Cats light up the West with some great displays in the Galway Cup

The Cats were winners out West as the Kilkenny & District League faced a busy week of Galway Cup action.

The League’s 2012 boys’ team had a series of great results and completed a memorable week by clinching the Cup spoils. The under-11 boys’ team also impressed, finishing fourth after taking on and beating some tough opponents.

Kilkenny 5
Roscommon 3

The under-12s started their campaign in style, beating Roscommon 5-3 in their opening game. From the outset of this tournament Kilkenny looked like they could score at will as they took the lead through Tommy Moloney. Tom Hoyne and Terry Renwick added to the tally in between goals from the Roscommon side. This very open game was a sight to behold, as was the
Kilkenny performance. Enoch Komakech opened his account for the tournament, securing three points for his side.

Athlone Town 1
Kilkenny League 7

The black and amber made light work of opponents Athlone Town in their second game, winning 7-1. Enoch Komakech doubled his tally for the tournament, before strike partner Conal Kelly got in on the act with a brace. Further goals from Renwick, Max O’Neill and Jonathan O Akaehomen sealed a big win.

Aisling Annacotty 0
Kilkenny 5

Kilkenny’s third win was one of the most dominant performances of the day. The Cats produced some fine attacking football to run out comfortable five goal winners. Exploding from the blocks, they piled the pressure on the Limerick goal at every opportunity.

After a couple of early efforts on goal Conal Kelly opened the scoring on 12 minutes. As half-time drew closer, they pulled away with goals from Tommy Moloney and Enoch

Komakech making it 3-0. The second half was much the same for Kilkenny, who emptied the bench. One of their subs, Charlie Carter, made an immediate impact, firing in two goals inside the last 10 minutes for his side.

Kilkenny 3
Finn Harps 0

From start to finish Kilkenny managed to press the Donegal opposition, a tactic which paid off with three well-taken goals. This high press worked from the kickoff as they created a couple of half chances before they eventually found the net through Conal Kelly. Harps battled back and managed to break through a couple of times, but Kilkenny stayed strong and maintained their lead up half-time.

From the restart the Cats kept looking for that elusive second goal which they eventually found when Enoch Komakech unleashed a screamer 15 minutes from time. The game was over as a contest when James Tierney’s controlled effort from a cross found its way into the back of the Harps net.

Cup Final
Kilkenny 5
Roscommon 1

In a repeat of their first game of the tournament Kilkenny won the cup when they put another five past Roscommon.
From the outset Kilkenny looked well in control and found the net with their first chance of the game when Enoch Komakech delivered an expert finish to the net. Chances were flowing for the black and amber as they had a free well saved before another effort flew over the bar. Just before half-time, Komakech produced two more moments of magic as he assisted Conal Kelly twice to leave Kilkenny 3-0 up at the break.

It was much the same after the interval as Komakech broke away from the opening play to double his tally for the day. The eventual cup winners netted for a fifth time after Komakech hat trick effort was denied but eventually turned in by Tommy Moloney.

After the final whistle a delighted manager Keith Renwick spoke of how the team’s hard work helped deliver the spoils.

“The team produced some very good performances during the week and everything clicked together at the right time to win the competition,” he said.

“Everything had fallen into place at the right time,” he added. “This side has produced some fantastic football during the competition and the players have clearly learned from their experience in Galway.”

Kilkenny - Shay Massey, Tommy Moloney, Billy Moloney, Tom Hoyne, Max O’Neill, Frankie Carroll, Ollie  Maher, Terry Renwick, Enoch  Komakech, Charlie  Carter, Daragh O’Callaghan, Conal Kelly, Ben Leason, Conor Campion, Tom Cahill, Jonathan O Akaehomen, Rory  Phelan, Richie Rowe, James Tierney, Taylor Mahoney.

Management team: Keith Renwick, Jamie Murray, Enda Carroll, Michael Maher.

2011 Elite
Wicklow 2
Kilkenny League 5

The Kilkenny 2011 team were also big hitters in their opening game, putting five past Wicklow on day one.

In an amazing performance, the young side conjured up some great goals to start the competition in style. Michael Beagen struck quickly to give his side an early lead, an advantage that was never relinquished as Michael Ormonde and Aedan Sumner both scored before the break. Kilkenny pressed on in the second half, with Sam Antonessa and Sumner adding to the winners’ tally.

The Kilkenny under-11s finished fourth in their Cup competition

Kilkenny League 2
Ballinamallard 1

Kilkenny made it two wins from two when they got the better of a highly-fancied Northern side.

Both sides produced some great football and plenty of attacking play, but it was the Cats who took the lead when Dara Kavanagh smashed an effort into the back of the net.

Ballinamallard battled back and levelled the tie with a Roger Allen effort before half-time, but Kilkenny restored their lead and made sure of the points when Aedan Sumner struck a second half winner.

Limerick County Whites 0
Kilkenny League 5

It was a five-star performance as Kilkenny got the better of their Limerick opponents. Creating chances from the first minute, they quickly took the lead through Dara Kavanagh, doubling it when Aedan Summer slotted the ball under the onrushing ’keeper.

The rest of the game turned into the Sam Antonessa show as he netted a hat trick to ensure his side finished top of the group.

Kilkenny 1
Finn Harps 1
(Harps won 4-3 on pens)

After missing two penalties at normal time, it was the third time lucky for Finn Harps as they won on penalties against Kilkenny.

Kilkenny who started this semi-final strongly and their pressure told when Oisin Doyle controlled a cross to finish well past the netminder. Finn Harps battled back but a great save from Micheál  Beagen kept Kilkenny in front at the break.

Once the ref began the second half Harps gained control and won a penalty. The first effort was saved but it had to be retaken and was put over the bar. Chances were few and far between as the game went on but, with a couple of minutes to go, Harps drew level through Oisin O’Donnell, sending the tie to penalties where Harps prevailed.

Third Place
Kilkenny League 0
Galway CoE 2

It wasn’t to be for the Kilkenny side as they were eventually beaten with two first half goals by one of the home county sides.

In a tough tense battle Kilkenny seemed to have the upper hand early on in this third place game but the Galway side stuck for goal early on through Ronan Keating before Ty Finnerty doubled their lead.

Despite the results a fourth-place finish was just a reward for this young side.

“The boys did very well throughout the tournament,” said a proud manager Philip Trehy. “We were delighted with the way they played good football in every game as they trained hard pre tournament. They were very unlucky to be beaten in the semi-final, but we were delighted with the way the boys applied themselves,” he said, adding how they are all looking forward to the Kennedy Cup in Limerick next June.

Kilkenny - Micheál Beagen, Jamie Fahey, Peter Quinn, Oisín Doyle, Mark Byrne, Danny O’Dwyer, Dara Kavanagh, Micheál Fitzgerald, Cierán Treacy, Cruz Chong, Donie Cahill, Michael Ormonde, Jamie Kavanagh, Aedan Sumner, Sam Norton, Harry Trehy, Danny Greene, Sam Antonessa, MJ Carroll, Daithí Egan.

Management team: Philip Trehy, Shay Lynch, Richard Carroll, Bill Trehy.