Kilkenny MHC- Flying start helps Glenmore scoop Minor B honours

Three first-half goals proved crucial as Glenmore defeated Danesfort in the Roinn B Minor Hurling Final at a wet and windy UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon.

David Walsh scored the first goal after 20 seconds and with Jason Cody and Oisin Mullally also finding the net, the South Kilkenny outfit quickly laid the platform for a seven point success in the windup.

Danesfort remained competitive with Aidan Cowley getting their goal and they did get the gap back to within two points entering the final quarter but Glenmore finished in style to take home the title.

Spectators had barely taken their seats by the time Glenmore got the first score of the game as full forward David Walsh smashed the ball past Patrick Sinnott in the Danesfort goal.

Initially the response from ‘Fort was an enterprising one with a pair of frees from Samuel Hayes coming either side of a Fionn Mahony effort that could have just as easily ended up in the net.

Unfortunately for Danesfort though, their opponents were very much in a goalscoring type of mood, and the second Glenmore effort came in fortunate circumstances when a long range shot from Oisin Mullally was caught over the line by the Danesfort goalkeeper.

Again the defeated side responded admirably with points from Hayes and Darragh Coverdale but a third sucker blow soon arrived in the 12th minute when Jason Cody scored a fine individual goal when breaking past a couple of defenders.

Glenmore added to their goal tally with points from Cody, James Reid and Fionn Murphy but Danesfort remained very much in the contest when Aiden Cowley’s goal left just three between the sides at the break (3-3 to 1-6).

Danesfort really made a game of it in the second period with both Aiden Cowley and Fionn Mahony having goalbound attempts excellently repelled by Paul Brophy in the Glenmore goal and had the net nestled at that stage, the final would have taken on a completely different complexion.

Points from Mahony, Coverdale and Bill Clune did get Danesfort within touching distance but Glenmore were fully in command in the final few minutes as they got six of the last seven points of the game as top scorer Jason Cody, Fionn Murphy and Rowan Halligan all put the seal on a deserved victory for the Glenmore men.

The win was Glenmore’s second piece of silverware for the day after their Under 13 team claimed the C Championship title against Dunnamaggin.

Teams and Scorers

Glenmore: Jason Cody (1-6, 0-4 frees), David Walsh; Oisin Mullally (1-0 each), James Reid (0-2, 0-1 free and 0-1 ‘65), Fionn Murphy (0-2), Rowan Halligan (0-1).

Danesfort: Samuel Hayes (0-5, 0-5 frees), Aiden Cowley (1-0), Darragh Coverdale, Fionn Mahony (0-2 each), Bill Clune (0-1).

Glenmore: Paul Brophy; Sean Atkins, Shane Duhig, Daniel Connolly; Christopher Hennessy, Daragh Vereker, Luke Vereker; Jack Dollard, James Reid; Rory Atkins, Jason Cody, Oisin Mullally; Fionn Murphy, David Walsh, Rowan Halligan.

Subs: Conor Walsh for R.Atkins, 52 mins.

Danesfort: Patrick Sinnott; Philip O’Mahony, Calum Murphy, Ronan O’Mahony; Louis Lawlor, Mark Reddy, Daniel Smith; Darragh Coverdale, Patrick Kelly; Timmy Corr, Samuel Hayes, Charlie Sheehan; Aiden Cowley, Bill Clune, Fionn Mahony.

Subs: Oisin Barry for Corr, 37 mins, Jonathan Kennedy for Clune, 44 mins, Ruairi O’Casaide, for Sheehan 52 mins.

Referee- Richard Holland (Tullaroan)