Kilkenny JHC- Walter Walsh leads the charge as Tullogher make decider

Tullogher Rosbercon were in freescoring form as they saw off Junior Section B winners Dicksboro in a high scoring affair at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon.

Kilkenny star Walter Walsh led the way for the Southerners as he scored 1-6 from play and helped by the likes of Marty Murphy, Conor Hennessy and Cian O’Donoghue, they are back in the intermediate final.

Tullogher lost out on final day two years ago to Mooncoin and after growing into this year’s campaign, they look in fine form ahead of Saturday’s marquee fixture.

While they scored 1-20, the Boro will be disappointed at how open they looked at stages with Tullogher getting chances at goal much too easily at times.

After losing to Windgap on penalties a year previous, the back to back section b victors would have fancied themselves of going deep into the competition and while a goal from sub Nick Doheny and impressive individual displays from Liam Brennan Smyth and Matthew Kelleher kept them competitive, a slack first half where they conceded two goals in as many minutes certainly didn’t help matters.

It took five minutes of action for the first score with Matthew Kelleher getting the Boro off the mark before Tullogher Rosbercon responded via a Cian O’Donoghue free.

Tullogher then set the foundations for their victory when full forward Conor Hennessy won a breaking ball and struck to the net past Brian Manogue with aplomb.

Dicksboro had barely found their feet when the winners came on the rampage again and after a brilliant pass from Walter Walsh, Cian O’Donoghue was on hand to get Tullogher’s second goal in quick succession.

All of a sudden six points seperated the teams after 10 minutes of play but Dicksboro did settle their nerves with points from Kevin Moore and Liam Brennan Smyth keeping them within range.

Cian O’Donoghue and Kevin Moore then swapped scores before lively half forward Marty Murphy maintained the dominance for Michael Doyle’s outfit.

Boro’s Brennan Smyth and Aran Murphy pointed once more before Walter Walsh began to grow into the game with a fine score from play.

The teams continued to go tit for tat with points from Cian O’Donoghue and Matthew Kelleher but it was Walter Walsh who continued to be the Boro’s menace and he controlled everything good about Tullogher and he soon got his second point from play.

Kelleher and Brennan Smyth kept adding to the Boro tally and with only five minutes of the opening half left, only three points was the difference.

The city side suffered a real sucker punch before the break when Marty Murphy picked up the sliotar around midfield and showing great pace he burst forward towards goal and he unleashed an unstoppable shot from around 20 yards out giving Brian Manogue no chance to stop it.

Tullogher then put an end to the game as a contest really as they scored the last four points of the half as Walter Walsh, Marty Murphy and Cian O’Donoghue x2 left 10 points between the sides (3-11 to 0-10).

The second half kicked off with Martin Gaffney knocking scoring after he took over the free taking duties but it was Tullogher who still found the gaps and Conor Hennessy almost goaled when he forced Brian Manogue into a fine stop.

Manogue had to deny Walter Walsh moments later but it was only a matter of time before Tullogher added to their goal tally and their Kilkenny senior star was the man who provided it as the Wexford border outfit began to put a real gloss on the scoreboard.

Gaffney replied with a pair of frees but Tullogher were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over as Cian O’Donoghue scored from play once more.

Gaffney and James Carroll kept plugging away for the Boro but everytime they went forward and registered a score, it seemed as if Tullogher had an instant hit-back with their forward unit putting in a powerful performance.

A trio of frees from Gaffney and a well taken goal by Nick Doheny did offer some late respite for the Palmerstown boys but it was Tullogher who pushed on again late on with further efforts from O’Donoghue and Walsh meaning the final score read Tullogher Rosbercon 4-20 Dicksboro 1-21.

Once Tullogher got going and scored two goals in the opening period, they were on a different level and in some ways that’s understandable given it’s Dicksboro’s second team but the boys in maroon and white will still be be left dejected as they never really gave themselves a chance.

For Tullogher it’s back to business straight away with a county final immediately on the horizon but with the perfect blend of the experienced Walter Walsh added to a talented batch of youngsters that contested the Roinn A minor final two years ago, they go into this weekend with plenty of optimism.

Teams and Scorers

Tullogher Rosbercon: Cian O’Donoghue (1-9, eight frees), Walter Walsh (1-6), Marty Murphy (1-3), Conor Hennessy (1-1), Danny Glennon (0-1)

Dicksboro: Martin Gaffney (0-8, eight frees), Liam Brennan Smyth (0-5, four frees), Nick Doheny (1-0), Matthew Kelleher (0-3), Aran Murphy (0-2), James Carroll, Kevin Moore, Conor Fitzpatrick (0-1 each)

Tullogher Rosbercon: David Walsh; Richard Gill, Donnacha O’Connor, Sean Murray; Lar Murphy, Pat Hartley, Cathal Mooney; Jamie Lyng, Colman O’Sullivan; Jason Shiely, Walter Walsh, Marty Murphy; Danny Glennon, Conor Hennessy, Cian O’Donoghue.

Dicksboro: Brian Manogue; Matthew Kelleher, Tom Carroll, Stephen Dermody; Eoghan Moylan, Edward Moylan, Kevin Nolan; James Carroll, Joe Sheehan; Sean Maher, Kevin Moore, Conor Fitzpatrick; Aran Murphy, Martin Gaffney, Liam Brennan Smyth.

Subs: Nick Doheny

Referee: Peter Burke (Emeralds)