Kilkenny SHL- Sharp James Stephens enjoy a commanding success

James Stephens began their senior hurling league campaign with a win over Graigue-Ballycallan.

The Village, under the direction of new manager Brian Cody, put in an assured performance over a Graigue-Ballycallan team who failed to snatch the match away from the city side despite hurling valiantly in patches.

James Stephens made an electric start, going 1-1 to 0-1 ahead after three minutes of play.

A sharp pass from Eoin Guilfoyle created an opportunity for lively corner-forward Sean Manogue, who in his debut in the forward line for the senior team, sent the ball crashing to the net.

An eager Manogue was back on the scoreboard just 60 seconds later, as a jubilant Village support base watched on.

Ballycallan kept in touch with two points in the opening five minutes from Sean Ryan leaving the scoreline at 1-1 to 0-2 after five minutes.

Eugene Cloonan’s team found their feet and had a purple patch between the sixth and 13th minutes, outscoring James Stephens 0-3 to 0-1.

Sean Ryan converted a free in the seventh minute before back-to-back points courtesy of Ryan and Billy O’Neill drew the teams level.

Tommy Ronan was the architect of Ryan’s point, while O’Neill’s impressive score from the sideline gave Graigue-Ballycallan supporters reason to smile.

As the match approached the 20 minute mark the Village edged their noses in front once again.

James Stephens supporters were given a further boost just moments later. Following good Village link up play, quick thinking from Liam Rafter proved deadly, as his pinpoint shot sailed into the top corner of the net.

The Ballycallan men were now left with a 2-4 to 0-6 scoreboard to contend with.

James Stephens built on that score with two further points, an impressive Ross Whelan with the first and a monster strike from Niall Brassil gave Cody’s side a six point advantage with under 10 minutes of the half remaining.

Eugene Cloonan’s charges kept battling and were rewarded in the final five minutes of the half. Tommy Ronan, Tom Dunphy and a brace of frees from Sean Ryan cancelled out points from an Eoin Guilfoyle free and Cian Kenny to keep them within touching distance of James Stephens, trailing 2-8 to 0-10 at half-time.

The Village heeded their warning and started the second half brightly.

Ross Whelan and an Eoin Guilfoyle free just inside the 65 metre line, extended last year’s county finalists’ lead to 2-10 to 0-11, a lively Billy O’Neill raising a white flag for the sky blues.

Sean Ryan continued his scoring streak for Graigue-Ballycallan via a free in the 37th minute, while Billy Ryan opened his account three minutes later to cut the Village lead to 2-10 to 0-13 by the 40th minute.

The teams exchanged scores for the next 10 minutes, pointing two points each in that period to leave the match on a knife edge at 2-13 to 0-15 with just over 10 minutes to go.

The Village leading margin was cut to a single point just moments later. Killian Egan, who entered offensive possessions regularly throughout the contest, found himself in the right place at the right time as Graigue-Ballycallan worked their way past the Village defence as Egan took the opportunity to fire the ball past Gavin Costigan.

As the game came to a close, James Stephens held a slender 2-13 to 1-15 advantage.

However, it was James Stephens who finished the game stronger, outscoring their opponents by 0-8 to 0-2 in the final eight minutes.

Five different Village scorers split the posts in the closing minutes, Tadhg O’Dwyer amongst them. O’Dwyer was the beneficiary of young talent Oisin Bateman who impressively caught the ball and delivered a sweet pass to O’Dwyer to score.

Young talent was also on show for Graigue-Ballycallan, Jeff Neary amongst their scorers in the last few minutes as Neary showed experience beyond his years to point from midfield.

In a soaking wet Danesfort, the full-time whistle blew with James Stephens prevailing.

Teams and Scorers

James Stephens - Eoin Guilfoyle (0-6, 0-5 frees); Ross Whelan (0-5); Sean Manogue (1-2); Luke Scanlon (0-3); Liam Rafter (1-0); Niall Brassil, Tadhg O’Dwyer (0-2 each); Cian Kenny (0-1).

Graigue-Ballycallan - Sean Ryan (0-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65); Killian Egan (1-1); Billy O’Neill, Billy Ryan (0-2 each); Tommy Ronan, Tom Dunphy, Jeff Neary (0-1 each).

James Stephens - Gavin Costigan; Shane Donohoe, Luke Murphy, Adam O’Connor; Niall Delaney, Niall Brassil, Diarmuid Cody; Luke Scanlon, James Tyrrell; Cian Kenny, Tadhg O’Dwyer, Ross Whelan; Sean Manogue, Liam Rafter, Eoin Guilfoyle.

Graigue-Ballycallan - Ciaran Hoyne; Darragh Egan, Bob Murphy, Stephen Keoghan; Tom Dunphy, Conor Flynn, Billy O’Neill; Billy Ryan, Jeff Neary; Tommy Ronan, Killian Egan, Aaron Brennan; Ryan Corcoran, Colum Prendiville, Sean Ryan.