Kilkenny IHL- Danesfort on top in first game back at intermediate level

Danesfort overcame Rower Inistioge in an entertaining Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate League clash last Saturday evening.

Played in almost perfect conditions in Thomastown, the ‘Fort led for almost the entire game and were probably more worthy then the final three point winning margin.

In saying that Rower Inistioge were competitive all the way through even if they relied heavily on the place shooting of Michael Galavan and Paddy Lyng.

The’Rower also missed a penalty in the opening half when Lyng had his effort dealt with by fellow goalkeeper Paddy Hogan.

In the likes of Paddy Hickey, Anthony Ireland Wall and Richie Hogan, the winners had multiple score-getters from play and that proved the difference in the end.

It was a very open contest and the sides were level on four occasions in total with the first of these being after ten minutes of play before Danesfort began to exert a degree of control on proceedings.

By the halfway point of the half Niall Bergin’s team had moved into a double scores lead as Rower Inistioge struggled to deal with vast array of scoring options at Danesfort’s disposal.

As well as Hogan, Hickey and Whitty, there was also scoring contributions from Robbie Walsh, Cathal Kearney and Colm Phelan as the 2022 Intermediate champions moved 0-10 to 0-5 ahead on the scoreboard.

Rower Inistioge came to life at this point however and four scores on the bounce had them trailing by the minimum as Galavan, Jim Ryan and Eoghan Lyng all found their range.

Richie Hogan and Ben Whitty then pushed out The Danesfort lead either side of Paddy Lyng shooting a penalty wide after Kevin Murphy was pulled down inside the square.

That was definitely a missed opportunity for the ‘Rower as it would have given them the lead in a game they subsequently were never ahead in.

Danesfort led by a point heading into the second period and like the first, they dictated matters for much of it but it wasn’t until they scored four on the bounce between the 45th and 52nd minutes including two excellent Anthony Ireland Wall efforts that they got breathing space on the scoreboard.

Galavan and Lyng kept the Rower ticking over but they ran out of time as Danesfort deservedly collected the two points.

Teams and Scorers

Danesfort: Ben Whitty (0-8, 6fs); Paddy Hickey, Anthony Ireland Wall, Richie Hogan (0-3 each); Colm Phelan, Cathal Kearney (0-2 each); Des Dunne, Robbie Walsh (0-1 each)

Rower Inistioge: Michael Galavan (0-11, 8fs and 2 '65’s); Paddy Lyng (0-3, 3fs); Eoghan Lyng (0-2); Joe Lyng, Eoin O’Brien, Jim Ryan, Eddie Prendergast (0-1 each)

Danesfort: Paddy Hogan; Darren Booth, Diarmaid Phelan, Cathal O’Neill; Des Dunne, Paul Murphy, Daire O’Neill; Cathal Kearney, Anthony Ireland Wall; Ben Whitty, Paddy Hickey, Colm Phelan; Richie Hogan, Robbie Walsh, Cillian Treacy.

Subs: Darragh Coverdale for Booth, h-t; Phillip Cooney for Murphy, 45 mins; Jake Cullen for Treacy, 59 mins; Ciaran Mullen for R.Hogan, 62 mins.

Rower Inistioge: Paddy Lyng; Ruaidhri Delaney, Jack Walsh, Shane Ryan; Ruairi Galavan, Pat Lyng, Tom Doyle; Joe Mulholland, Eoin O’Brien; Michael Galavan, Joe Lyng, Kevin Murphy; Jim Ryan, Eoghan Lyng, David Kelly.

Subs: Eddie Prendergast for Kelly, 58 mins.

Referee: Gavin Quilty (Slieverue)