Major brace see’s Gowran fall at final hurdle
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Michael Lyng Motors Intermediate Hurling County Final
Lisdowney 2-12
Young Ireland’s 0-15
Lisdowney were crowned intermediate champions for the second time in four years after they beat both Young Ireland’s and Storm Ashley to return to the senior ranks in Kilkenny club hurling. A brace of majors for Trevor Fletcher’s outfit proved crucial in UPMC Nowlan Park, with Liam Dunphy and Cathal Jordan the green flag raisers in the Michael Lyng Motors Intermediate Hurling County Final. Gowran will rue some missed chances in the second period, when they had the fierce wind at their backs, but Lisdowney’s greater experience was telling on the day.
Lisdowney got off the mark early on, thanks to a fine point from their experienced captain, Mike Kenny. Their opponents levelled matters less than a minute late when Ted Drea fired over for his only score of the game. The next score came from the hurl of Lisdowney’s netminder, Aidan Tallis, who struck over a booming placed ball from deep inside his own half, giving a strong indication of the wind advantage the favourites had in the opening period.
With the game a little scrappy, a product of the conditions and the prize at stake, it was no surprise that there were a few wides early on, from both sides. Some nice team play saw the ball worked to Pat O’Carroll who split the posts to nudge side two points clear. The finalists traded some shoulders, and the game was a little end-to-end, as neither side could assume any level of control. Young Ireland’s reduced the deficit, following a good turn and shot from Seamus Farrell with about 11 minutes gone in UPMC Nowlan Park.
The deadly Brian Kavanagh got his first point of the day from a free, but Gowran responded with a cracking point from Padraig Naddy, who shot beautifully off his left side. Then came a big moment on the day. Liam Dunphy struck his shot fairly well, but Young Ireland’s netminder Jason Brennan hot his hurl to it, but could only deflect it to the net. Lisdowney now led by four points. The goal scorer followed up his major with a nice point, less than 60 seconds later. Barry Power’s side got one back when Killian Carey pointed after 22 minutes. Niall Brennan then nicely set up David O’Carroll, and the midfielder made no mistake as he split the posts.
Young Ireland’s placed ball specialist, Sean Carey registered his first point of the day from a free, after Ted Drea was tripped as he made his way forward. The same player doubled his tally on 28 minutes after brother, Mikey was fouled. Lisdowney’s Dylan Jordan tried his luck from distance, and aided by the exceptionally strong wind at his back, his effort sailed over the bar. The final point of the opening period was also a Lisdowney one, a free from Brian Kavanagh, after Mikey Carey was blown up for charging out of defence, to leave Trevor Fletcher’s charges five points up at the interval.
With the wind now at their backs, Young Ireland’s emerged from the changing rooms, knowing that they had a 5-point gap to bridge, but it would be Lisdowney that increased their interval lead, Brian Kavanagh pointing from a placed ball after Dylan Jordan was fouled. Lisdowney keeper, Aidan Tallis then saved well from Ted Drea, as he struck for goal. Sean Carey was then fouled and the same player split the posts to reduce the gap to five. Gowran built on this score by striking the next one also, substitute Jim Conlon firing over after a fine run.
The second of the game’s majors came next and it a great take and finish from Lisdowney full forward, Cathal Jordan whose effort was struck well and beat Gowran keeper Jason Brennan at the near post to increase his sides lead to seven points. Young Ireland’s needed to respond and that’s exactly what they did. Captain Mikey Carey took a fine catch and drove forward, purposefully before splitting the posts with a quality finish. Again, Lisdowney hit back immediately, another placed ball effort from Brian Kavanagh, who defied the wind to register.
Gowran, who were trying to return to the top table of club hurling for the first time since 2009, then went on a run of scoring to get back in the game. Free’s from Sean Carey, coupled with scores courtesy of the impressive Killian Carey and wing back Paddy Langton resulted in the gap being cut to just 2 points. The next score was an important one and it came from Lisdowney defender Dylan Jordan who registered his second point of the Intermediate decider. You felt that Young Ireland’s would need a goal with time running out, but the experienced Brian Kavanagh drew a foul and converted the resulting free, to make it a two-score game. Killian Carey had now deployed on the edge of the square as Barry Power’s men knew a major score would be required. Paddy Langton looked to strike the ball into the danger zone, but aided by the strong wind his effort carried over the bar for the final score of the game. Lisdowney were back in the senior ranks as 2024 intermediate champions and Hanrahan Cup winners, on a full-time scoreline of 2-12 to 0-15.
