheban, we are in for a close encounter there.

Mulligan set for Cappagh return in search of victory

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The Cappagh Ladies that will be hoping to end Celbridge’s league campaign

Celbridge senior ladies footballers travel to table-toppers Cappagh in the final game of their division three league campaign in search of a crucial victory tonight, 25th April.
A victory for the visitors would put them right in the hunt for a place in the semi finals and with the hosts already qualified, Celbridge will surely have the greater hunger in what promises to be a titanic battle.

The game will be given an extra bit of edge with current Celbridge manager John Mulligan returning to his home club, a place where he has played and coached since a very young age.

Mulligan will know each and every Cappagh player inside out having trained their senior ladies over the past few seasons, leading them to glory in the Junior C championship.

When asked about the game he was in optimistic mood; “Yeah I’m all set. Looking forward to it. It’s something new for me!! It will be strange been in Cappagh as opposing manager. Tonight I’ll be 100% Celbridge and we are going there to put it up to Cappagh as they are the level we want to be at in this division”

O’Brien on fire as Kilcock romp to victory.

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Paul O’Brien in action for Kilcock senior footballers.

Kilcock 5-13 Celbridge 2-11

Paul O’Brien produced a scintillating display at Kilcock Gaa on Monday night to ensure that Kilcock’s 2nd team got their Senior B division one league campaign off to a winning start against Celbridge.

The experienced, pacey forward hit a hat-trick of goals and also contributed two points as Padraic Carroll’s side got the better of their well fancied neighbours in their first game back in the top tier.

Two of O’Brien’s goals came in the first half, the second an unstoppable effort when one on one with the Celbridge net minder. Daragh McArdle netted the third and with points from the midfield duo of Chris McCarthy and Darren Byrne (2) along with an O’Brien free, the men in green and gold lead 3-4 to 0-4 at half time.

Kilcock took up where they left off upon the resumption and ended the game as a contest when debutant Conor Dewe Stokes tapped home a goal after some smart build up play from a number of his team mates including the star of the show O’Brien.

Celbridge rallied somewhat and struck two goals of their own but were dealt another blow when O’Brien completed his hat-trick to land Kilcock’s fifth. Further points from McArdle (3), Ronan Mulligan, Cian Mulhall (2), O’Brien, Byrne and substitute Michael Stokes wrapped up proceedings as Kilcock ran out eleven point winners, 5-13 to 2-11.

There was an added special moment on the night when Michael Stokes came on to play alongside Conor. It’s been a long time since there was a father/son combination on the field at the same time for Kilcock.

In addition it was clearly visible to see that many of the Kilcock lads were playing for their places in the upcoming SFL Div2 game at home to Johnstownbridge and there’s no doubting O’Brien will have caught Declan Gibbons’ attentions.

O’Brien in action v Celbridge last night.