Kilkenny Minor Round-Up: Champions are crowned at Roinn A, B and C

The Kilkenny Vehicle Centre Minor Hurling Finals were down for decision on Saturday, with six teams vying for top honours in Roinn A, B and C.

The Roinn C final saw Kilmacow over power Bennettsbridge in emphatic fashion (0-21 to 1-9) in a match the southerners had a grip of for the majority of the contest in MW Hire Dunmore.

All roads led then to UPMC Nowlan Park for a double header of finals at the same grade. Carrickshock claimed the Roinn B title in dramatic fashion winning 2-22 to 3-14 but were pushed all the way to extra-time by a determined Rower Inistioge team.

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After a tight opening half which Carrickshock shaded (0-10 to 1-6), it appeared a purple patch of 1-6, which included a goal from David Franks between the 38th and 47th minutes would be enough for David Franks side to seal the title (1-17 to 1-9) but a gallant Rower Inistioge pulled off a rescue mission of epic proportions.

Late goals from Jack Roche and Paul Kirwan along with points from Sam Kelly and Jack Doyle took the game to extra-time (3-11 to 1-17).

But despite the Rower Inistioge holding the momentum, it was the winners who started the first period of extra-time the better with Liam O'Grady netting inside 60 seconds. Carrickshock never conceded the advantage from that point and held on to the full-time whistle in a 20 minute period where both sides showed great heart despite tired bodies beginning to cramp. 

Later that same afternoon, dreams of a James Stephens (The Village) three in a row were crushed by an impressive Dicksboro who took the Roinn A spoils with a 3-20 to 2-17 victory.

The Palmerstown side's win means they remain top of the grade's roll of honour and in the process avenged their final loss to their neighbours in 2024.

In a first half where the Village held the lead from the 9th minute onwards, Padraic Lacey's team would have pleased to have stayed touch throughout while playing against a very strong UPMC Nowlan Park breeze. 

A Bill McDermott goal in the 9th minute edged the Village 1-2 to 0-3 in front with that netted finish along with a magnificent showing from Conor McEvoy, whose scoring total hit double digits, kept the defending champions noses in front.

The 'Boro's use of the ball was note-worthy throughout and consistently opened up avenues for scores. Dicksboro senior player illustrated Paddy Lacey perfectly illustrated that when he raced up the field and rocketed the ball past Padraig Joyce to net (1-7 to 1-4).

Despite trailing by two points at half-time (1-11 to 1-9), Padraig Lacey's team started the second period like a team on a mission and turned that two point deficit into a two point lead by just the 32nd minute. A Joe Dowling goal as well as points from Donnacha Hennessy and Robbie Lacey swinging the pendulum in Dicksboro's favour (2-11 to 1-12).

A further goal from Eoin Moore in a golden patch where the winners outscored their city neighbours 1-6 to 0-1 between the 33rd and 40th minutes all but ended the game as a contest (3-17 to 1-13).

Village supporters may have thought a comeback was on midway through the half through a Zac Scanlon goal but those hopes were quelled fairly quickly as Dicksboro emphatically saw out the win. 

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