‘Fort stand strong to deny Village senior spot
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai IHC Final
Danesfort 2-20 James Stephens 1-16
Sometimes a team doesn’t read the script, they don’t listen to the pundits, or the gambling fraternity and that sums up a Danesfort side that crushed any hopes of a quick return to senior for James Stephens. Make no mistake, Adrian Burke’s charges were full value and deserved to lift the silverware and with that, a place back amongst the senior ranks in 2026. Goals from the lively Anthony Ireland Wall and Fionn Mahony sealed victory for the black and amber clad men in UPMC Nowlan Park and consigned Eoin Larkin’s outfit to another year at this grade.
When referee Sean Cleere threw the ball in, the first action saw Jamie O’Keefe flatten Paul Murphy with a high challenge, one that drew the colour yellow from the O’Loughlin Gaels whistler. Midfielder Cathal Kearney struck over the resulting placed ball to give the ‘Fort an early lead in the decider with a strong wind at their back. From the restart, 4-time Liam MacCarthy winner Paul Murphy plucked the ball from the sky before passing to Kearney, who was fouled. He dusted himself down and rifled over the free from centre field to double his sides lead. The Village got the scoreboard moving in the fifth minute when Cian Kenny played a cross-field ball to his keeper Sean Manogue. The netminder advanced down the right side before hitting a diagonal ball into the forward line. Stephen Manogue took the catch before swiveling to split the Danesfort posts.
Daire O’Neill became the second player to see yellow, for a robust challenge on Jamie O’Keefe which gave Cian Kenny the chance to register, and the intercounty man did just that from deep inside his own half against the elements. The city side hit a third score on the bounce soon after when Darren Booth misjudged the bounce and Ed Lauhoff punished the error from out on the O’Loughlin’s side of the pitch to give his side the lead for the first time in the final. Eoin Larkin’s men doubled their lead from the restart; this time Willie Spencer raised a white flag when he emerged from a ruck with the all-important sliotar. The Village were then penalised for touching the ball on the ground, and this gave Anthony Ireland Wall the chance to open his account from a central position.
The sides then swapped scores as James Stephens held onto a slender lead in UPMC Nowlan Park. Cian Kenny’s influence on his side was beginning to show, and he instigated another attack which saw the ball moved to Oisin Bateman who was fouled by Des Dunne as he looked to burst through the middle. Tadhg O’Dwyer stood over and converted the placed ball to restore his sides 2 –point lead at the end of the first quarter. Jamie O’Keefe then slipped as a goal chance looked on, but Danesfort broke out of defence and worked the ball to Sam Hayes who steadied himself before firing over from the left side. Anthony Ireland Wall then got one of the scores of the game; after getting away from two opposition players he struck over an incredible point. Tadhg O’Dwyer then got his second of the afternoon, despite being fouled he managed to rifle over for a lovely score.
The liveliest looking of the Danesfort forwards was young Anthony Ireland Wall, and he continued his fine form when Colm Phelan broke the ball in his direction and the former St Kieran’s College student spun before splitting The Village posts to level matters again. The favourites then retook the lead, thanks to a fine effort from defender Shane Donohoe. It appeared that early ball into the lively Ireland Wall was proving fruitful and another example of this followed, again the skillful attacker picking up possession, swiveling and pointing from tight to the sideline. Another burst out of defence, this time from Daire O’Neill saw the wing back advance before striking a ball into the danger zone.
Eagle-eyed referee Sean Cleere had spotted some holding off the ball by Niall Delaney and blew for a close range free which Anthony Ireland Wall popped over to put his side back into the lead. Sam Hays then notched another score for Burke’s men when it looked like the attack had been held up. Referee Cleere then gave a free to The Village, which looked harsh on Danesfort, but Tadhg O’Dwyer said thank you. This saw the teams head to the changing rooms with the underdogs up by one.
James Stephens made one change during the interval, with Eoin Guilfoyle replacing Jamie O’Keefe, which saw Niall Mullins drop back into midfield. Just like the opening period, Cathal Kearney opened the scoring from a placed ball, after Tadhg O’Dwyer had fouled Des Dunne. The perpetrator made up for his foul by converting a placed ball of his own after Cathal O’Neill had caught Luke Scanlon a little high. A Long clearance from Sean Manogue into the sun was collected by Ed Lauhoff who raced away from Darren Booth, but Des Dunne made up the yards and made a great hook to dispossess The Village forward and knock the ball behind for a ‘65, which the classy Cian Kenny fired over.
Some great defending from Danesfort saw Paul Murphy give a pass to Daire O’Neill who raced down the O’Loughlin’s side of the ground before striking over a lovely shot, which brought loud cheers from the supporters of the black and amber side. Another move out of defence saw Robbie Walsh arrow the ball towards his No.13 who again won possession before turning the tortured Luke Murphy and firing over his fourth point of the final. Another Burst forward from the impressive Des Dunne saw him kick a pass under pressure to Robbie Walsh who saw Cathal Kearney in space, the result another fabulous team score from the ‘Fort. The last three scores showed the fight and hunger that Adrian Burke’s men were bringing to the final, and James Stephens were struggling to cope with this. More desire saw Colm Phelan fouled by Cian Kenny and gave another simple opportunity to Anthony Ireland Wall who popped the resulting free over to push the Danesfort lead out to four. The Village needed a score badly, and they got on thanks to a fine effort from the left sideline, courtesy of Luke Scanlon.
Danesfort were forced into a change, when Darren Booth limped off and was replaced by Fionn Mahony, which saw Cathal O’Neill retreat to corner back and Sam Hayes drop into the engine room. Tadhg O’Dwyer then popped a lovely pass to substitute Sean Deely who sent over a cracking point. If that was a good point, the next one was even better. Cian Kenny won the ball and fired a pass towards another sub, Eoin Guilfoyle who rifled over a cracking point on the run to leave just the bare minimum between the finalists. A ‘softish’ free awarded by Sean Cleere resulted in Tadhg O’Dwyer splitting the posts to deadlock matters with about 13 minutes of normal time remaining.
Then came a big goal chance for the city side. Eoin Guilfoyle put on the burners and got to the ball despite the best efforts of Diarmaid Phelan. As he raced towards goal on the angle, he struck a fierce low shot that Paddy Hogan did brilliantly to deflect to his left and the follow up hit the side netting, a real let off for Danesfort. Eoin Larkin’s charges went one better with their next attack. A ball played into Ed Lauhoff saw him collect ahead of Adam Byrne and he hit a cross-field pass towards Stephen Manogue who steadied himself before unleashing a bullet that beat Hogan and hit the net, to give The Village a 3-point lead. How would those in stripes react to this major score, the answer came from the restart. As the ball went loose around the middle, Robbie Walsh drew on it and knocked it forward. The ball was collected by Brian McDonald who went past Luke Murphy before striking his shot towards goal, which Sean Manogue managed to deflect into the air via his boot, only to see Anthony Ireland Wall pounce and bat the ball to the net. UPMC Nowlan Park erupted.
The game then went even more ‘basketball like’, end to end, both sides turning over the ball until Sam Hayes settled things down a little, firing over from ‘45 out to edge his side ahead. Back came The Village. Oisin Bateman popped a pass to Shane Donohoe who raced out of defence before striking a booming effort between the Danesfort posts from his own ‘65, the sides level again. The black and amber attacked once more. Robbie Walsh passed to Dan Dowling who moved the ball left towards Sam Hayes. Hayes turned onto his right side and dispatched another sweet effort from play. Paul Murphy then plucked another ball out of the sky, gave it to Robbie Walsh who lost this hurl under the challenge, but managed to pass to Cathal Kearney who drove the ball towards sub Fionn Mahony who raced clear of Bateman before batting over. What a game.
The next Village ball launched towards the Danesfort defence was taken nicely by Daire O’Neill who popped a pass to the supporting Paul Murphy who as he approached the halfway line rifled over an incredible score, the black and amber by 3 as the game went into additional time of the same number. Larkin’s men poured forward, seeking a second major, just as it seemed Tadhg O’Dwyer was about to pull the trigger, Robbie Walsh blocked the shot, more hunger, more desire. The sideline ball was wasted, Danesfort cleared it down field, where Fionn Mahony picked it up and passed to fellow sub Aiden Cowley, who had the freedom of UPMC Nowlan Park, and he fired over to the delight of his team’s supporters. That cheer got even louder seconds later as the ball came out of a ruck into the hands of Aiden Cowley who passed to Fionn Mahony who advanced before firing past Sean Manogue to hammer the final nail into The Village challenge. The long whistle sounded. Danesfort moving on up.
Danesfort- Anthony Ireland Wall (1-7, 3fs); Fionn Mahony (1-1); Cathal Kearney (0-4, 3fs); Sam Hayes (0-4); Daire O’Neill (0-2); Paul Murphy, Aidan Cowley (0-1 each)
James Stephens- Tadhg O’Dwyer (0-5, 4fs); Stephen Manogue (1-1); Cian Kenny (0-2, 1f and 1 ’65); Luke Scanlon, Shane Donohue (0-2 each); Willie Spencer, Ed Lauhoff, Eoin Guilfoyle, Sean Deely (0-1 each)
Danesfort- Paddy Hogan; Darren Booth, Diarmaid Phelan, Adam Byrne; Des Dunne, Paul Murphy, Daire O’Neill; Cathal O’Neill, Cathal Kearney; Dan Dowling, Colm Phelan, Sam Hayes, Anthony Ireland Wall, Brian McDonald, Robbie Walsh.
Subs- Fionn Mahony for Darren Booth, Aidan Cowley for Colm Phelan.
James Stephens- Sean Manogue; Luke Murphy, Niall Delaney, Ben Lawlor; Shane Donohue, Cian Kenny, Sean Bergin; Oisin Bateman, Jamie O’Keeffe; Niall Mullins, Luke Scanlon, Willie Spencer; Ed Lauhoff, Tadhg O’Dwyer, Stephen Manogue.
Subs- Eoin Guilfoyle for Jamie O’Keeffe, Ruairi Harrison for Niall Mullins, Sean Deely for Willie Spencer, Ed McDermott for Ed Lauhoff, Noah Manogue for Ben Lawlor.
