Kilkenny SHC- Blanchfield fires ’Bridge past Tullaroan

A brilliant individual display from Liam Blanchfield helped Bennettsbridge see off Tullaroan in a tense but entertaining encounter at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon.

Even though he only returned to the country in recent weeks, Blanchfield looked back to his fearsome best as his four goal tally upset a Tullaroan team that has failed to ignite all year.

As well as Blanchfield, dynamic midfielder James Hughes was also hugely forceful in scoring 1-3 from play as the Bridge deservedly saw off Ken Coogan’s team.

The Tullaroan goals came via Bill Walton, Bill Gaffney and the evergreen Tommy Walsh but it was a game they were constantly chasing as Bennettsbridge claimed a notable championship scalp.

Bennettsbridge led for the game’s entirety and they were quickly on the goal trail when James Hughes netted within two minutes.

Sean Morrissey quickly followed up with a well taken effort from play and the Bridge were very much into their stride.

Tullaroan got their act together with successive points from Shane Walsh but with Gearoid Dunne , Mossy Keoghan and Padraig Walsh’s influence well curtailed, Shane was playing a lone furrow up top at times.

Liam Blanchfield then blasted in his opening goal in the 15th minute when he proved a real battering ram when driving by a couple of defenders.

Tullaroan had a way back into the game when Mossy Keoghan flicked in a goal but with Bennettsbridge adding on further points from Nicky Cleere, Ciaran Brennan and James Hughes, they led at the break by four (2-5 to 1-4).

Liam Blanchfield continued to torment the Tullaroan defence in the second period and he soon had his second goal when claiming a high ball from Ciaran Brennan before finding space to finish past Paul Buggy.

The teams then shared scores before a goal-fest of action arrived in the final few minutes and when Bill Gaffney goaled for Tullaroan in the 57th minute, a grandstand ending looked in store.

That finish never arrived though as before Tullaroan could even regain breath, Blanchfield had found the net on two more occasions. Tommy Walsh (Mountgale) rolled back the years with a late Tullaroan goal but it was too late to have any impact on the game as Bennettsbridge loudly announced their championship intentions.

Teams and Scorers

Bennettsbridge: Liam Blanchfield (4-2); James Hughes (1-3); Nicky Cleere (0-3, 0-2 frees); Sean Morrissey (0-2); Ciaran Brennan, David Blanchfield (0-1 each).

Tullaroan: Shane Walsh (0-7, 0-6 frees); Bill Gaffney (1-1); Martin Keoghan, Tommy Walsh (Mountgale) (1-0 each); Jack Keoghan, Bill Walton (0-1 each).

Bennettsbridge: Enda Cleere; Timmy Kelly, Enda Morrissey, Daniel Murphy; Conor Murphy, Bill Hughes, Nicky Cleere; James Hughes, Kevin Blanchfield; Hugh O’Neill, David Blanchfield, Ciaran Brennan; Jason Cleere, Liam Blanchfield, Sean Morrissey.

Subs: Jack Campion for C Brennan, 51 mins; Cillian Fennessy for J Hughes, 62 mins; Stephen Holden for J Cleere, 62 mins; Jamie Harkin for N Cleere, 62 mins.

Tullaroan: Paul Buggy; Martin Walsh, Tommy Walsh, Josh Moore; Mark Simpson, Padraig Walsh, Tomas Dunne; Jack Keoghan, Joe Coughlan; Bill Gaffney, Martin Keoghan, Gearoid Dunne; Ger Luby, Dylan Simpson, Shane Walsh.

Subs: Bill Walton for Luby, 38 mins; Tommy Walsh (Mountgale) for M Simpson, 45 mins; Shane Cuddihy for D Simpson, 56 mins.

Referee - Owen Beehan