Kilkenny IHL: Goals the difference in tight contest between Danesfort and the Fenians

Two first half goals from the sharp Brian McDonald proved the ultimate launchpad for this Danesfort victory over a battling Fenians side in the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate League tie at sunny Ballyragget on Saturday evening last.

The fact that Danesfort struck 2-10 from play over the course of the hour while their opponents managed just 0-4 from play in the same period of time was also a major difference between the teams. Mark Webster was excellent from placed balls for the
Johnstown men but ultimately his team mates were over dependent on his unrivalled accuracy.

Webster struck the first of his 13 scores from placed balls in the opening minutes but Danesfort replied with five unanswered scores of their own. Their first strike was a major from Brian McDonald who whipped a Sam Hayes delivery to the net despite a partial save from Billy Garrett. Anthony Ireland Wall and Hayes added points along with a pointed free from distance by Cathal Kearney to ease into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead after seven minutes of play.

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Three Webster frees, two of them for fouls on Sean Tobin, along with their first from play by Mark Hughes, brought the Fenians back into contention. Anthony Ireland Wall and Cathal Kearney traded frees with Mark Webster and, after 20 minutes of play, the difference was back to the minimum before McDonald struck again. Kearney handpassed a ball to his midfield partner Cathal O Neill and his probing long delivery was one handed to the Johnstown net by McDonald.

Impressive wing back, Daire O Neill added a point from play from the left wing and Danesfort pushed on again. Just before the break, McDonald had to leave the field with a blood injury, before resuming after the interval. In the same incident, Fenians goalkeeper Billy Garrett had to depart the scene with suspected concussion. He was replaced between the posts by Damien Delaney. Conor Tobin did convert a good lineball for the northerners, but it was to Webster they turned for nine of their opening eleven scores, as they trailed Danesfort 2-11 to 0-11 at the half time break.

Fenians Substitute Patrick Cullen was given the task of policing the marauding McDonald after the break and he succeded in holding the Danesfort opportunist scoreless. They did pick off the first two second half scores when Tomás Sharkey and Sean Tobin raised white flags to reduce the margin to four points.

Anthony Ireland Wall and Mark Webster traded a brace of points each, to leave it 2-13 to 0-15 with ten minutes remaining.

The Danesfort half back line of Des Dunne, Paul Murphy and Daire O Neill were supreme at this stage and repelled many many Fenian attacks while Cathal Kearney and Cathal O Neill worked really hard at midfield all through. John Henderson was excellent for Fenians from a variety of defensive positions while Willie Brennan also got on an amount of ball from his left half back position.

It was their deficiency in scores from play up front which proved their undoing. Young Sam Hayes finished strongly for the winners also as he struck over a nice point following a penetrating Daire O Neill surge.

The Fenians never gave up however and despite trailing 2-16 to 0-16 with five minutes remaining, they did manufacture a penalty. A high ball in from the left by Mark Hughes was grabbed on the edge of the square by Conor Tobin who was grounded.

Mark Webster stepped up and sent a riveting shot in over Paddy Hogan’s right shoulder to reduce the deficit to a one score game. But Danesfort proved their dominance by replying to that penalty straight away with a point from centre forward Dan Dowling .Webster did convert one more free but their last throw of the dice was thwarted by Paul Murphy as he batted the ball away to Des Dunne before David Hughes brought this competitive encounter to a close.

Danesfort - Paddy Hogan, Darren Booth, Diarmuid Phelan, Adam Byrne, Des Dunne, Paul Murphy, Daire O Neill(0-1), Cathal Kearney (0-3 frees), Cathal O Neill, Colm Phelan, Dan Dowling(0-2), Sam Hayes(0-2), Anthony Ireland Wall(0-8,0-4 frees), Robbie Walsh, Brian McDonald (2-1).

Fenians - Billy Garrett, Darragh O Grady, Rory Phelan, Jerry Henderson, John Henderson, Rory Garrett, Willie Brennan, Adam Duggan, Mark Webster(1-13,1-12 frees),Regan Downey, Conor Tobin(0-2 0-1Lineball),Mark Hughes (0-1),Tomás Sharkey(0-1),Cathal Phelan, Sean Tobin.

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