St Canices Credit Union Kilkenny SHC Round One.
Glenmore 5-28 (43); Dicksboro 3-27 (36) (AET)
John Power at Mullinavat GAA Grounds.
Glenmore finally recorded a memorable knockout victory in the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship after an epic encounter with Dicksboro before a large and appreciative attendance at the Mullinavat GAA Grounds on Saturday last. It was a victory which had been a long time coming for the South Kilkenny club. Since returning to the senior grade five years ago, Glenmore had endured a succession of championship disappointments, failing to win a single knockout game. Previous defeats to Dicksboro in 2025, Erins Own in 2024, Bennettsbridge in 2023 and Shamrocks Ballyhale in 2022 had left the club searching for that elusive senior championship breakthrough.
They finally got it in the most dramatic fashion possible. This was a contest which ebbed and flowed throughout, with Dicksboro appearing to have the game under control for long periods before Glenmore produced a remarkable fightback. When extra time arrived, the South Kilkenny side had gathered sufficient momentum to complete one of the most significant senior championship victories in recent years.
For Dicksboro, meanwhile, the defeat will be another bitter disappointment. The city club have enjoyed considerable success at underage level over the years, producing talented minor and under-21 teams, but have found it difficult to convert that progress into senior championship success. Their five senior county titles, won in 1923, 1926, 1950, 1993 and 2017, remain their only senior championship triumphs.
There was little indication during the opening half that Glenmore were about to create history.
Dicksboro started in impressive fashion and controlled the early exchanges with precise passing and intelligent movement. Their structured approach allowed them to dictate the pace, and they struck for an opening-minute goal following a fine passing movement involving Joe Sheehan and Harry Shine, with Timmy Clifford providing the finishing touch.
Glenmore responded quickly, however, and Ciaran Kirwan showed the first glimpse of what was to come when he found the net in the sixth minute to bring the sides level at 1-1 apiece.
Dicksboro remained firmly in control for much of the remainder of the half. Their passing was crisp and their movement created openings, while Glenmore struggled to impose themselves on the game. At half-time, Dicksboro had established a five-point advantage, leading 1-15 to 1-10, and appeared to be in a commanding position.
Yet Glenmore were about to produce a second-half performance of a completely different nature. They abandoned much of the intricate passing approach which had served Dicksboro so well and adopted a more direct, old-school style of hurling. It was a tactic which suited their powerful forwards, particularly Ciaran Kirwan. Kirwan, who joined Glenmore from Kill in Waterford in August 2024, produced without question his finest performance since arriving in South Kilkenny. He scored three goals and two points from play, won a penalty and was a constant threat to the Dicksboro defence. His performance had echoes of the traditional Glenmore full-forward of old, and there was more than a hint of club legend Christy Heffernan in the manner in which he attacked the Boro goal.
Dicksboro continued to lead into the second half, but Glenmore were gradually closing the gap. The turning point came in the 48th minute when Ian Byrne produced a brilliant piece of individual play. Winning possession in the dressing-room corner of the Mullinavat grounds, Byrne cut inside two defenders before unleashing a powerful shot past Darragh Houlihan. The score left it 2-17 to 1-20 and suddenly Glenmore sensed that the game was there for the taking.
A Shane Stapleton free was answered by Ger Aylward before Dicksboro responded with an unanswered 1-1 in the 50th and 51st minutes. Cillian Hackett, who was outstanding throughout and finished with 1-7 from play, supplied the goal, while Patrick Lacey added a point to leave Dicksboro four ahead at 2-22 to 2-18.
Glenmore refused to buckle. Ian Byrne converted a free and Hackett replied at the other end, but the momentum was now with the South Kilkenny men. They struck for an unanswered 1-2, with Darragh Hartley finding the net, and by the second minute of added time Glenmore had moved into the lead. Dicksboro needed a response and Shane Stapleton supplied it with a pointed free, ensuring that the teams could not be separated after normal time.
The scoreboard read Glenmore 3-21, Dicksboro 2-24. Extra time beckoned.
The first period belonged to Ciaran Kirwan. The Glenmore full-forward won a penalty, although the opportunity was not converted, but the disappointment was short-lived. Two minutes later Cathal Beirne broke away and intelligently laid the ball off to Kirwan, who made no mistake with the finish. At the end of the first period of extra time Glenmore had moved into a commanding position, leading 4-23 to 2-26.
They increased that advantage at the beginning of the second period with points from Ethan Phelan, Jason Cody and Ian Byrne, leaving Glenmore six points ahead. There was, however, further drama when Glenmore were reduced to 14 players after a red card.
Dicksboro attempted to take advantage and Shane Stapleton converted a free, but Glenmore were now refusing to relinquish their advantage. Then came the decisive moment. In the 76th minute, Ciaran Kirwan completed his magnificent performance by scoring his third goal of the afternoon and Glenmore’s fifth. The scoreboard showed Glenmore 5-26 to Dicksboro’s 2-27, and the result was effectively settled.
Dicksboro did manage to pull another goal back through Cillian Hackett and they too finished the game with 14 players following a red card, but Glenmore had done enough.
The final whistle was greeted by scenes of understandable delight among the Glenmore players, officials and supporters. After five years of senior championship disappointment, they had finally broken their knockout hoodoo.
What a game this was. Alongside the outstanding Ciaran Kirwan, Glenmore received excellent performances from Shane Murphy, Ian Byrne and Darragh Hartley, while Ethan Phelan and Jason Cody also made important contributions during extra time.
For Dicksboro, Cillian Hackett was exceptional, finishing with 1-7 from play and providing a constant threat. Timmy Clifford and Shane Stapleton also impressed, while the city side will wonder how a game which they appeared to have under control at half-time ultimately slipped away.
For Glenmore, though, the afternoon will live long in the memory. Their senior championship journey has finally delivered a knockout victory, and they achieved it after one of the most extraordinary games Mullinavat has witnessed in some time.
SCORERS
GLENMORE; Ian Byrne (1-14, 0-10 frees), Ciaran Kirwan (3-2), Darragh Hartley (1-2), Charlie Phelan (0-2), Jack Dollard, Shane Murphy, Cathal Beirne, Billy Reid, Ger Aylward, Ethan Phelan, Jason Cody, Colm Roche free (0-1 each).
DICKSBORO: Cillian Hackett (1-7), Shane Stapleton (0-9 frees), Timmy Clifford (1-5), Patrick Lacey (1-0), Joe Sheehan (0-2), Anthony Clifford (0-2), Tom McPhillips, Harry Shine (0-1 each).
TEAMS
GLENMORE
Eoin Murphy, Darragh Vereker, Eoin Aylward, Richie Hennessy, Tomás Mullally, Shane Murphy, Billy Reid, Darragh Hartley, Jack Dollard, Cathal Beirne, lan Byrne, Jason Cody, Charlie Phelan, Ciarán Kirwan, Philly Roche. Substitutes: Ger Aylward for Jason Cody, Ethan Phelan, Colm Roche for Ethan Phelan, Dean Croke for Ian Byrne.
DICKSBORO
Darragh Holohan, Niall Rowe, Padraic Moylan, Evan Cody, Alan Phelan, Tom Kenny, Eoin Fennelly, Tom McPhillips, Joe Sheehan, Anthony Clifford, Harry Shine, Timmy Clifford, Mark Nolan, Shane Stapleton, Cillian Hackett. Substitutes: Patrick Lacey for Mark Nolan, Ollie Walsh for Tom McPhillips, James Carroll, Eoghan Moylan, Louis Raggett for Joe Sheehan.
Referee: Gavin Quilty (Slieverue).
