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O'Flynn seals it at the finish for battling 'Boro
Jim Buggy
Dicksboro 1-15
Conahy Shamrocks 2-10
THE intermediate hurling league started on a high for last year's runners-up Dicksboro when they overcame the spirited challenge of Conahy Shamrocks to claim the two points on offer in Pairc Lachtain, Freshford on Sunday.
A Paul O Flynn point in the last minute guaranteed a win for the city team in what proved to an entertaining game from start to finish.
Eddie O'Donoghue got the scoring show on the road for the 'Boro when he pointed a free from the 65 metre line. John Wallace opened Conahy's account after a great run before striking over from in front of goal.
Adrian Stapleton and Shane Maher linked up well to take the next two scores and they caused all sorts of trouble for the Conahy defence. Gavin Nolan and Michael Lawlor were winning plenty of possession for Conahy, but wayward shooting meant their efforts didn't show where it was most important, on the scoreboard.
The winners Cillian Starr was unlucky in front of the posts when he slipped at the wrong moment with the goal at his mercy after he had taken a well placed pass from Maher. The ball was returned quickly into the Conahy danger area and Paul O'Flynn gained possession and gave Kieran Brennan in the Conahy goal no chance when he buried it in the net.
O'Flynn struck again a minute later, this time scoring an incredible wind assisted point from his own 65 that brought the Dicksboro crowd to their feet. Cillian Starr snatched his second score when he gathered the break from a long Eddie O'Donoghue free and finished from an acute angle.
Great skill
Paul O'Flynn then claimed his second point when he caught a Conahy puck-out and drove the sliotar over from the wing. Starr caused problems again when he used great skill to flick the ball past two defenders before collecting it again only to be fouled 20 metres out. O'Donoghue tapped the free over to push Dicksboro a commanding 1-7 to 0-1 ahead.
Shane Maher, Tom Manning and Adrian Stapleton all pointed to leave Dicksboro ahead by 12 points two minutes before half-time. Bemused Conahy hadn’t scored for 22 minutes before Alan Healy tapped over a free.
Kieran Mooney made a daring run through the 'Boro defence before being stopped in his tracks by solid defender Danny Kenny. The ball fell loose to Michael Lawlor, who pulled first time and drilled it into the corner of the net.
These late gains left the half time score at 1-10 to 1-2 in favour of the city side. Dicksboro had the assistance of the win in that half.
Conahy burst out of the traps in the new half. Alan Healy pointed twice from placed balls within two minutes of the restart. Kieran Mooney then registered his first score with a great long range effort.
Momentum with Conahy
Stapleton pulled one back for Dicksboro. Kieran Mooney pointed again, and the momentum was firmly with Conahy. Michael Lawlor, now playing at corner-forward, raced down the left wing before placing the ball straight into Gary Kavanagh's outstretched hand. The latter finished neatly past Sam Morrissey in the 'Boro goal.
Conahy were on the charge big time. Alan Healy pointed another free before Michael Lawlor, who was fast becoming the losers best player, struck a beautifyl ball from right on the sideline between the posts to leave the teams level with 13 minutes left.
Stapleton claimed an equally impressive point less than 30 seconds later to edge the 'Boro ahead again. Eddie O'Donoghue doubled the lead, but Conahy were on fire in front of goal and there was no holding them.
Alan Healy scored his first point from play to leave one between the teams again. Healy then landed the equaliser, this time from a 65. The action was in full flow and the tension was at fever pitch when Stapleton hit the post from a beautifully struck sideline ball.
At this stage both teams were giving their all to try and secure victory, but both found it hard to hold on to the ball until Kilkenny minor captain, Cillian Buckley caught the sliotar in the middle of the pitch. He took a quick glance at the posts and slotted the ball over under immense pressure.
Dicksboro weren’t finished though. Paul O'Flynn wrapped up proceedings when he shot his third point. Conahy threw everything at the opposition during the dying moments, but the Dicksboro backs and goalkeeper Sam Morrissey kept them out.
It may have been a first round game but it provided great entertainment. The two teams servied up top class hurling. The 'Boro, who are fancied to take the intermediate crown this year, were pushed all the way by determined and talented opponents who had stars in Donal Brennan, Michael Lawlor and Gavin Nolan.
Dicksboro were best served by Cillian Buckley, Adrian Stapleton, Danny Kenny and experienced goalkeeping of Sam Morrissey.
Scorers: Dicksboro - Paul O'Flynn (1-3); Eddie O'Donoghue (0-4, frees); Adrian Stapleton (0-4); Shane Maher (0-2); Tom Manning, Cillian Buckley (0-1 each). Conahy Shamrocks - Alan Healy (0-5, four frees); Michael Lawlor (1-1); Gary Kavanagh (1-0); Kieran Mooney (0-2); John Wallace, Gavin Nolan (0-1 each).
Dicksboro - Sam Morrissey, David Glynn, Danny Kenny, Enda Malone, Darren Tyrrell, David Carroll, Michael Fagan, Tom Manning, Cillian Buckley, Paul O'Flynn, Derek O'Gorman, Eddie O'Donoghue, Cillian Starr, Shane Maher, Adrian Stapleton. Subs - Ollie Walsh for C. Starr.
Conahy Shamrocks - Kieran Brennan, Seamus Og Brennan, Brian Healy, Tom Nolan, David Healy, Denis Kelly, Donal Brennan, Kieran Mooney, Damien Webster, John Wallace, Alan Healy, Michael Lawlor, Gavin Nolan, Barry Murphy, Gary Kavanagh. Subs - Padraic Nolan for B. Murphy.
Referee - P. Hayes (Graigue-Ballycallan).
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Weather for Kilkenny
Thursday 17 May 2012
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