Kilkenny IHC- Langton and Gowran too hot for the Rower

Young Irelands of Gowran put in a fine performance to dismantle a disappointing Rower-Inistioge in the opening round of the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Championship last Saturday.

Goals from Paul Holden, Ted Drea and Jack Brennan helped offset an incredible individual showing from Paddy Langton as Barry Power’s men ran out the most comprehensive of winners.

The Rower never really got going and the game really went away from them in the second half as the winners knocked over scores from all angles of the field.

Initially it looked like a close encounter was in the offing with both teams sharing the opening eight scores in St John’s Park.

The sides were level on four occasions during that opening quarter spell and the monopoly was only broken when Gowran scored a brilliant goal in the 18th minute.

Kilkenny star Mikey Carey brought the ball out of defence and floated a lovely delivery into the hand of Sean Carey who in turn offloaded to Paul Holden and the corner forward made no mistake in blasting a shot to the net.

Rower-Inistioge responded well to that setback as they scored five of the next six points in a fine 10 minute spell.

Mikey Carey was Gowran’s only scorer during that time as two points apiece from Michael and Ruairi Galavan levelled the game before Tom Doyle then popped up from defence to put the South Kilkenny side into the lead.

It was an advantage that didn’t last long for the Rower as Gowran netted their second goal in stoppage time and this proved to be a real body blow to their opponents.

A bit of indecision in the Rower Inistioge backline allowed Sean Carey to assist another goal and Ted Drea was the finisher.

Gowran weren’t finished there either and further points from both Drea and Paul Holden saw the team in red and white go into the dressing rooms with a four point buffer (2-7 to 0-9).

Two Jim Ryan points at the start of the second period brought the ‘Rower back to within two points but Young Irelands were getting their scores a lot easier and with All-Ireland Under 20 winner Paddy Langton scoring a number of points from distance, Gowran always looked in a degree of control.

Any hope of a late Rower Inistioge revival was then buried when Jack Brennan continued where he left off in the victory over Fenians when he scored his side’s third goal after Ted Drea had originally had a close in attempt saved by Paddy Lyng.

Rower-Inistioge will be very disappointed for their season to end this early but for this progressive Young Irelands team, they have certainly proved that they are more than a match for anyone and they will fancy their chances when meeting league shield winners Dunnamaggin in this weekend’s county quarter-final.

Teams and Scorers

Young Irelands: Paul Holden (1-4, 0-3 frees), Ted Drea (1-3), Paddy Langton (0-6, 0-1 free), Jack Brennan (1-2), Mikey Carey, Padraig Naddy, Sean Carey, Paddy Brennan, Sean Farrell (0-1 each)

Rower Inistioge: Michael Galavan (0-7, 0-6 frees), Jim Ryan (0-3), Ruairi Galavan (0-2), Conor Joyce (0-1, 0-1 free), Kevin Murphy, Tom Murphy, Tom Doyle (0-1 each)

Young Irelands: Jason Brennan; Bobbie Brennan, Padraig O’Neill, Phillip O’Donnell; Michael Walsh, Mikey Carey, Paddy Langton; Padraig Naddy, Seamus Farrell; Jack Brennan, Sean Carey, Geoff Brennan; Paul Holden, Ted Drea, Killian Carey.

Subs: Paddy Brennan for K Carey, 45 mins; Sean Farrell for Naddy, 47 mins; Pat Farrell for G Brennan, 52 mins.

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

Subs: Conor Joyce for O’Callaghan, 35 mins; Sean Bolger for Walsh, 51 mins; Jim Murphy for R Galavan, 54 mins.

Referee: Julian O’Dwyer