Senior league gets underway on Noreside
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League
Round 1 Review
An action-packed set of fixtures marked round one of the 2026 St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League on Noreside. A city derby was the first serving on offer for Gaels across the county, and a big crowd was in attendance for the meeting of Dicksboro and O’Loughlin Gaels in Cannon Kearns Park. With notable absentees on both sides, but particularly for the St Johns Park side, it appeared like a good time for the Palmerstown outfit to tackle Brian Hogan’s charges, but the 2023 County champions showed that there is plenty of youth coming behind the likes of Deegan, Butler, Bergin etc. One of Kilkenny U20’s panel, Ruarc Sweeney made a fantastic start to the senior ranks, finishing his evening’s work with three majors to his name as his side ran out 5-point winners in Castlecomer.
St John’s Park was the venue for the clash of current Tom Walsh Cup holders, Shamrocks Ballyhale and perennial strugglers, Erin’s Own. The Castlecomer outfit put in a cracking performance but had nothing to show for their efforts at the long whistle, as a late goal courtesy of Michael Barron which saw Michael Alyward claim victory in his first game as manager, having replaced new Cats boss Henry Shefflin. TJ had some good moments while Eoin Cody looked lively throughout, notching 0-8 in the last gasp win. Michael Brennan was one of the ‘Comer sides best performers finishing his Saturday evenings work with 2-7 to his name.
Saturday’s other fixture saw the meeting of Thomastown and Clara in Mullinavat with the former running out comfortable winners, following a very fast start to the game from those in blue. A trio of Donnelly’s helped their side to a 5-point lead at the short whistle, with Clara speedster Rory Glynn’s major helping keep the men in maroon in touch with the 2024 County champions, but some great shooting in the second half from the likes of Daithi Barron, Clan Donnelly and Peter McDonald saw the ‘Town home by 12 points.
Having narrowly escaped relegation last season, Graigue Ballycallan got off to a winning start with a 5-point win over Bennettsbridge in Dunnamaggin. Star of the show for the Tom Ryall Park men was Aaron McEvoy, who racked up an impressive 1-13 for the sky blues as they recovered from conceding two early goals to the ‘Bridge’s Bill Hughes. The men in stripes were two up at the break but sharp shotting from young McEvoy saw GBC draw level by the 42 minute and they kept the scoreboard ticking over and despite a late Timmy Kelly goal they registered the win.
Player of the weekend was undoubtably Dylan Simpson, who hit 4-8 as his Tullaroan side got the better of newly promoted Danesfort in a hugely entertaining clash in Páirc Lachtáin. The ‘Fort started well and were 3 points up before Simpson’s first green flag was raised in the 13th minute. Indeed, thanks to the accuracy of Fionn Mahony and Ben Whitty, to compliment Anthony Ireland-Wall’s sideline cut that evaded Sash netminder, Niall Holland, the men in black and amber held a 1-point lead at the interval. The talented Fionn Mahony found the net and scores from Whitty and Ireland-Wall saw Danesfort go five ahead, but efforts from Gearoid Dunne, Mossy Keoghan and Dylan Simpson’s 4th green flag saw Tullaroan take control and get over the line.
Mooncoin hosted the game between Glenmore and Mullinavat and these sides couldn’t be separated over the hour. There may not have been any goals, but there was little between the teams during the round 1 clash. Ger Malone’s accuracy saw The Vegas Boys take a 4-point lead into the interval, but the men from Pairc na Ratha hit nine second half points to claim a share of the spoils with captain Ian Byrne impressing.
