Round 1 game’s throw up plenty of talking points
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior League Round Up
It’s all about the club. It starts with the club and finishes with the club. The intercounty scene is a bonus and you get to follow the black and amber across the island in the hope of being reunited with Liam, but Gaels across the County will be delighted to see the ‘bread and butter’ return to pitches across Kilkenny last weekend.
St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior League Group A (Round 1)
Tullaroan 3-16 Dicksboro 1-19
Thomastown 1-23 James Stephens 0-20
Bennettsbridge 2-23 Glenmore 0-13
Group B
O’Loughlin Gaels 3-22 Clara 1-19
Mullinavat 0-21 Erins Own 1-13
Graigue Ballycallan 1-22 Shamrocks Ballyhale 2-13
The season got underway last Friday night with the meeting of The Sash and Dicksboro at Tom Ryall Park. It would be a night to remember for Tullaroan netminder Paul Buggy, who’s heroics in the second half ensured his side made the journey home with maximum points. The experienced Buggy denied Matthew Kelleher and young star Harry Shine twice as Ciallin Brennan’s major brace along with telling contributions from Gearoid Dunne, John Walton and Mossy Keoghan ensured a winning start for The Sash.
Next up for Tullaroan is Glenmore at Páirc na Seamróg tomorrow, while the Palmerstown men head to St. John’s Park to battle with James Stephens.
Thomastown took the honours on their return to the senior ranks, getting the better of a 13-man Village side who lost both Niall Brassil and Niall Delaney to red cards in Bennettsbridge. Stephen Donnelly’s goal in the first quarter was the foundation for a 6-point win, but his fellow Donnelly’s all had telling contributions in Noel Doherty’s side’s opening day win. John Donnelly & Co will face-off against Bennettsbridge tomorrow as they seek to back it back-to-back wins.
Tomorrow’s opponents, Bennettsbridge had a comprehensive victory over Glenmore at Inistioge, running out impressive 16-point winners. The bridge were six clear at the short whistle, but put on a scoring masterclass after the interval and will know that Thomastown will provide a sterner challenge in round two.
Current county champions O’Loughlin Gaels got their defence off to a flyer with an impressive victory over Clara in Gowran. County panelist Liam Hogan struck for an early major and this was built on with scores from Mark Bergin, Jordon Molloy and Kerry County man Fionán Mackessy before Sean Bolger rattled the net for goal number two. The deadly Bergin was on song and kept the scoreboard ticking over, while Luke Hogan finished his days work with a personal tally of 2-2. Clara never gave up and had good showings from the impressive Paul Cody (0-5), Chris Bolger (1-2) and Liam Ryan who hit 0-4.
Round 2 see’s Brian Hogan’s men take on Mullinavat in Thomastown, while Clara will hope to see off Declan Browne’s Graigue Ballycallan at Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan.
Talking of former Tipp dual star Declan Browne, his charges got off to a superb start, claiming the notable scalp of Shamrocks Ballyhale in Dunnamaggin. The former champions are known for slow starts to the league, but having lost their crown last season, will want to get back on top in their County quickly. They lost county star Adrian Mullen to a red card, ten minutes before the interval, as he took an overzealous interest in Jeff Neary’s headgear.
Eoin Cody converted a first half penalty, but Sean Ryan and Aaron McEvoy kept the light blues ahead, while they struck for a major of their own, courtesy of Conor Murphy and led by two points at the break. Graigue Ballycallan pulled clear in the 3rd quarter as Shamrocks struggled to trouble the scoreboard, and despite a late green flag being raised by Darragh Corcoran, whose effort caught Ciaran Hoyne out and found the net. Shamrocks will hope to get their first points on the board when then meet Erin’s Own in Palmerstown tomorrow.
St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior League Group A Round 2
Saturday 10th Aug 2024
Bennettsbridge vs Thomastown 12:00 noon
Venue: Thomastown Referee: Conor Everard
Tullaroan vs Glenmore 2pm
Venue: Páirc na Seamróg Referee: Patrick O Reilly
James Stephens vs Dicksboro 4pm
Venue: St. John’s Park Referee: Stephen Delaney
St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League Group B Round 2
Sunday 11th Aug 2024
Shamrocks Ballyhale vs Erins Own 12:00 noon
Venue: Palmerstown Referee: Richard Holland
Clara vs Graigue Ballycallan 2pm
Venue: Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan Referee: Eoin Maher
Mullinavat vs O`Loughlin Gaels 4pm
Venue: Thomastown Referee: David Hughes
