Kilkenny IHL- St Martin’s youngsters to the fore in decisive success

A dominant first half display where St Martin’s scored 1-14 laid the platform as Cheddar Plunkett’s team opened up their league campaign with victory over Blacks and Whites.

With a huge wind at their back, Martin’s took full advantage of the elements in their favour and the game was all but done as a contest by the half-time whistle.

Recent St Kieran’s College graduates Sean Hunt and James O’Neill were two of the star performers for the winners as they scored 1-8 from play between them and Hunt’s goal at the end of the first quarter was probably the defining score of the game.

Blacks and Whites only scored three points in the first half and they all arrived from Niall Kennedy frees and while they did improve with the wind at their back, they left themselves too much to do in the end.

The opening stages were pretty cagey and Martin’s took time to find their full flow with Brian Coady, Sean Hunt and goalkeeper Colin McGrath scoring inside the opening ten minutes.

Niall Kennedy’s three frees all arrived by the 14th minute and by that stage only a point separated the teams and it looked like it was all to play for.

Martin’s then went into overdrive with a John Mulhall delivery finding Sean Hunt inside and the talented corner forward fought off his marker before finishing past James Kennedy in the Blacks and Whites goal.

That goal was the kickstart for a relentless period of scoring as Martin’s added on 1-10 without reply before the change of ends.

Hunt added on another two points for himself while Brian Coady and James O’Neill also scored heavily as Martin’s led 1-14 to 0-3 at the interval.

Blacks and Whites needed an almost immediate response at the start of the second period and any hope of a comeback was almost shattered when Hunt fired a goalbound effort off the post  in the  31st minute.

Niall Kennedy’s accuracy from placed balls as well as points from play by Seanan Doyle, Ian Foley and multiple efforts from  Sam Byrne gave Blacks and Whites hope but they never got any nearer than seven points.

Brian Coady, James O’Neill and John Mulhall kept Martin’s ticking over on the scoreboard and the winners finished in style as O’Neill once again proved a menace and while his shot towards goal was saved, Aaron Farrell was there to slot the sliotar home as Martin’s rounded off an almost perfect day as they secured a ten point win in the end.

Teams and Scorers

St Martin’s: Brian Coady (0-7, 5fs); Sean Hunt (1-3); James O’Neill (0-5); Aaron Farrell (1-0); Colin McGrath (0-2, 2fs); John Mulhall (0-1) 

Blacks and Whites: Niall Kennedy (0-6, 5fs and 1 '65); Sam Byrne (0-3); Daire Murphy, Ian Foley, John 'Nipper Lennon, Seanan Doyle, Emmet Foley (0-1 each)

St Martin’s: Colin McGrath; Tadhg Gill, Ciaran Nolan, Matthew Bolger; Paddy Nolan, Brian Byrne, James O’Neill; Brian Coady, Tristan Roche; Donal Shore, Aaron Farrell, Jamie Morrissey; Russell Kealy, John Mulhall, Sean Hunt.

Subs: Ollie Walsh for Kealy, 52 mins; Adam Comerford for Bolger, 61 mins.

Blacks and Whites: James Kennedy; Jack Kelly, Tommy Joyce, Michael Prendergast; Seanan Doyle, Paul Murphy, Niall Kennedy; John 'Nipper Lennon, Martin Kelly; Jamie Byrne, Ian Foley, Ryan Murphy; Daire Murphy, Sam Byrne, Jason Byrne.

Subs: Emmet Foley for M.Kelly, 45 mins; Jamie Ryan for S.Byrne, 54 mins; Aaron Foley for P.Murphy, 59 mins.

Referee; David Hughes