Soul searching in store for James Stephens as relegation confirmed
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny Senior Hurling Relegation Final
Glenmore 3-17
James Stephens 3-12
Venue: Thomastown,
Referee: Owen Beehan
Glenmore condemned The Village to relegation and intermediate hurling with a stunning 5-point victory at a windswept Thomastown last Saturday. It will be the first time in almost 70 years that James Stephens won’t be at the top table in Kilkenny club hurling. Even missing the influential Eoin Murphy, Glenmore finished the game strongly against Brian Cody’s 14 men to ensure they maintained their senior status for another season.
First half goals from Luke Scanlon, Tadgh O’Dwyer and Eoin Guilfoyle saw The Village head to the changing rooms, two points to the good with the aid of the wind advantage to come in the second half, however some wayward shooting allowed Glenmore back into the game and they made their numerical advantage count in the final quarter with big performances and scores from Ian Byrne, Ger Aylward and one of this season’s stars, Billy Reid as Maurice Aylward’s outfit dug out the victory.
The Pairc Na Ratha side had Alan Murphy in fine form and the most forward thinking of Clan Murphy top scored for his team in Thomastown, as he just about edged his scoring battle with The Village’s Cian Kenny. Glenmore’s majors came from Charlie Phelan, Ger Aylward and sub Ethan Phelan, whose late goal sealed the precious win.
St Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny Senior Hurling Quarter-Finals
Mullinavat 2-21
Erin’s Own 0-19
Things just keep getting better and better for Mullinavat. They survived a determined challenge from Erin’s Own to secure a semi-final berth, where they will go up against All-Ireland Intermediate champions, Thomastown this weekend.
The old saying ‘goals win games’ was never truer than in this clash at UPMC Nowlan Park and it would be corner forward, Brian Phelan’s double major tally that would see The Vegas boys finish eight points clear of a gallant ‘Comer side. Raising a green flag in either half was crucial in Colm O’Byrne’s side’s victory, as were the contributions from the pacey Oisin Knox, Adam Mansfield and wing forward Conor Walsh.
The Vat had built up a five-point lead at the short whistle and looked firmly in control, but a fast start to the second period saw Erin’s Own reel in the South Kilkenny side, thanks to the accuracy of the lively Jack Buggy who struck over a trio of scores to help reduce the deficit. Phelan’s second major midway through the half quelled the Castlecomer sides impetus, and they drove that advantage on to secure another victory in a remarkable season for The Vegas Boys!
O’Loughlin Gaels 2-17
Dicksboro 0-20
This was possibly the test that the current Tom Walsh holders needed ahead of the last four, but by God, O’Loughlin’s didn’t make it easy for themselves. When you lose two key players to red cards early in the second half, it’s never going to be anything other than an uphill battle, and that’s exactly how it unfolded in the last of the quarter final ties.
The first half, things looked rosy for the county champions. An early major from the bustling Luke Hogan gave Brian Hogan’s men the ideal start to a tricky tie against their neighbours after the Kilkenny panelist won his battle with ‘Boro full-back, Padraic Moylan before rifling past netminder Holohan. The Palmerstown outfit didn’t panic and remained very much in the contest as they went in 2-points down at the break.
Dicksboro began the second half with plenty of intent, which perhaps riled Mikey Butler who received his marching orders following a high challenge on former Dublin star, Shane Stapleton. Worse was to follow, when captain Mark Bergin and Ollie Walsh clashed off-the-ball and the former followed Butler for an early bath. This double boost allowed Michael Walsh’s team to use their extra bodies to great effect, with young Harry Shine thriving in the open spaces of UPMC Nowlan Park. But this O’Loughlin’s side are made of strong stuff and once they settled themselves, they began to show their quality. ‘Boro’s 3-point advantage in the closing 10 minutes was wiped out, after superb scores from Paddy Deegan, Jordan Molloy and goal scorer Luke Hogan.
With the game deadlocked, Cillian Buckley sent over a booming score from his own half as the Dicksboro faithful dared to believe, but Hogan’s heroes wouldn’t go away. OLG went in search of an equaliser and the ever-running Conor Heary gave the pass to Fionan Mackessy who didn’t take the point that was on and instead summonsed up all his Poc Fada strength and arrowed his shot to the ‘Boro net. The Kerry star rounded off the scoring with a placed ball as the beaten All-Ireland finalists survived the sternest of tests to set up a semi-final encounter with Bennettsbridge. Another test for the Kilkenny champions.
