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A simple slip presents 'Irelands with winning opportunity
Young Irelands1-9 (12pts)
Glenmore 0-11
AN UNAVOIDABLE error, a defender losing his footing on the greasy pitch, presented the opening for the claiming of the winning score by senior side of last season, Young Irelands (Gowran) in this far from exciting intermediate hurling league match at Ballyhale on Sunday, writes John Knox.
Six minutes from the end Glenmore’s lone scorer, stylist Eoin Murphy - yes, he shot all 11 points - landed a top class free from midfield and virtually on the right sideline facing the village end goal to tie up the scores at 1-8 to 0-11.
The action was frantic from there to the finish, but there were few scoring opportunities. Then in the 59th minute a quick cross field ball out of the ’Irelands half by sub Ollie Carter was chased down by Paul Kehoe and his marker.
Unfortunately for Glenmore, the defender slipped on the wet sod and Kehoe found himself with a yard or two of space almost in front of goal and 30 metres out. The claiming of the winning score was a simple affair for Gowran’s top scorer.
Hard on Glenmore
In some ways the conclusion was hard on Glenmore, but when you can come up with only one scorer during an hour of hurling, you can’t expect much.
To be honest, this was a typical opening round match and the standard of fare no more than ordinary at the best of times. Both introduced some new faces and blood into the ranks, so in time things might improve. That would have to be the aim, and wish.
There was never an awful lot between the teams. The tit-for-tat trend was set during the opening 90 seconds when Paul Kehoe and Eoin Murphy (free), after James Cody had been fouled, traded points.
Three minutes further on Paul Kehoe bagged the only goal of the game. He was put in space by a wonderful ‘over the top’ pass up the left wing by Sean Kehoe. The scorer still had a lot of work to do to get close to goal, but somehow he wriggled his way past two defenders along the endline before eventually tipping the ball into the net from close range.
The ’Irelands did stay long away. By the 12th minute Eoin Murphy had levelled things at 1-1 to 0-4. Nearing half time the scores were still tied, but in lost time Eoin Murphy converted a free after Sean Kirwan had been bundled to the ground to give Glenmore an interval advantage of 0-7 to 1-3.
Glenmore looked the more threatening after the turn, but their best hurlers like Richie Mullally, John Cody, Paddy Mullally, Davy Aylward, Mark Phelan and of course Eoin Murphy were generally too far from the opposing goal to turn possession into account.
Not a great day
When the third quarter mark was passed, it was all square at 0-10 to 1-7. Ollie Carter and Murphy thenb traded points to set up the closing chapter that produce Kehoe’s winning scorer.
It wasn’t a great day at the office for ’Irelands, but they got away with it, and the points at stake. Their best performers were Michael Walsh, a powerful Stephen Byrne, Sean Kehoe, Davy Carter and an honest and slave to the cause, Thomas Carroll.
Scorers: Young Irelands - Paul Kehoe (1-2); Paul Holden (0-3, two frees); Dick Carroll (0-2); Sean Kehoe, Ollie Carter (0-1 each). Glenmore - Eoin Murphy (0-11, nine frees).
Young Irelands - Martin Carey, Ciarn Carroll, Michael Walsh, Niall Walsh, J.J. Lennon, Stephen Byrne, Jonathan Dunphy, Paul Holden, Eoghan Farrell, Davy Carter, Thomas Carroll, Sean Kehoe, Dick Carroll, Thomas Drennan, Paul Kehoe. Subs - Ollie Carter for E. Farrell (inj); John Morris for T. Drennan.
Glenmore - Paul Fitzgerald, Mark Phelan, Fergal Freyne, Ciarn Foran, Darren Aylward, John Cody, Paddy Mullally, Richie Mullally, Davy Aylward, Ger Aylward, Eoin Murphy, Emmett Vereker, Sean Kirwan, Michael Phelan, James Cody. Subs - Patrick Murphy for E. Vereker; Tommy Dollard for J. Cody.
Referee - Gavin Quilty (Slieverue).
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Weather for Kilkenny
Thursday 17 May 2012
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