Kilkenny IHL- Tullogher deliver a winning impact on intermediate return

Walter Walsh netted two first half goals as Tullogher Rosbercon claimed an impressive 13 point success over Fenians of Johnstown in the final game of the weekend on Sunday evening.

Walsh finished the game with 2-2 and with Marty Murphy, Colman O’Sullivan and Conor Hennessy also scoring heavily, the defending All-Ireland junior champions had things all their own way in Danesfort.

Fenians struggled for scores throughout much of the 60 minutes with Mark Webster accounting for all but three points of their final total.

On this evidence Tullogher look like they have the tools necessary to go very close at the business end of the championship and they will have been delighted with their start.

The side in black and amber led this one all the way and the game was barely five minutes old when they raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead.

Walter Walsh scored a point within seconds of the throw-in and a typical goal where he went on a barnstorming run came after Conor Hennessy and Marty Murphy also got on the scoreboard.

Mark Webster eventually got Fenians off the mark with a free but it would take until the 25th minute to register even one score outside of placed balls.

In that same time frame Tullogher outscored the Johnstown side 1-6 to 0-3 with big Walter getting another fine individual goal after being set up by a combination of Marty Murphy and Conor Hennessy.

The aforementioned Hennessy and Murphy were just as forceful as Walter and they continued to score at their will and by the 22nd minute, the score read 2-9 to 0-4 in Tullogher’s favour.

Fenians plugged away before the break with points from Webster and Sean Tobin but they’d a mountain to climb as they trailed 2-11 to 0-6 at the half-time interval.

The second half proved to be something of a non-event as Tullogher maintained a huge advantage on the scoreboard and by the end of the game all of their forwards had hit the target.

Fenians remained competitive but they never really threatened to mount a comeback and Tullogher finished the game in style with Conor Hennessy curling a shot into the top corner of the net late on.

Tullogher captain Colman O’Sullivan added two points from midfield before the end to put a real shine on a more than decent display for the winners.

Teams and Scorers

Tullogher-Rosbercon - Walter Walsh (2-2); Marty Murphy (0-7, 3fs and 1 ‘65) Conor Hennessy (1-3); Danny Glennon (0-2, 2fs); Colman O’Sullivan (0-2); Andrew Murphy, Anthony O’Connor (0-1 each)

Fenians - Mark Webster (0-11, 8fs and 1 65); Darragh McCormack, Sean Tobin, Pa Duggan (0-1 each)

Tullogher Rosbercon - Davy Walsh; Richie Gill, Donncha O’Connor, David Kennedy; Lar Murphy, Pat Hartley, Cathal Mooney; Jamie Lyng, Colman O’Sullivan; Conor Hennessy, Anthony O’Connor, Walter Walsh; Andrew Murphy, Marty Murphy, Danny Glennon.

Subs: Michael Handrick for A.Murphy, 42 mins; Ryan Murphy for Glennon, 43 mins; Tarek O’Connor for A O’Connor, 54 mins.

Fenians - Billy Garrett; Paddy McCormack, John Henderson, Eoin Phelan; Rory Phelan, Kieran Grehan, Rory Garrett; Willie Brennan, Padraig O’Grady; Mark Hughes, Darragh McCormack, Sean Tobin; Cathal Phelan, Conor Tobin, Mark Webster.

Subs: Pa Duggan for Hughes, 38 mins; Jerry Henderson for J Henderson, 42 mins; Adam Duggan for O’Grady, 45 mins; Aaron Dermody for E Phelan, 52 mins.

Referee - Maurice Flynn