Kilkenny SHC- Extra-time glory as ’Bridge get past gallant Tullaroan challenge

An extra-time Liam Blanchfield goal proved crucial as Bennettsbridge claimed a thrilling victory over Tullaroan in the senior championship quarter-final in Castlecomer on Saturday evening.

Blanchfield scored 4-2 when the teams met in last year’s championship and while he was well thwarted for long stages by county star Tommy Walsh, the ’Bridge attacker was still in the right place at the right time with his goal eventually putting an end to Tullaroan’s stern resistance.

Liam’s goal came less than a minute after his brother David had a penalty brilliantly saved by Paul Buggy. It was a contest that was rather summed up by penalties after a Dylan Simpson effort in normal time looked to have Tullaroan in control.

It was only when Jack Campion scored a cracking goal within seconds of coming off the bench that the momentum swung, although the ’Bridge still needed a Nicky Cleere 65 to force the game into the extra period.

The game remained nip and tuck in the first half of extra-time until Blanchfield’s goal sealed his side’s place in the semi-finals.

Tullaroan were the better team throughout much of the opening half and they made the brighter start as points from Bill Gaffney and Dylan Simpson pushed them into a two point lead.

Nicky Cleere replied via a free for the ’Bridge but Tullaroan hit back in double quick time with scores from play by Gearoid Dunne and Bill Gaffney.

Bennettsbridge then added on scores from James Hughes and Sean Morrissey which both came either side of Liam Blanchfield having a goalbound effort saved by Paul Buggy.

That missed goal chance allowed Tullaroan to respond with a brace of frees from Simpson and the first of six points for Mossy Keoghan.

Tullaroan led 0-8 to 0-3 as a result but that advantage was quashed completely as the Bridge hit a hot spell of five points on the bounce between the 18th and 26th minutes.

Sean Morrissey, Nicky Cleere, Jason Cleere and James Hughes all split the posts for the winners during that period and although Mossy Keoghan and Shane Walsh helped edge Tullaroan back in front on two more occasions, there was nothing to separate the teams come the half-time whistle thanks to further placed ball excellence from the hurl of Nicky Cleere.

Shane Byrne and Mossy Keoghan then exchanged the opening two points of the second period before Tullaroan moved into a 0-13 to 0-11 lead on the scoreboard with frees from Dylan Simpson and Shane Walsh.

The see-saw nature of what was a compelling affair duly continued when Bennettsbridge got the next four points on the bounce as Ciaran Brennan, Sean Morrissey and Nicky Cleere powered last year’s semi-finalists two clear nearing the halfway point of the second period.

Tullaroan were soon back in front however when Mossy Keoghan was fouled for a penalty which Dylan Simpson buried past Enda Cleere in what appeared to be a defining moment in the contest.

This is a Bennettsbridge side full of impactful players including from their bench and despite Tullaroan opening up a three point lead inside the final quarter, the trailing team were right back in the game when Jack Campion goaled within seconds of his introduction as a substitute.

Tullaroan still looked the more likely winners when Shane Walsh converted a free a minute from the end but Bennettsbridge still had time to equalise when Nicky Cleere knocked over a 65. Extra-time duly followed with the teams level at 1-19 apiece.

There was a number of unforced errors during the first period in extra-time which saw Bennettsbridge outscore their opponents 0-3 to 0-2 following scores from Shane Byrne, Liam Blanchfield and Ciaran Brennan.

A David Blanchfield missed penalty three minutes into the second half threatened to dent Bennettsbridge’s hopes but that thought didn’t last long with Liam Blanchfield netting his side’s second goal seconds later to book their place in the last four in a fortnight’s time.

Teams and Scorers

Bennettsbridge - Nicky Cleere (0-10, 0-9 frees and 0-1 65); Sean Morrissey (0-6); Liam Blanchfield (1-1); Jack Campion (1-0); Ciaran Brennan (0-3); James Hughes, Shane Byrne (0-2 each); David Blanchfield, Jason Cleere (0-1 each).

Tullaroan - Dylan Simpson (1-5, 0-2 frees); Shane Walsh (0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-2 65s); Martin Keoghan (0-6); Bill Gaffney (0-3); Gearoid Dunne, Padraig Walsh (0-1 each).

Bennettsbridge - Enda Cleere; Timmy Kelly, Enda Morrissey, Shane Byrne; Bill Hughes, David Blanchfield, Conor Murphy; James Hughes, Kevin Blanchfield; Nicky Cleere, Hugh O’Neill, Sean Morrissey; Liam Blanchfield, Jason Cleere, Robert Lennon.

Subs: Ciaran Brennan for Lennon, h/t; Daniel Murphy for B Hughes, 52 mins; Jack Campion for J Hughes 54 mins; Lar Mahon for Kelly, 68 mins; Aidan Cleere for J Cleere, 75 mins.

Tullaroan - Paul Buggy; Joe Coughlan, Tommy Walsh, Martin Walsh; Tomas Dunne, Padraig Walsh, Charlie Cleere; Bill Walton, Jack Keoghan; Dylan Simpson, Martin Keoghan, Gearoid Dunne; John Walton, Bill Gaffney Shane Walsh.

Subs: Ciallin Brennan for J Walton, 70 mins; Jim Moore for B Walton, 74 mins; Mark Simpson for Cleere, 74 mins.

Referee - Conor Everard (Graigue Ballycallan).