Kilkenny IHL- Fitzpatrick and Brennan to the fore as Lisdowney march on

Lisdowney secured their place in the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai intermediate hurling league final when running out seven point winners over St Martin’s in Castlecomer last Sunday afternoon.

The round five encounter was essentially a league semi-final and helped by a first half goal from Vinny Fitzpatrick, the 2020 intermediate champions were always in a degree of control.

Fitzpatrick finished with a tally of 1-3 and while star man Niall Brennan didn’t start the game the Kilkenny player came on in the second half and scored four points from play as he continued his blistering run of form.

With the two teams assured of a championship quarter-final spot, both sets of management opted to rest a few players and Lisdowney’s greater strength in depth told in that department.

Eamonn Phelan’s side made a flying start to the game and were 1-4 to 0-0 ahead after only 10 minutes of play.

A Vinny Fitzpatrick goal after only two minutes where he scored on the rebound after Oisin Kelly denied Eoin Kenny was quickly followed by further points from Fitzpatrick, Eoin Kenny, William Kenny and Charlie Brennan.

St Martin’s looked all at sea in those early minutes before they composed themselves with points from Shane Kinsella and Harry Kealy.

Justin Manning and William Kenny then had goalbound efforts saved at either end before the teams went point for point till the half-time break (1-7 to 0-5).

Lisdowney all but put the game to bed in the opening minutes of the second half with points from Fitzpatrick, William Kenny and David O’Carroll.

St Martin’s only point during that spell was via Sean Hunt and while Shane Kinsella kept the Saints in touch with a series of frees, they could never really put their opponents under any severe pressure.

The last quarter was all about Niall Brennan as he scored four excellent points from play in his 20 minute cameo off the bench and that sort of class will give Lisdowney plenty of confidence as they get set to face Thomastown in the league final on Sunday.

Teams and Scorers

Lisdowney - Vinny Fitzpatrick (1-3), Niall Brennan (0-4), Eibhan McEvoy (0-3, 0-3 frees), William Kenny (0-2), Charlie Brennan, David O’Carroll, Cathal Jordan, Eoin Kenny (0-1 each)

St Martin’s - Shane Kinsella (0-4, 0-3 frees), Sean Hunt (0-2), Joe Maher, Jack Farrell, Darragh Quinlan, Brian Coady, Justin Manning, Harry Kealy (0-1 each)

Lisdowney - Aidan Tallis; Kevin O’Sullivan, Ben Tallis, Alan Dunphy; John Brennan, Richard McEvoy, Charlie Brennan; Michael Kenny, Eoin Kenny; David O’Carroll, Vinny Fitzpatrick, Eibhan McEvoy; Killian Dunne, Cathal Jordan, William Kenny.

Subs: Lar Campion for B.Tallis 16 mins, Niall Brennan for M.Kenny 40 mins, Luke Holohan for Fitzpatrick 45 mins, Kevin Sweeney for W.Kenny 50 mins, Jack Dunphy for E.Kenny 54mins.

St Martin’s - Oisin Kelly; Tadhg Gill, Ollie Walsh, Cathal Keegan; Ciaran Nolan, Brian Coady, Justin Manning; Shane Kinsella, Darragh Quinlan; Jack Farrell, Harry Kealy, Joe Maher; Jamie Morrissey, Russel Kealy, Sean Hunt.

Subs: Adam Comerford for H.Kealy 39 mins, Robert Shore for Quinlan 50 mins, Matthew Shortall for Nolan 56 mins.

Referee - Peter Burke (Emeralds).