Relentless Thomastown ease to Leinster glory in Aughrim

A decade on from their Leinster Junior success, Thomastown are celebrating more provincial honours after they defeated Bray Emmets in the Leinster IHC Final on Saturday.

The Kilkenny champions were hugely impressive once again as they dismantled the 2022 Leinster Intermediate winners in a very one sided affair.

The final clash could have easily been a game of two halves with a gale force wind blowing into the town end of Echelon Park but after Bray opted to play against the elements, they handed the initiative to Thomastown and that’s dangerous territory for any club at this level and Noel Doherty’s charges took full advantage when racing into a 2-13 to 0-2 lead at the break.

Expertly taken goals from Thomas O’Hanrahan and Luke Connellan as well as series of points from Ribbie Donnelly meant there was never a worry for Thomastown and while the Emmets battled back in the second half with a goal from Brian Nesbitt adding to Christy Moorehouse landing all their points, it was constant one way traffic in truth.

Thomastown now move on to meet Setanta of Donegal this weekend in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and even at this relatively early stage it's hard to look beyond the South Kilkenny side for the All-Ireland title.

A good start was imperative if Bray Emmets were to make any mark on Thomastown and that’s what makes their decision to go against the wind even more baffling, as the visitors launched attack after attack towards the home side’s goal.

By the 10 minute mark, Thomastown were already five points to the good through efforts from Robbie Donnelly, John Donnelly, Thomas O’Hanrahan and Jack Holden.

Bray’s first point of the game arrived via a Christy Moorehouse free halfway through the half and by the time they got their second, the game was already all but over as a contest.

Further points from John and Robbie Donnelly as well as a lovely floated effort by Brian O’Hanrahan left nie between the teams (0-11 to 0-2).
The onslaught became even more pronounced on the scoreboard when Thomas O’Hanrahan and Luke Connellan both netted goals before the break for Thomastown.

With a 17 point interval advantage, it was just a case of getting through the second half unscathed from a Thomastown point of view and Dylan Waugh among others did his selection claims no harm when getting two points from play off the bench.

Job done for the winners and they’ll look for something similar next Sunday in Newry.

Teams and Scorers

Thomastown: Robbie Donnelly (0-13, 0-8 frees), Thomas O’Hanrahan (1-1), Luke Connellan (1-0), John Donnelly, Dylan Waugh (0-2 each), Jack Holden, Jonjo Farrell, Brian O’Hanrahan, Jack Cullen (0-1 each)

Bray Emmets: Christy Moorehouse (0-9, 0-3 frees and 0-3 65’s), Brian Nesbitt (1-0)

Thomastown: Diarmuid Galway; David Prendergast, Jay Burke, Ned Kirwan; Brian Staunton, Eddie Donnelly, Brian O’Hanrahan; Peter McDonald, Jonjo Farrell; Robbie Donnelly, Luke Connellan, John Donnelly; Thomas O’Hanrahan, Jack Holden, Stephen Donnelly.

Subs: Zach Bay Hammond for McDonald h-t; Alex Cass for B O’Hanrahan 39 mins; Dylan Waugh for Holden 48 mins; Jack Cullen for Connellan 52 mins; Richard O’Hara for Prendergast 53 mins.

Bray Emmets: Conor McNally; Ben Kearney, Karl Lacey, Sean Maloney; Cian Lohan,Padraig Doyle, Daire Henderson; Luke Maloney, John Henderson; Ronan McMahon, Marc Lennon, Diarmuid Masterson; Arran Murphy, Christy Moorehouse, Eoin McCormack.

Subs: Davy Maloney for McMahon 33 mins; Brian Nesbitt for Lohan h-t; Mikey Lee for Doyle h-t; Shane Lohan for D.Henderson 55 mins; Daire Lohan for Lacey 55 mins.

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)