Farrell’s men set for January Croker decider
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
AIB Club Junior Hurling Championship Semi Final 2024
St Lactains 3-15 Easkey 0-13
Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)
St Lachtain’s are Croker bound after seeing off the stubborn challenge of Sligo side Easkey in Ballinasloe last Sunday. In real winter conditions of wind and rain, the Freshford side weathered both the elements and the opposition to deliver an 11-point victory and secure a place in this year’s AIB Club Junior Hurling Championship Final, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday January 12th at Croke Park.
Just like their Leinster final win for Wexford side Castletown Liam Mellows in SETU, it was goals that really got the Kilkenny side over the line. A brace from Shane Donnelly alongside a cleverly worked effort from Cathal O’Leary provided the platform for the Noresiders to break down the resistance posed by the Connacht side.
Despite taking to the field without the services of key duo, James Maher and Brian Kennedy, the Kilkenny champions got off to a fast start from the throw-in. The ball was worked to Darragh Maher who wasted no time in sending the sliotar into the danger zone, where Shane Donnelly arrived to apply the finishing touch past Easkey netminder, Jimmy Gordon, who never looked comfortable under the high ball, all afternoon. From the puck out, St Lachtain’s won possession and again, found Darragh Maher in a central position and the big forward made no mistake in splitting the Sligo side’s posts.
Michael Conway’s side got the scoreboard moving seconds later, thanks to a placed ball effort from the top scorer, Andrew Kilcullen who kept his team in touch throughout the contest. Then came the second green flag raiser of the game. Freshford were awarded a free, which Liam Hickey stood over. Most watching would have already ticked off this as a certain point, but quick thinking from Hickey saw him pick out Cathal O’Leary who steadied himself before striking a fierce shot past Jimmy Gordon. Just like they did after registering their first major, Steven Farrell’s charges tagged on another point, courtesy of Shane Donnelly who fired over having cut in from the left side. A shell-shocked Easkey notched their second score of the game on five minutes, a nice effort from Thomas Cawley.
The Westerners hit the next two scores, both from the hurl of dangerman Andrew Kilcullen, one from play, one from a free as they reduced the Marble City men’s lead to four points. St Lachtain’s replied with a placed ball of their own from Hickey, after centre forward Paddy Killeen was halted illegally. Easkey then tried taking a leaf out of their opponent’s book when they launched a long ball in and around the house, which Thomas Cawley flicked over the bar as he rose with a defender and Darren Brennan, the Freshford keeper. The men from the Wild Atlantic Way then struck the next three scores, the first two from play and fine efforts they were, courtesy of Andrew Kilcullen (2) and Rory McHugh, the third, a placed ball after Padraig Donnelly was blown up for touching the ball on the ground by Clare referee Niall Malone.
The 4-point burst from Easkey had reduced the Leinster champions lead to just one point and the men in black and amber needed to find the target again, having hit some poor wide’s, which numbered six at this stage of the semi-final. Again, Liam Hickey stepped up and delivered for his club, this time firing over from play from a central position. Michael Conway’s outfit were flying, full of confidence and their running style was causing some problems for Freshford. The Sligo side then created a possible goal chance, but Ronan Molloy decided to pop over the point to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Again, the Kilkenny hit back, thanks to a free from out on the right, under the stand by Liam Hickey. The same player then rifled one over from open play from tight to the right sideline before his goalkeeper Darren Brennan struck a monstrous free from deep inside his own half to give his side a much-needed 4-point lead at the interval.
The hard-working Cathal O’Leary got things going in the second half, striking over a cracking effort on the run from out on the right. Easkey’s No.14 added to his personal tally a minute later, sending over another pair of placed ball efforts, either side of a fine Mark Donnelly score as St Lachtain’s maintained their four-point interval advantage. Liam Hickey then tagged on two further points from placed balls, after Alexander rafter and Paddy Killeen had been fouled, the latter of which brought the first booking of the game, corner back Eoghan Rua McGowan the deserved recipient.
With six points the gap between the semi-finalists, it looked like Easkey would need to raise a green flag of their own to get a foothold back in the game, but it was to be the Noresiders that struck the contests final major. Cathal O’Leary picked up possession out on the right and struck his effort towards the Sligo side’s posts. Against the wind, his shot didn’t quite have the distance, but Jimmy Gordon spilled his attempted catch, and Shane Donnelly was on hand to bat the ball home, Farrell’s men now had a 9-point lead. With a touch of de ja vu, Shane Donnelly notched the next score also, a lovely point having won the ball and creating room to shoot, despite the pressure of three opponents around him.
With a commanding lead, St Lachtain’s started to make changes, the first seeing provincial final goal scoring hero Cian Dawson replacing Darragh Maher, who had put it a decent shift. Despite playing into the wind in the second half, Darren Brennan was showing all his experience and ability with accurate restarts and expert handling. His latest puck out found the roaming Liam Hickey who motored down the right sideline before dispatching his effort between the posts. Simple, but thoroughly effective. The ever-threatening Hickey then popped over another placed ball which was the signal for further changes to the Kilkenny side. Paddy Killeen and John Fitzpatrick who had both covered every blade of grass in Duggan Park, left the field to tremendous applause from the Freshford supporters in attendance as Jerry Bergin and Cathal Power entered the fray for the last 10 minutes.
St Lactain’s work rate throughout the second half was up considerably from the opening 30 minutes and you could sense the desire and hunger to reach Croker with every yard gained and tackle made. No better example of this came when Padraig Donnelly burst through the grasp of three Easkey players, before being fouled, again the cheers of the travelling support could be heard far and wide of Ballinasloe! The Sligo men registered their first score in almost 25 minutes, a free won and converted by Andrew Kilcullen. Mark Donnelly was then chopped and Liam Hickey struck over the resulting free with the game deep into the three additional minutes signaled. Easkey did strike the final score of the semifinal, no guesses needed as to the player that split the posts from the placed ball. Clare whistler, Niall Malone sounded the long whistle, all of Freshford could begin planning for a trip to the Capital on January 12th. Final score in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, St Lachtain’s 3-15, Easkey 0-13.
Scorers – St Lachtain’s: L Hickey 0-9 (5f) S Donnelly 2-2, C O’Leary 1-1, D Brennan 0-1f, M Donnelly & D Maher 0-1.
Scorers – Easkey: A Kilcullen 0-9 6f, T Cawley 0-2 R McHugh 0-1, R Molloy 0-1.
St Lachtain’s: D Brennan, S Rafter, C Bergin, S Dawson, C Hickey, J Fitzpatrick, P Donnelly, M Donnelly, B Quinn, C O’Leary, P Killeen, A Rafter, S Donnelly, D Maher, L Hickey.
Easkey: J Gordon, J Weir, G Connolly, E Rua McGowan, D Hanley, R McHugh, N Kilcullen, R Molloy, D Rolston, M Gordon, J McHugh (C), F Cawley, F Connolly, A Kilcullen, T Cawley.
Referee: N Malone (Clare).
