Kilkenny IHL- Thomastown make winning start to league campaign

A goal in each half from Stephen Donnelly and Luke Connellan gave championship favourites Thomastown a win in their opening league game with Rower-Inistioge last Saturday night.

Both goalscorers scored 2-6 from play between them and added to the free taking accuracy of the ever reliable Robbie Donnelly, it was that scoring threat that gave Thomastown the edge in what was a competitive affair throughout.

Rower-Inistioge are down players of the quality of Richie Leahy and Darragh Joyce at the moment but they showed in spells that they will be a tough game for anyone and after leading early on, they eventually ran out of gas

Played in front of a big crowd in Graignamanagh, Thomastown controlled the early minutes with points from Luke Connellan and Robbie Donnelly.

Michael Galavan stood out at centre forward for the Rower and he soon got his side off the mark with a pair of placed balls before Galavan then netted the game’s opening goal in the 14th minute when taking advantage of indecision in the Thomastown defence.

Unfortunately for Thomas Gleeson’s side, the 1-3 to 0-4 lead only lasted a matter of minutes as Thomastown soon responded with a goal of their own when Jonjo Farrell broke forward and offloaded to Stephen Donnelly who made no mistake in shooting past Paddy Lyng.

It was then nip and tuck for the rest of the half with Robbie Donnelly and Michael Galavan both scoring heavily as Thomastown took a narrow 1-9 to 1-8 lead into the interval.

Last year’s beaten county finalists then dominated the majority of the third quarter when scoring seven points in a row at the start of the second half to move clear by double scores (1-16 to 1-8).

Robbie Donnelly, Stephen Donnelly, John Donnelly and Luke Connellan all pointed for Thomastown during this scoring spree to put Rower-Inistioge on the back foot.

The Rower kept battling and when points from Tom Doyle, Michael Galavan and Tom Murphy reduced the gap to four, there was hope for a late comeback.

A second Thomastown goal in the 55th minute soon ended that hope as Luke Connellan broke through a few tackles before firing to the net.

The teams then traded scores before the end, but it didn’t stop Thomastown running out deserving six point winners.

Teams and Scorers

Thomastown - Robbie Donnelly (0-12, 0-11 frees); Stephen Donnelly (1-4); Luke Connellan (1-2); Jack Holden (0-2); John Donnelly (0-1).

Rower-Inistioge - Michael Galavan (1-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65); Conor Joyce (0-4, 0-3 frees); Jim Ryan (0-3); Kevin Murphy (0-2); Tom Doyle, Eoin Lyng (0-1 each).

Thomastown - Diarmuid Galway; Peter Connellan, Ned Kirwan, David Prendergast; Rory Connellan, Eddie Donnelly, Peter McDonald; Zach Bay Hammond, Brian Staunton; Luke Connellan, John Donnelly, Stephen Donnelly; Jonjo Farrell, Jack Holden, Robbie Donnelly.

Subs: Dylan Waugh for R Connellan, 45 mins; Naoise Dempsey for Holden, 54 mins; Jay Burke for Farrell, 60 mins.

Rower-Inistioge - Paddy Lyng; Jack Walsh, Joe Lyng, George Murphy; Pat Lyng, Kieran Joyce, Eddie Prendergast; Tom Doyle, Tom Murphy; Eoin O’Brien, Michael Galavan, Conor Joyce; Kevin Murphy, Jim Ryan, Eoin Lyng.

Subs: David Kelly for Walsh, 40 mins; Jim Murphy for Doyle, 54 mins; Sean Bolger for E Lyng, 62 mins.

Referee - Brian Fox