Kilkenny JHC- Controlled Galmoy prove too classy against Graignamanagh

A solid all-round team performance saw Galmoy over the line against Graignamanagh in this JJ Kavanagh and Sons Premier Junior Hurling Championship Round 2 tie at Gowran on Saturday last.

Graignamanagh began well, but a Billy Drennan goal saw Galmoy lead at half time.

A second goal right after the break from Jason Stanley, saw Galmoy push on into a 12 point lead by the 45th minute.

Graignamanagh didn’t give up and were rewarded with two late goals, but were unable to close the gap sufficiently.

Graignamanagh hit the front early in the game with two Michael Bolger frees and points from play from lively corner forwards Nicky Ryan and Steven Kinsella.

Galmoy’s response saw Conor Drennan send over a point from distance before the same player set up Brandan Phelan for a 4th minute point.

Pierce Blanchfield accepted a gift from a Galmoy player, to strike over Graignamanagh’s fifth point as they led 0-5 to 0-2 after seven minutes of play.

Galmoy slowly began to settle with Billy Drennan striking two identical frees from distance under the stand on the right wing.

In the 12th minute, Conor Grace struck a huge lineball from his own 65 metre line into the Graignamanagh square, where Jason Stanley fielded well, before releasing Billy Drennan to whip the sliotar past Sean Cahill in the Graig goal and Galmoy led for the first time,1-4 to 0-5.

It was Graignamanagh who responded the better though, as Michael Bolger pointed a 15th minute free, before Seamus Kavanagh and Steven Kinsella added points from play to restore the lead for the Barrowsiders.

Backed by the breeze, Galmoy finished the better in this half, with two Billy Drennan frees sandwiching a Kevin Duggan lineball, as Galmoy led 1-7 to 0-8 at the half-time break.

Those late frees were won by the hardworking pair of Oisín Phelan and Callum Lonergan.

It was a very even game up to this juncture although Graignamanagh were guilty of some poor shooting as they struck six first half wides as opposed to one for Galmoy.

One expected the Graig men to come out firing after the break, but the opposite was the situation.

Straight off the new throw in, Billy Drennan took possession and sent a high ball goalward where Jason Stanley fielded the sliotar over a defender and struck straight to the net to give a tonic start to Galmoy. Graignamanagh responded immediately with a Michael Bolger free but Galmoy then took command.

They ran at the Graignamanagh defence and picked off some very impressive points from the likes of Kevin Duggan and Brandan Phelan while Billy Drennan continued to convert frees from all angles.

By the three quarter stage, Galmoy had pushed into a twelve point lead 2-16 to 0-10 and were in full control.

They could have had a goal on 45 minutes when Oisín Phelan released Billy Drennan to run on goal.

Drennan passed to Jason Stanley whose attempt on goal skimmed the crossbar.

With 10 minutes remaining, Galmoy then made some changes and suddenly Graignamanagh began to probe with more success. Galmoy ’keeper Brian Kelly turned a Nicky Ryan shot on goal out for a 65 which Michael Bolger converted.

Pierce Blanchfield picked a point on the left before Graig won a 20 metre free in the 50th minute for overcarrying. Michael Bolger’s shot was saved by Dylan Grace but Nicky Ryan was in like a bullet to flash the sliotar to the net, Galmoy 2-16 Graignamanagh 1-12.

Play was then held up for a period, after a head high tackle on Galmoy’s Callum Lonergan with Lonergan having to be linked off the field of play.

Richie Foley then pointed a free for Graignamanagh before a Graig defender received a red card for another head high tackle.
In the dying moments, the southerners won a 20 metre free which was blocked once again but Joe Dowling swept the ball to the Galmoy net.

Alas for Graig ,it was too little too late and Galmoy advanced to the quarter-final.

Galmoy - Brian Kelly; Kieran Phelan, Nigel Stanley, Dylan Grace, Conor Grace, Conor Drennan (0-1), Gearóid Phelan; Oisín Phelan, Brandan Phelan (0-3); Callum Lonergan, Jason Stanley (1-1), KevinDuggan (0-2, 0-1 lineball); Billy Drennan (1-10, 0-10 frees), Ryan Murphy, Niall Drennan.

Subs: Sean Phelan for Niall Drennan 31 mins ,Patrick Doyle for Callum Lonergan (injured)49 mins, Brendan Phelan for Brandan Phelan 58 mins .

Graignamanagh - Sean Cahill; James Meaney, Jack Ryan, Sean Dowling; Joe Dowling (1-0), Ivan Bolger, Cian O Shea; Sean Walsh, Pierce Blanchfield (0-2); Sean Holden, Steven Kinsella (0-3), Richie Foley (0-1 free); Nicky Ryan (1-1), Michael Bolger (0-5, 0-4 frees 0-1 65), Seamus Kavanagh (0-1).

Subs: Jack Dunne for Sean Holden 45 mins, Sean Hamilton for Michael Bolger 50 mins, T J Holohan for Sean Hamilton (inj.) 60 mins.

Referee - Anthony Barcoe (Blacks and Whites)