Kilkenny SHC- The ’Bridge march into final four

Bennettsbridge continued their fine recent form as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling Championship when getting the better of league finalists Glenmore last weekend.

The ’Bridge were helped by goals from Liam Blanchfield, Ciaran Brennan and Jack Campion as they fought off a Glenmore side who had only defeated them in the league a few weeks previous.

The one worry for Bridge boss Timmy Dooley heading into the last four of the championship is that a couple of players went off injured but after struggling to get over the first hurdle in recent seasons, the winners will be delighted at how the campaign has gone thus far.

Glenmore will be disappointed at the manner in how they fell short as after Bennettsbridge netted their first goal, they led all the way to the finish.

Glenmore started on a rampage with points from Alan Murphy and the impressive duo of Billy Reid and Cathal Beirne as they quickly found their stride.

Bennettsbridge then cancelled out the deficit in double quick time with three points on the trot via Nicky Cleere, Kevin Blanchfield and Liam Blanchfield.

Like the match against Tullaroan when he bagged four goals, Liam proved to be a right nuisance for the Glenmore defence and while he had a flicked shot saved on the back of a dropping Sean Morrissey sideline cut, it wasn’t long until the same two players were involved in the game’s first goal.

Morrissey found himself in space and instead of taking an easy point, he used great vision to spot Blanchfield inside and the big full forward made no mistake in shooting past Mikey Kirwan.

Cathal Beirne and Ian Byrne replied with points for Glenmore but it wasn’t long until Bennettsbridge had a second goal.

While the Bridge are known for their slick build-up play, Ciaran Brennan’s goal was of the route one variety as an Enda Cleere puckout evaded everyone bar Brennan who then slotted the sliotar under the ’keeper. All of a sudden, the ’Bridge led 2-4 to 0-5.

Glenmore didn’t drop the heads and by half-time they were very much still in the game as Alan Murphy continued to knock over his frees and Cathal Beirne, Eoin Murphy and Ian Byrne contributed from play.

Nicky Cleere, Kevin Blanchfield and Jason Cleere kept the scoreboard moving for the ’Bridge as they maintained a 2-8 to 0-11 advantage at the break.

Further scores from Alan Murphy and Ian Byrne had Glenmore supporters thinking the tide may be turning but in a second half where underfoot conditions were very difficult after a full day’s rain, any goal was going to have a major bearing on the result and Bennettsbridge got their third of the game when Jack Campion found the net with his first touch in the 40th minute.

Glenmore continued to battle away with points from Alan Murphy, Ger Aylward and Billy Reid but it was a day they were very much second best as Enda Cleere, Nicky Cleere and Kevin Blanchfield rounded off the scoring on a winning afternoon for Bennettsbridge.

Teams and Scorers

Bennettsbridge: Liam Blanchfield (1-2); Ciaran Brennan (1-1); Nicky Cleere (0-4, 0-3 frees and 0-1 ‘65); Jack Campion (1-0); Jason Cleere, Kevin Blanchfield (0-3 each); Enda Cleere (0-1, 0-1 free).

Glenmore: Alan Murphy (0-8, 0-7 frees); Cathal Beirne (0-3); Ian Byrne, Billy Reid (0-2 each); Eoin Murphy, Ger Aylward (0-1 each).

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

Subs: Jack Campion for Brennan, 36 mins; Shane Byrne for J Hughes, 42 mins; Cillian Fennessy for O’Neill, 60 mins.

Glenmore: Mikey Kirwan; Ciaran Vereker, Eoin Aylward, Sean Duggan; Shane Murphy, Eoin Murphy, Billy Reid; Shane Doherty, Richie Hennessy; Cathal Beirne, Alan Murphy, Dean Croke; Ethan Phelan, Ger Aylward, Ian Byrne.

Subs: Robbie Fitzgerald for Croke, 42 mins; Charlie Phelan for Byrne, 55 mins; Darragh Hartley for Hennessy, 58 mins.

Referee: Peter Burke (Emeralds)