Under 21- Dunnamaggin and Village seal semi-final spots

Dunnamaggin returned to the JJ Kavanagh and Sons under-21 A semi-finals after a 0-17 to 1-12 over Bennettsbridge.

Ruaidhrí Holden was pitch-perfect on frees in the opening 30 minutes for Dunnamaggin and scored all five of his team’s scores in that period.

The only goal of the game came after 20 minutes, Conor Nolan sending the net bulging for the Bridge men, opening up a 1-4 to 0-4 leading margin for the Bridge men.

A swift run in from the wing was matched by a bullet of a shot past Dunnamaggin keeper Killian Talton.

However, Dunnamaggin were a different team in the second half, playing like a side on a mission. Andy Hickey at centre-back was an inspiration for his team-mates, finding the target on five separate occasions including two monster points inside his own 65.

Bennettsbridge felt the pressure from early on in the half as their opponents scored four of the opening five points to leave the scoreline at 1-7 to 0-9 after 40 minutes of play.

The Bridge did respond with three points of their own but that proved to be a false dawn as far as they were concerned, only managing to muster up two points in the closing 15 minutes as Dunna’ came in for the big finish in this epic under-21 encounter as excitement levels went through the roof.

Ruaidhrí Holden put the cherry on top for the Dunnamaggin men as he was in the right place at the right time to pounce on a ball breaking from a ruck, solo into the ’Bridge half and slot the ball over to secure the 0-17 to 1-12 win for the South Kilkenny club.

Elsewhere James Stephens secured their spot in the JJ Kavanagh and Sons U21 A hurling championship semi-finals after a comprehensive 4-11 to 1-14 win over Graigue-Ballycallan in Tom Ryall Park.

As is the nature with winter hurling, numerous rucks meant the game couldn’t flow as freely as it might in summer months. Both free takers were on song as Stephen Manogue and Aaron McEvoy kept the scoreboard ticking.

However, the ultimate sucker punch blow for Graigue Ballycallan arrived in the 14th minute as James Stephens turned a one point deficit into a three point lead.

Ed McDermott with 1-1 to turn the game in his team’s favour at 1-3 to 0-3.

It was nip and tuck on the scoreboard for the next 15 minutes with the men in red and green edging out the sky blues 1-6 to 0-7 by the 29th minute.

The Village found their form in the closing minutes as a great combination between Ed McDermott and Stephen Manogue saw Manogue break the ball down on the hurl and stick the ball past Graigue-Ballycallan goalkeeper Eoin Egan.

A point by Scott Lawlor deep into stoppage time kept the Graigue-Ballycallan heads up at half-time but it was James Stephens who held the advantage at 2-6 to 0-7.

Ballycallan did start the second half brightly through Aaron McEvoy and Ryan Corcoran but to the Village’s credit, they always managed to keep their noses in front.

Ed McDermott in the heart of the action once again as he delivered a crisp pass to Ben Cantwell who rifled the ball to the Ballycallan net to open up a 3-9 to 0-10 scoreline.

The game petered out to a conclusion in the closing minutes with both sides registering a goal apiece.

Eddie Brennan’s troops kept at it till the end but James Stephens were too good on the day as they won out on a 4-11 to 1-14 final scoreline.