St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny SHC Quarter Final
Bennettsbridge 1-17; Graigue-Ballycallan 0-17.
John Power at UPMC Nowlan Park.
Bennettsbridge produced an impressive performance when they overcame Graigue Ballycallan by three points in a gripping Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final at UPMC Nowlan Park. The victory earns the Bridgemen a place in the county semi-final for the third time in five years and, after losing at this stage in 2023 and 2024, they will now approach the last four with renewed confidence.
Their achievement was all the more notable because they played almost 40 minutes with 14 players after full-back Enda Morrissey was dismissed in the 22nd minute following a second yellow card. Rather than allowing the setback to derail their challenge, Bennettsbridge continued to attack and defend with purpose, eventually finishing the stronger of the two sides. It represents a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for a team who endured a difficult opening to their league campaign. Four successive defeats had left them facing a possible relegation battle, but their season has taken a dramatic turn, and they now find themselves just one game away from a county senior final.
There was little between the sides during an entertaining opening half. Graigue Ballycallan made the better start when Aaron McEvoy opened the scoring with a point from play. Bennettsbridge quickly settled, however, and replied with three points in succession. Charlie Fitzgerald opened their account before Nicky Cleere converted a free and Bill Hughes added another well-taken score. Graigue Ballycallan responded strongly. Ryan Corcoran pointed in the eighth minute before McEvoy added a free to bring the sides level at 0-3 apiece.
Liam Blanchfield then edged Bennettsbridge back in front with a fine point, but McEvoy replied from another placed ball. Nicky Cleere restored the Bennettsbridge lead from a free, only for Graigue Ballycallan to enjoy a productive spell. Three pointed frees saw them move into a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage by the twentieth minute.
Then came the game’s major turning point. Morrissey was shown a second yellow card following a collision with Ryan Corcoran. Having already been booked in the second minute following a tackle on Sean Ryan, the Bennettsbridge full back was forced to leave the field. The dismissal changed the shape of the game, but Bennettsbridge adapted well. Their half-backs and midfielders covered considerable ground, while the forwards continued to press the Graigue Ballycallan defence. They were rewarded before half-time when a series of good attacks produced two further points, leaving Bennettsbridge ahead by 0-9 to 0-8 at the interval.
Graigue Ballycallan levelled just a minute after the restart when Sean Ryan pointed from play, but Bennettsbridge then struck for the game’s decisive score. A long delivery into the attack was collected by Liam Blanchfield. Showing good awareness, he laid the ball off to Eoin Walpole, who finished neatly to the Graigue Ballycallan net.
The goal put Bennettsbridge 1-9 to 0-9 ahead and gave them renewed momentum despite their numerical disadvantage. McEvoy reduced the deficit with a point from play, but Bennettsbridge responded in style. Jimmy Lennon produced an excellent point from midfield before David Blanchfield embarked on a powerful solo run through the centre of the field and followed it with another fine score. The Bridgemen now led by 1-11 to 0-10.
Graigue Ballycallan refused to surrender. Billy O’Neill converted a long-distance free before Tommy Ronan added another point in the 40th minute, reducing the deficit to two. Nicky Cleere then steadied the Bennettsbridge challenge with another free, but Graigue Ballycallan responded with two McEvoy frees, either side of a point from Jesse Roberts.
With the scores level on 47 minutes, the game was perfectly poised. A superb sideline cut from Jamie Harkin put Bennettsbridge back in front before goalkeeper Alex O’Farrell struck a magnificent long-range free. Those scores gave the Bridgemen a 1-14 to 0-15 advantage. McEvoy pointed from play to reduce the gap to the minimum before Ryan Corcoran levelled matters again in the 51st minute.
At that stage the momentum appeared to be with Graigue Ballycallan, but Bennettsbridge finished strongly. Their movement and running remained impressive and they began to find openings in the Graigue Ballycallan defence. Charlie Fitzgerald struck two important points before Bill Nolan added the final score of the afternoon.
Those three unanswered scores secured a three-point victory and sent Bennettsbridge into the county semi-final. David and Liam Blanchfield were outstanding for the winners, while Sean Morrissey also turned in a strong performance. Eoin Walpole and Charlie Fitzgerald formed an effective two-man full-forward line in the second half, with both making important contributions as the contest reached its decisive stages.
For Graigue Ballycallan, Aaron McEvoy was a constant threat and finished with an impressive haul of scores. Billy O’Neill and substitute Sean Ryan also worked hard throughout, while Graigue will reflect on missed opportunities after failing to make their numerical advantage count in the closing stages.
For Bennettsbridge, however, this was a significant step forward. After their difficult start to the year, they have now reached the last four of the county senior championship. Their previous semi-final appearances in 2023 and 2024 ended in defeats to eventual champions O’Loughlin Gaels and Thomastown respectively.
This time they will enter the semi-final with a different outlook. They have already negotiated a difficult quarter-final against Graigue Ballycallan and, despite being reduced to 14 men for much of the contest, finished with three unanswered points to secure their place among the county’s senior elite. The Bridgemen can now look forward to the next stage of the championship with a genuine opportunity to reach the county final for the first time in this latest chapter of their senior campaign.
SCORERS
GRAIGUE BALLYCALLAN Aaron McEvoy (0-10, 0-8 frees), Ryan Corcoran (0-2), Sean Ryan (0-2), Billy O’Neill, free, Tommy Ronan, Jesse Roberts (0-1 each).
BENNETTSBRIDGE Nicky Cleere (0-5 frees), Charlie Fitzgerald (0-3), Eoin Walpole (1-0), Liam Blanchfield (0-2), Bill Hughes, Jimmy Lennon, David Blanchfield, Jamie Harkin sideline, Alex O’Farrell free, Bill Nolan (Hugh O’Neill 0-1 each).
TEAMS
GRAIGUE BALLYCALLAN: Sean McGrath, Richie Keoghan, Tom Dunphy, Colm Prenderville, Billy Dowling, Billy O’Neill, Stephen Keoghan, Jeff Neary, Jack Walton, Jesse Roberts, Sean Ryan, Tommy Ronan, Aaron McEvoy, Oisin Egan, Ryan Corcoran. Substitutes: Sean Ryan for Jeff Neary, Conor Walton for Jack Walton.
BENNETTSBRIDGE: Alex O’Farrell, Shane Byrne, Enda Morrissey, Timmy Kelly, Conor Murphy, David Blanchfield, Jamie Harkin, Jimmy Lennon, Hugh O’Neill, Sean Morrissey, Bill Hughes, Nicky Cleere, Eoin Walpole, Liam Blanchfield, Charlie Fitzgerald. Substitutes: Bill Nolan for Shane Byrne, Ciaran Brennan for Charlie Fitzgerald.
Referee: Johnny Dooley (St Lachtain’s)
