Kilkenny SHC-Goal-den touch gets ’Vat out of trouble

Finding their goal touch at the right time helped Mullinavat ease their relegation worries and book a place in the quarter-finals of the senior hurling championship.

The Vat managed just four goals in five league matches this season, but plundered that tally inside 60 minutes as they put Erin’s Own (Castlecomer) to the sword at a blustery Danesfort.

Having led at the break (1-6 to 0-7), a quick-fire blast of two goals in three minutes went a long way towards putting the men from the South into the quarter-final draw.

Going the direct route paid dividends, as Willie O’Dwyer caught Sean Fitzpatrick’s booming 44th minute puck-out. A quick release found John Walsh, who bore down on goal and paused for a split-second before rifling the sliotar into the bottom left corner of the net.

Erin’s Own managed to take some of the sting out of that goal when sub Jamie Holohan picked off a point, but they were left reeling when the ’Vat raised the green flag again in the 47th minute. Panic spread when Paudie Gahan’s delivery broke loose on the edge of the square - Oisin Knox remained calm though. Doing well to win possession despite pressure, he found room to squeeze his shot home at the near post (3-8 to 0-9).

Mullinavat had been just as sharp at the start of the game, roaring into a lead they would not lose inside the opening four minutes. Joey Gahan weaved his way from the right for the first point of the game before they hit their first goal 60 seconds later. Knox set the score up, losing his man with an excellent side-step before teeing up Liam Fennelly - named at centre-back but playing as full-forward - swept the sliotar home.

Erin’s Own fought hard to get into the game. They were helped by some Jack Buggy frees (0-2) and a score from play by Michael Brennan but the ’Vat, who were driven on by the impressive Ian Duggan and Adam Mansfield, weren’t about to take their foot off the gas. With John Walsh (0-2, one free) and Joey Gahan to the fore they were still a goal to the good as the half reached its closing five minutes (1-5 to 0-5).

A tight half could have been made easier had the ’Vat made the best of some late goal chances. The opener came when Oisin Knox was hauled down in the square, giving Mullinavat a 28th minute penalty, but John Walsh saw his shot flash wide of the left post.

They had another pop at the target in injury-time, when Ger Malone’s point attempt got caught in the breeze. When the sliotar dropped Knox struck, but Sean Buggy made a superb save to rescue his side and keep them in close contention at the interval (1-6 to 0-7).

Life didn’t get any easier for ’Comer after the restart as the scores they needed failed to materialise. They were thankful to Buggy for another excellent intervention in the 35th minute - first he stopped John Walsh’s shot, then showed superb reactions to keep out Fennelly’s close range follow-up - but once Mullinavat hit their two quick goals they were left chasing shadows.

With confidence flowing through their veins, Mullinavat made sure they added a strong finish to their afternoon. Adam Mansfield tacked on a point to his good performance, before Willie O’Dwyer added a touch of polish with a fourth ’Vat goal, pouncing on a loose ball and tucking it away.

Teams and scorers

Mullinavat - John Walsh (1-5, 0-4 frees); Liam Fennelly, Oisin Knox (1-1 each), Willie O’Dwyer (1-1, 0-1 free); Joey Gahan (0-2); Adam Mansfield (0-1).

Erin’s Own - Jack Buggy (0-4, frees); Michael Brennan, James Brennan (0-2 each); Jamie Holohan, John Dowd (0-1 each).

Mullinavat - Sean Fitzpatrick; George O’Connor, Tom Aylward, Robin Davis; Michael Malone, Padraic Gahan, Ian Duggan; Padraig Dempsey, Joe Gahan; Adam Mansfield, Willie O’Dwyer, Ger Malone; Oisin Knox, Liam Fennelly, John Walsh.

Subs: Mikey Jones for Walsh, Martin Davis for Knox, Conor Duggan for I Duggan.

Erin’s Own - Sean Buggy; Niall McMahon, Chris Korff, Declan Dunne; Conor McMahon, Conor Delaney, Shane Feehan; James Brennan, Shane Coogan; Eoin Brennan, Conor Fogarty, John Dowd; Jack Buggy, Cathal Holland, Michael Brennan.

Subs: Jamie Holohan for S Coogan, Martin Boran for Fogarty, Dan Coogan for Holland, Larry Carroll for Brennan.

Referee - David Hughes.