Kilkenny SHL- Mullinavat prove too strong for Danesfort

Danesfort’s return to the top tier of KIlkenny hurling came with something of a reality check after they were overpowered by Mullinavat in a suprisingly one sided senior league affair on Sunday.

Mullinavat are a well seasoned outfit at this stage but it was their hurling skills that did the talking at the weekend after they ran riot in attack at different periods.

The ‘Vat led by 11 points at the 26 minute mark and while Danesfort did come back into the game, they were left with too much to do as the South Kilkenny side ran out convincing winners in the end.

While Danesfort’s defence was very static at times, Mullinavat’s forward play was most impressive with all six starting forwards and the two midfielders scoring from play over the course of the hour.

Mullinavat’s dominance began right from the off and within two minutes they had already registered three points in the shape of Michael Malone, Ian Duggan and Joe Gahan.

Danesfort talisman Richie Hogan eventually got his side off the mark with a nice effort from play that was followed up by a Cathal Kearney free.

With only a point between them, we looked set for a cracking affair but Mullinavat had other ideas and between the 9th and 22nd minutes they went through the gears in outscoring their opponents 0-8 to 0-0.

Essentially that’s where ‘Vat took the game away from the newly promoted side with Oisin Knox, Adam Mansfield, Tom Aylward, Joe Gahan and Ger Malone all getting on the scoresheet for the winners.

The scoreline was 0-11 to 0-2 in Mullinavat’s favour at that juncture and Cathal Kearney finally stopped the momentum with his second point of the half for Danesfort.

Danesfort did have a chance of a lifeline when a Paul Murphy free was caught brilliantly by Richie Hogan and he handpassed across the field to team captain Robbie Walsh but the full forward’s attempt just went past the post.

Mullinavat took advantage of that miss with three mpre points but Danesfort did at least rally before the end of the half with scores from Des Dunne, Brian McDonald, Philip Cooney and Robbie Walsh that saw the deficit reduced to seven at the break (0-14 to 0-7).

Matters continued to be dominated by Mullinavat in the second period as they kept the scoreboard ticking over and while Danesfort did improve, they would get no closer than within six points.

Willie Coogan who previously managed Mooncoin to All-Ireland Junior success has taken over from county minor boss Niall Bergin at the helm of the ‘Fort and his team really needed a goal if they were going to question Mullinavat at all.

They very nearly got that goal when wing back Daire O’Neill crashed a shot off the crossbar in the 52nd minute but that was as close as Danesfort would get.

As a result Mullinavat saw the game out in style and they knocked over points for fun in the end.

As O’Loughlin Gaels found out to their detriment last year, they are a team that can be a match for anybody in the county and they can now look forward with confidence to their next game against Tullaroan.

Teams and Scorers

Mullinavat- Oisin Knox (0-6, 0-4f), Conor Walsh, Joe Gahan (0-3 each), Tom Aylward (0-2, 0-2f), Ian Duggan, Ger Malone, Adam Mansfield, Padraic Gahan (0-2 each), Michael Malone, Willie O’Dwyer (0-1 each)

Danesfort- Cathal Kearney (0-6, 0-6f), Richie Hogan (0-3, 0-1f), Robbie Walsh (0-2), Des Dunne, Brian McDonald, Philip Cooney, Ben Whitty, Dan Dowling (0-1 each)

Mullinavat- Sean Fitzpatrick; George O’Connor, Simon Aylward, Robin Davis; Tom Aylward, Liam Fennelly, Michael Malone; Ian Duggan, Padraic Gahan; Conor Walsh, Willie O’Dwyer, Joe Gahan; Ger Malone, Oisin Knox, Adam Mansfield.

Subs- Mikey Walsh for O’Dwyer 51 mins, Martin Davis for M.Malone 55 mins, Donnchadh Walsh for Knox 60 mins.

Danesfort- Paddy Hogan; Adam Byrne, Diarmaid Phelan, Cathal O’Neill; Des Dunne, Paul Murphy, Daire O’Neill; Brian McDonald, Paddy Hickey; Richie Hogan, Philip Cooney, Cathal Kearney; Eoin Brennan, Robbie Walsh, Ben Whitty.

Subs- Cillian Norton for Brennan 28 mins, Dan Dowling for Hickey 51 mins, Mark Fitzpatrick for Byrne 57 mins, Steven Doheny for Cooney 57 mins, Jack Doyle for McDonald 61 mins.

Referee- Conor Everard