Danesfort out to upset the odds
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Michael Lyng Motors IHC Final
James Stephens vs Danesfort
A place at the top table of Kilkenny club hurling is the prize on offer to the winners of this weekend’s Michael Lyng Motors Intermediate Hurling Championship Final in UPMC Nowlan Park. Having negotiated a tricky campaign in tier two, James Stephens and Danesfort will face-off against each other on Sunday, knowing exactly what’s at stake for the game’s victors. The ‘bookies’ favour The Village, but those clad in black and amber will be determined to upset the odds at headquarters when Sean Cleere throws the ball in at 3pm.
Having been relegated for the first time in their history following a disastrous campaign in 2024, the legendary Brian Cody stepped aside and was replace by another Village legend, Eoin Larkin. The eight-time Liam MacCarthy winner has a nine-time Celtic Cross clubmate beside him, in the form of Jackie Tyrell, and together with the rest of the management team they have gone about soothing the hurt of last year.
The Village found themselves in Group A of the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling League and started life at this level with a game against St Martin’s in Ballyragget. A six-point win for Larkin’s lads was the perfect start with the new management putting faith in lots of young hurlers. It was an experienced head that top scored for the winners, Tadhg O’Dwyer notching 6 points. The quality within James Stephens saw them go unbeaten in the league phase, setting down a marker for all those with designs on achieving senior status.
For Danesfort, Group B saw them also go unbeaten, but they had two drawn games against Carrickshock and Young Irelands. Like Sunday’s opponents, Adrian Burke’s charges had a big win in the opening round, 14 points to the good against St Lachtains and they also registered wins against Fenians and Rower Inistioge to finish the group stages on eight points. As table toppers, the league final could be seen as a dress rehearsal for this weekend. James Stephens were deserved winners; a margin of nine points didn’t flatter them. Eoin Larkin made a number of changes for the league decider, while Danesfort on paper, looked to be near full strength.
When the knockout phase began, the Quarter final saw The Village take on Blacks and Whites at headquarters where they had a facile 21-point win. Not being tested could have presented some problems for the Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan men, but they were never going to tkae their eye off the challenge of Gowran in the last four. A Stephen Manogue major inside ten minutes, set the tone and Eoin Larkin would have been happy at the short whistle, leading by ten. Perhaps the foot came off the gas a little during the second period, but they controlled matters to win out by five.
Danesfort negotiated a tricky last eight tie with Mooncoin, with 2 green flags the difference at the long whistle. The semifinal saw them lock horns with Dunnamaggin which was a keenly contested affair, once again goals proving decisive. Brian McDonald, Colm Phelan and Sam Hayes all struck majors to help see Burke’s team home by five at the long whistle.
James Stephens will look to the quality and experience of Tadhg O’Dwyer, Luke Scanlon and intercounty star Cian Kenny to guide them back to senior level, but they have some talented youngsters in the squad also. Oisin Bateman, Ruairi Harrison and Sean Deely have all featured heavily, while U20 star Ed Lauhoff is a talented stickman. Danesfort will need netminder Paddy Hogan to be on top form, while the half back line anchored by Paul Murphy will be key to their chances of upsetting the odds. With Des Dunne and Daire O’Neill flanking the former Kilkenny great, this line provides much impetus to the Waterford Road based side. While Brian McDonald, Colm Phelan and Cathal Kearney have all impressed, its Anthony Ireland Wall that could provide a little stardust to the stripes.
The bookies don’t often call it wrong, but I think we will see a great game of hurling on Sunday with both teams giving their all. James Stephens want a direct return to senior, but Messrs Larkin & Tyrell may fancy provincial success if they claim the county title this weekend.
