Kilkenny IHL- Rower Inistioge return to winning ways

The Rower Inistioge got back to winning ways in the intermediate hurling league when a dominant display helped them beating O’Loughlin Gaels in John’s Park on Sunday.

A good first half saw the South Kilkenny club hold a 0-13 to 0-3 lead at the break. Despite a mini resurgence from the home side in the second half, the Rower-Inistioge’s victory was never in doubt.

The first half failed to provide much flow, as frees proved to be a constant theme. Michael Galavan was unerring from frees and scored three of the opening four points from placed balls.

O’Loughlin Gaels did find a score of their own through a neat over the shoulder strike from Matthew Russell with the Rower Inistioge holding the upper hand at 0-4 to 0-1 after 12 minutes.

The dynamic Jim Ryan was instrumental in the next phase of play for the southerners, delivering a ball to Ruairi Galavan to point and brushing off heavy O’Loughlin’s pressure to raise a white flag of his own and earn his team a 0-6 to 0-2 lead by the 14th minute.

The city team’s only rebuttal was an Alex Sheridan free.

The match continued in the same vein over the resulting six minutes. Free takers Michael Galavan and Alex Sheridan both on target, and with nine minutes of the half remaining the Rower Inistioge men had the advantage at 0-9 to 0-3.

Thomas Gleeson’s team, who fell to Dunnamaggin in the last round, played with assurance and confidence in the first half and closed the half strongly.

A brace of Michael Galavan frees along with points from George and Kevin Murphy gave the Rower men a comfortable 0-13 to 0-3 advantage.

There was a seed of hope for O’Loughlin Gaels at the start of the second half scoring five points within the first 10 minutes.

Alex Sheridan, Fergal Brennan and two Sammy Johnson frees splitting the posts.

Despite the home side’s change in fortunes, the Rower Inistioge continued to keep the match under control and during that period found three points of their own. The scoreboard after 41 minutes was 0-16 to 0-8 in favour of the away team.

There was an improvement from Paul Phelan’s men in the second half but the game was never in doubt for the Rower Inistioge and by the 50th minute the gap was 12 points at 0-20 to 0-8.

O’Loughlin Gaels continued to battle on and were rewarded with a goal in the final five minutes. Oisin Murphy delivered a sweet ball to Conor Bergin who found Fergal Brennan in a menacing area and from 20 metres out he fired low to the net. 0-21 to 1-8.

The euphoria was short lived for the Gaels and within 60 seconds Jim Ryan had the net bulging for the Rower Inistioge to deflate any home optimism.

Further points from Sammy Johnson and Kevin Murphy left the Rower Inistioge with a 12 point win at full-time, claiming a 1-21 to 1-9 victory.

The two points leaves the Rower Inistioge in third place of Group B on four points while O’Loughlin Gaels sit bottom as they await their first points of the campaign.

Teams and Scorers

Rower Inistioge: Michael Galavan (0-11, 0-7 frees); Jim Ryan (1-2); Ruari Galavan, Kevin Murphy (0-2 each); Tom Murphy, Tom O’Callaghan, George Murphy (0-1 each); Jack Walsh (0-1 free)

O’Loughlin Gaels: Fergal Brennan (1-2); Alex Sheridan (0-3, 0-2 frees); Sammy Johnston (0-3 frees); Matthew Russell (0-1)

Rower Inistioge: Paddy Lyng; Ruadhri Delaney, Kieran Joyce, Joe Lyng: Jack Walsh, George Murphy, Tom Doyle; Pat Lyng, Eoin O’Brien; Tom Murphy, Michael Galavan, Ruadhri Galavan; Kevin Murphy, Jim Ryan, Tom O’Callaghan.

O’Loughlin Gaels: Declan Murphy; Ruadhri Galwey, Barry Lawlor, Oisin Murphy; Finn Hogan, John McNamara, Evan Walsh; Ben Leydon, Fergal Brennan; Ryan Poyntz, Alex Sheridan, Matthew Russell; Sammy Johnston, Gary Kelly, Kevin Murpy.

Referee - Raymond Byrne (Glenmore)