Countrystyle Foods Kilkenny Junior D Hurling Championship Semi Final.
Mooncoin 3-14; Rower Inistioge 0-12.
John Power at Mooncoin GAA Grounds
With an impressive second-half display, Mooncoin booked their place in the 2026 Country Style Foods Junior D Hurling final following an 11-point victory over Rower Inistioge at Mooncoin on a pleasant Sunday evening. This was a competitive and entertaining contest, particularly during the opening half when there was very little between the sides. Rower Inistioge made a determined start and Mooncoin had to work hard for every score, with neither team able to establish any real authority.
The exchanges were close throughout the opening period, and the sides were level on several occasions before Mooncoin managed to edge ahead. At the interval, the home side held the narrowest of advantages, leading by just a single point, 0-6 to 0-5. Mooncoin came out with far greater purpose after the restart and immediately began to put their opponents under pressure. They registered three unanswered points, with Danny Purcell and Billy Delahunty, who scored twice, putting some daylight between the teams.
Rower Inistioge refused to surrender, however, and continued to battle for every ball. Jamie Dwan got them back on the scoreboard before Fiachra Farrell converted two frees to bring the visitors right back into contention. The two sides then exchanged pointed frees, Ethan Ryan replying for Mooncoin before Farrell once again found the target for Rower Inistioge. At this stage, the game remained very much in the balance, but Mooncoin were beginning to look increasingly dangerous around the Rower Inistioge goal.
The decisive breakthrough finally arrived in the 40th minute. A long delivery into the square caused problems for the Rower Inistioge defence and Billy Delahunty reacted quickest, getting on the end of the ball to finish to the net and give Mooncoin a valuable cushion at 1-11 to 0-10.
Rower Inistioge responded with great spirit and Fiachra Farrell reduced the deficit to three points with an excellent score from distance. Mooncoin, though, were now beginning to find their rhythm and another Ethan Ryan free restored some breathing space.
The home side then struck for their second goal, with Delahunty again at the centre of the action. He won possession, showed great composure as he swivelled away from his marker and struck a powerful effort beyond Chapman in the Rower Inistioge goal to make it 2-11 to 0-10.
Harry Murphy was outstanding for Rower Inistioge and he refused to give up the fight. He produced one of the scores of the evening when he landed a fine point from around 80 metres, giving his side renewed hope.
Mooncoin, however, were now firmly in control and effectively put the result beyond doubt by the 50th minute. Two fine points from the midfield area increased their advantage before JP Purcell sent a long delivery towards the Rower Inistioge goal. Ray Wall was on hand to apply the finishing touch, sending the ball to the net for Mooncoin’s third goal and leaving the score at 3-13 to 0-11. With the outcome now beyond doubt, the intensity understandably eased during the closing stages. Mooncoin had done the damage with a superb second-half performance in which their attacking play and ability to take their goal chances proved decisive.
Rower Inistioge can take plenty of positives from their first-half display and the manner in which they continued to battle after Mooncoin had opened up a lead.
For Mooncoin, however, it is all about the final now. They advance to the Roinn D decider where they will meet either Cloneen or Young Irelands next weekend, with confidence understandably high following an impressive performance after the break.
TEAMS
MOONCOIN: Niall O’Hanlon, Jackie Ryan, Niall Blanchfield, Eoin McGrath, Zach Power, Darragh Murphy, Canice Kinsella, Stephen Brennan, Ethan Ryan, Robert Finn, Billy Delahunty junior, Jack Tyler, Kieran Fagan, Michael Ryan, Danny Purcell. Substitutes: John Paul Purcell, Ray Wall for Danny Purcell, Patrick Kinsella, Kieron Dillon Dunphy for Canice Kinsella, Sean Wall fir Billy Delahunty junior.
ROWER INISTIOGE: Ben Chapman, John Joe Lawless, Jim Murphy, Thomas Grace, Tadhg Leahy, Harry Murphy, Oisin Smithwick O’Brien, Robby Walshe, John Grace, James Prendergast, Fiacre Farrell, Conor Downey, Howard McDonnell, David Lyng, Ewan Gilsenan. Substitutes: Eoghan Byrne, Jamie Dwan, William Ashe Doyle for Johnny Grace, Callum McGrath for Robby Walshe.
Referee: Ray Byrne (Glenmore)
