Injury to netminder Diarmuid Galway sours ‘Vat demolition
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny SHC Semi-Final
UPMC Nowlan Park
Thomastown 1-27
Mullinavat 0-12
For a second consecutive year, Thomastown will contest a county final, only this time it’s the Tom Walsh Cup that will be up for grabs when they face-off against holders O’Loughlin Gaels in just over a week’s time. It will be the first time that the ‘Town will contest the senior final since their 17-point defeat to Shamrocks Ballyhale in1988. Noel Doherty’s outfit showed their ruthlessness and class as they dismantled a Mullinavat team that had surprised many be reaching the last four of this year’s championship. By the long whistle, there were 18 points between the sides, and at no stage did it look like The Vat would repeat their shield final heroics and claim another famous scalp. The only negative on an otherwise superb performance was the injury sustained by Town netminder, Diarmuid Galway, who was replaced in goals during the second period by Paul Barron, following a collision
The All-Ireland intermediate winners came out of the blocks quickly and established a 5-point lead with just over 10 minutes played at headquarters with scores from Robbie Donnelly (0-4), Colm Treacy, John Donnelly and captain, Peter McDonald. The Vegas Boys were struggling to get any foothold in the game, and only had one player on the scoresheet, a couple of efforts from John Walsh. Stephen Donnelly got in on the act with a lovely brace, while Robbie’s radar was definitely in, as he also added to his growing tally.
While Colm O’Byrne’s side did try to remain in the contest, they struggled to tag on more than two scores in a row, which against the free scoring Thomastown was proving to be a big problem. Robbie Donnelly kept taking his opportunities, while Peter McDonald and Colm Treacy also doubled their tallies as their side found themselves in a commanding position at the interval, leading 0-16 to 0-7.
Mullinavat knew that a fast start was needed to the second period and they would need to minimise scores for their opponents, but Stephen Donnelly got the scoreboard moving, and while The Vat replied, Thomastown were relentless. Robbie popped over another score, while Connellan’s, Luke and Rory also notched scores as Noel Doherty’s men went 12 points up. The Vegas Boys then reeled off two scores on the bounce, but again the superior firepower of their opponent was evident. Zack Bay Hammond fired over a lovely point while Robbie Donnelly added another, but then any potential or lingering doubts of a comeback were quashed. Robbie Donnelly struck a free from out the park and as it dropped short of its intended target, Tucker O’Hanrahan used all his nous to bat the sliotar to the net. Thomastown’s lead was now 15 points with about eleven minutes of normal time remaining.
Like all good teams do, the ’Town stuck the next two points via Donnelly’s, John and Robbie. Colm O’Byrne’s charges hit a couple of consolation points, but Luke Connellan, Robbie Donnelly and goal scorer O’Hanrahan notched further points to leave the final score at UPMC Nowlan Park, Thomastown 1-27, Mullinavat 0-12.
Scorers: Thomastown – Robbie Donnelly (0-10, 9f, 1 65), Thomas O’Hanrahan (1-2), Stephen Donnelly (0-4), Peter McDonald, Colm Treacy, John Donnelly, Brian Staunton, Luke Connellan (0-2 each), Rory Connellan (0-1)
Scorers: Mullinavat – John Walsh (0-7, 5f), Oisin Knox (0-3), Mick Malone, Willie O’Dwyer (0-1 each).
Thomastown – D Galway; P Connellan, J Burke, N Kirwan; B Staunton, E Donnelly, Z Bay Hammond; JJ Farrell, P McDonald; R Donnelly, L Connellan, J Donnelly; R Connellan, S Donnelly, C Treacy. Subs – N Dempsey for E Donnelly, D Prendergast for P McDonald, T O’Hanrahan for R Connellan, P Barron for D Galway, J Holden for S Donnelly.
Mullinavat – S Fitzpatrick; B Dempsey, T Aylward, R Davis; I Duggan, P Dempsey, G O’Connor; A Mansfield, J Gahan; M Malone, J Walsh, C Walsh; O Knox, G Malone, B Phelan. Subs – W O’Dwyer for C Walsh, P McDonald for R Davis, P Gahan for B Phelan.
Referee: Michael O’Sullivan (Shamrocks Ballyhale)
