Kilkenny IHC- Defiant Mooncoin turn the tables on Lisdowney in some style

A pitch-perfect performance saw Mooncoin book their place in the intermediate final with an impressive win over Lisdowney.

The South Kilkenny side sparkled at Kilkenny GAA headquarters with outstanding performances in every position.

However, Paul Henebry at centre-back and Pa Walsh at full-forward stood out as their physical attributes and skillsets made them impossible to control.

On the other hand, Lisdowney could never find the momentum they craved, some poor misses in the early stages and a penalty which failed to meet the target proving costly.

Mooncoin were quick out of the blocks and headed the scoreboard at 0-3 to 0-1 after six minutes, Pa Walsh, Killian Hogan and Ciaran Quilty all finding the target.

Eibhan McEvoy and Kevin Sweeney got the Lisdowney scoring underway leaving the smallest of margins between the teams after 10 minutes of play.

The opening goal of the contest came midway through the first half, Killian Hogan with a pinpoint ball to Mark Kearns whose shot rifled past Aidan Tallis to open up a 1-5 to 0-3 advantage.

This set Mooncoin up for a strong closing few minutes to the first half as they bagged four of the last five points, a Pa Walsh score from the sideline being the pick.

Lisdowney’s Niall Brennan took over free taking duty and converted a brace of frees before half-time, leaving the scoreline at 1-9 to 0-5 in favour of Mooncoin at the break.

Pa Walsh was then fouled inside the Lisdowney square within two minutes with Walsh doing the necessary from the penalty.

The penalty proved to be the perfect tonic for the Southerners, dreaming of their first intermediate final in 20 years. Further points from Ciaran Quilty and Pa Walsh extended the Mooncoin lead as the clock ticked down.

Lisdowney’s woes continued just moments later as a foul on Eoin Kenny foul gave Liam Dunphy an opportunity from the resulting penalty, but the strike failed to hit the target as the game continued to seep away.

Lisdowney did pump the pressure on in the closing quarter and were rewarded with 1-1, scores courtesy of Eibhan McEvoy and Niall Brennan offered some hope before an Eoin Kenny goal in the final five minutes, whose impact was substantial since being introduced as a substitute, gave Mooncoin warning signs.

Second half substitute, Sean O’Dwyer, converted a brace of scores in the closing stages to seal the victory for his team and perhaps emphasising the strength and depth Mooncoin may have at their disposal in the final.

Teams and Scorers

Mooncoin - Pa Walsh (2-3); Mark Kearns (1-0); Ciaran Quilty (0-3); Killian Hogan, Adam Croke, Sean O’Dwyer (0-2 each); Paul Henebry (0-2, 0-1 free); Stephen Crowley, Sean Gannon (0-1 each).

Lisdowney - Eoin Kenny (1-0); Eibhan McEvoy (0-4, 0-1 free); Liam Dunphy (0-2); Niall Brennan (0-2 frees); Kevin Sweeney, Aidan Tallis (0-1 each).

Mooncoin - Eoin Purcell; Niall Madden, Aidan Doyle, Ryan Carroll; Cormac Daly, Paul Henebry, Martin O’Neill; Mark Kearns, Stephen Crowley; Ciaran Quilty, Sean Gannon, Killian Hogan; Adam Croke, Pa Walsh, Kevin Crowley.

Subs: Sean O’Dwyer for Stephen Crowley (HT), Oisin Henebry for Kevin Crowley (53 mins), Kieran Dunphy for Sean Gannon (58 mins).

Lisdowney - Aidan Tallis; Kevin O’Sullivan, Ben Tallis, Alan Dunphy; John Brennan, Richard McEvoy, David O’Carroll; Niall Brennan, Kevin Sweeney; Gary O’Sullivan, Vinny Fitzpatrick, Eibhan McEvoy; Andrew McEvoy, Cathal Jordan, Liam Dunphy.

Subs: Michael Kenny for Andrew McEvoy (20 Mins), Sean Phelan for John Brennan (HT), Charlie Brennan for Gary O’Sullivan (HT), Eoin Kenny for Vinny Fitzpatrick (39 mins), Eoin Walsh for Cathal Jordan (41 mins).

Referee - Michael O’Sullivan.