Photo: Donal O’Brien
By Jimmy Walsh
Windgap suffered a narrow defeat to Piltown in an absorbing JJ Kavanagh and Sons Premier Junior Hurling League encounter played in ideal conditions in Mooncoin. In a repeat of the recent Michael Lyng Motors League Final, the sides served up another entertaining contest packed with momentum swings, quality scores and outstanding individual displays before the Iverk men finished the stronger to claim a 1-24 to 2-17 victory.
Piltown settled quickest and wasted little time in opening the scoring through Shane O’Dwyer. Four different players contributed as they raced into an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead inside the opening four minutes. Aiden Walsh, Aron Kinsella and D.J. Knox all found the target after Conor Doyle had briefly restored parity with Windgap’s opening point.
Windgap gradually settled into the contest and quickly turned the game on its head. A slick passing move involving William Phelan and Billy Power released captain Adam O’Shea, who finished confidently to the net. Jack Doyle followed with a well-taken point to edge Windgap ahead by 1-2 to 0-4 after eight minutes.
The game continued at a frantic pace with Ronan Ryan converting two frees for Piltown while Padraic Foley responded at the opposite end, leaving the sides level at 1-3 to 0-6 by the quarter-hour mark. It was a fair reflection of an evenly contested opening period, with both teams showing plenty of attacking intent.
Windgap then produced their best spell of the afternoon. Dominating possession and winning the key battles around midfield, they hit 1-3 without reply to open a commanding six-point advantage. Billy Power was particularly influential, striking three excellent points, while Adam O’Shea reacted quickest to flick a long-range free to the net for his second goal of the game. Suddenly Windgap were firmly in control with a 2-6 to 0-6 lead after eighteen minutes.
Piltown, however, demonstrated why they remain one of the strongest sides in the competition. Ronan Ryan and D.J. Knox began to dictate matters, with Ryan landing two frees before Knox added a fine point from play. Billy Power interrupted the rally with another excellent score for Windgap, but Piltown continued to pile on the pressure.
Three more points from the accurate Ronan Ryan, together with a score from Cian Kinsella, erased the deficit completely as the sides drew level at 2-7 to 0-13 entering the final minutes of the half. Billy Power briefly restored Windgap’s lead after good work by Pat Grace, only for Ryan to split the posts from another placed ball, ensuring the teams went to the dressing rooms deadlocked at 2-8 to 0-14 after an entertaining opening thirty minutes.
Windgap emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and once again seized the initiative. They outscored Piltown by 0-6 to 0-1 during a blistering opening ten-minute spell to establish a five-point advantage for the second time in the match.
Billy Power continued to lead by example, while Killian Enright, Sean Purcell with a massive free, Conor Doyle and two excellent points from Jack Doyle all added to Windgap’s tally. Piltown’s only reply during this period came from another Ronan Ryan free as Windgap stretched clear by 2-15 to 0-16.
The teams then exchanged points through Ryan and Sean Purcell, whose superb line ball maintained Windgap’s momentum, before D.J. Knox and Jack O’Shea traded further scores. At the three-quarter mark Windgap still held a healthy 2-16 to 0-17 advantage and looked well placed to secure an important league victory despite playing into the Waterford City end.
The turning point came with the introduction of Robbie Culleton for Piltown. His arrival sparked a dramatic change in momentum as the Iverk men suddenly found another gear. They reeled off an unanswered 1-5, completely transforming the contest.
Culleton’s superb solo goal proved the decisive score, while Ronan Ryan, D.J. Knox and Aron Kinsella all contributed points as Piltown wiped out Windgap’s lead and surged into a 1-22 to 2-16 advantage with five minutes remaining.
Windgap refused to surrender and substitute Michael Power reduced the deficit to two points with a valuable score on fifty-six minutes. However, Piltown remained composed under pressure. Ronan Ryan, outstanding throughout, converted two more frees with his customary accuracy to finish with an impressive personal tally of 0-14 and extend his side’s advantage to four points.
Windgap threw everything forward during injury time in search of a late goal that would rescue something from the contest. Their best opportunity fell to Jack Doyle, whose goal-bound effort was brilliantly saved by James Norris, preserving Piltown’s lead. Moments later referee Gavin Quilty sounded the final whistle to confirm a hard-earned 1-24 to 2-17 victory for the Iverk men.
Piltown’s success owed much to the performances of goalkeeper James Norris, whose late save proved crucial, together with Shane O’Dwyer, Robbie Tobin, D.J. Knox and the outstanding Ronan Ryan. For Windgap, Jack Doyle, Billy Power, Darragh O’Shea, Adam O’Shea, Peter Landy and Killian Doyle all impressed during a spirited display that contained many positives despite the disappointment of defeat.
TEAMS: Bearna na Gaoithe; Eoin O’Shea, Peter Landy, Willie Phelan, Sean Foley, Pat Power, Séan Purcell 0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 line ball, Darragh O’Shea, Killian Enright 0-1, Padraic Foley 0-1, Billy Power 0-6, 0-2 frees, Jack Doyle 1-3, Pat Grace, Conor Doyle 0-2, Adam O’Shea 1-0, Ronan O’Brien. Subs; Jack O’Shea 0-1, Conor Culleton, Michael Power 0-1. Baile an Phoill: James Norris, Michael O’Dwyer, Darragh Walsh, Joe Cooney, Shane Walsh, Aaron Kinsella 0-2, Robbie Tobin, Shane O’Dwyer 0-1, Billy O’Callaghan, Ronan Ryan 0-14, 0-11frees, Kevin Walsh, DJ Knox 0-4, Martin Power, Cian Kinsella 0-2, Aidan Walsh 0-1. Subs: Robbie Culleton, Henri Culleton, Andrew Phelan
