Kilkenny IHC: Smiles in Danesfort as they down James Stephens in classic final

There was smiles all round for Danesfort on Sunday afternoon in the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Final as the 2022 intermediate champions booked their senior spot for 2026 with a memorable 2-20 to 1-16 win over a heavily fancied James Stephens (Village) team.

Adrian Burke's side played like a team on a mission with Daire O'Neill spearheading an exceptional half-back line throughout the 60 minutes.

The first half did little to separate the teams with the winners edging the contest 0-10 to 0-9 at the break.

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However, the tide seemed to be turning the Village's way when Stephen Manogue netted to put the city side in front by the 49th minute with a 0-15 to 0-11 Danesfort advantage de-constructed.

But if anything the goal generated an inspired response for the champions with goals from Anthony-Ireland Wall (50th minute) and Fionn Mahony in the dying stages sealing the intermediate crown for Danesfort.

Teams and Scorers

Danesfort- Anthony Ireland Wall (1-7, 3fs); Fionn Mahony (1-1); Cathal Kearney (0-4, 3fs); Sam Hayes (0-4);  Daire O'Neill (0-2); Paul Murphy, Aidan Cowley (0-1 each)

James Stephens- Tadhg O'Dwyer (0-5, 4fs); Stephen Manogue (1-1); Cian Kenny (0-2, 1f and 1 '65); Luke Scanlon, Shane Donohue (0-2 each); Willie Spencer, Ed Lauhoff, Eoin Guilfoyle, Sean Deely (0-1 each)

Danesfort- Paddy Hogan; Darren Booth, Diarmaid Phelan, Adam Byrne; Des Dunne, Paul Murphy, Daire O'Neill; Cathal O'Neill, Cathal Kearney; Dan Dowling, Colm Phelan, Sam Hayes, Anthony Ireland Wall, Brian McDonald, Robbie Walsh. 

Subs- Fionn Mahony for Booth, 43 mins; Aidan Cowley for C.Phelan, 56 mins

James Stephens- Sean Manogue; Luke Murphy, Niall Delaney, Ben Lawlor; Shane Donohue, Cian Kenny, Sean Bergin; Oisin Bateman, Jamie O'Keeffe; Niall Mullins, Luke Scanlon, Willie Spencer; Ed Lauhoff, Tadhg O'Dwyer, Stephen Manogue.

Subs- Eoin Guilfoyle for O'Keeffe, h-t; Ruairi Harrison for Mullins, 42 mins; Sean Deely for Spencer, 42 mins; Ed McDermott for Lauhoff, 55 mins; Noah Manogue for Lawlor, 60 mins.

Referee- Sean Cleere (O'Loughlin Gaels)

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