Kilkenny IHL- Dominant Danesfort always in control against Dunnamaggin

Despite being shorn the services of Paul Murphy and Richie Hogan, Danesfort were very comfortable as they secured a nine-point win over Dunnamaggin at a blustery Windgap on Sunday afternoon.

A goal in each half from Paddy Hickey and Colm Phelan gave Danesfort the edge in a game they were rarely threatened in with the goalscorers as well as Anthony Ireland Wall, Robbie Walsh and Cillian Treacy all showing well.

Andy Hickey was probably the main star on the Dunnamaggin team but they will need much more throughout the field after a second defeat on the trot.

It’s the opposite for Danesfort as they now look in a good position to go after league honours with any threat of being in the bottom two now looking extinguished.

Despite the dreary weather conditions and the early 12 noon start, a decent crowd turned up in the well turned out Windgap club and it was Dunnamaggin who got the scoring underway when Paul Kirwan pointed from play.

Danesfort replied via Ben Whitty from a free and the first point in a 1-4 tally for Paddy Hickey.

John Fitzpatrick did level up matters minutes later but it was from here that Danesfort took control as Niall Bergin’s outfit slotted over the next three points on the bounce including a long distance free from Paddy Hogan.

Alex Moore then narrowed the deficit to two before Danesfort got the game’s opening goal at the halfway mark of the half when half forward Colm Phelan broke forward and blasted a shot past James Logue in between the sticks for Dunnamaggin.

That was a big setback to Dunna’ but it could have been even worse less than a minute later after Robbie Walsh set up Paddy Hickey but the experienced Danesfort attacker was denied by Logue as he stood tall to parry the ball to safety.

Danesfort were relentless at this stage of the Group A contest and before long they had opened up a 1-10 to 0-4 lead through further points from Ben Whitty, Colm Phelan and Anthony Ireland Wall who again impressed in the middle of the field.

John Fitzpatrick and Andy Hickey jointly got Dunnamaggin’s last points of the half but a goal was needed to really get them back in contention and they did have an opportunity when Ruaidhri Holden got free but Paddy Hogan made a relatively easy save.

Danesfort kept taking scores for fun and after Whitty and Robbie Walsh extended their tally, they also had a chance for a second goal but Colm Phelan could only direct the shot wide of the target.

It was then tit for tat for much of the second half as Danesfort played within themselves a little and Dunnamaggin struggled to make any inroads on the huge deficit that their opponents had opened up.

Any time Dunnamaggin got a score, there was always a Danesfort response and the game was over as a relevant contest long before Richard Dowling blew the full-time whistle.

The winners got their second goal five minutes from the end when Paddy Hickey claimed a long delivery from Paddy Hogan and, on the turn, guided the ball to the net as the ’Fort moved into a 2-19 to 0-14 lead.

The winners still had time for further points from two of their stars in Paddy Hickey and Ben Whitty and in this mood, the senior championship relegated side will be more than a match for most at this level.

While the result was well beyond their reach, Dunnamaggin kept at it and did finish well with John Fitzpatrick bringing his free tally to seven and Andy Hickey rounding off the scoring with a pair of fine efforts from distance as Danesfort signed off with a much merited 2-21 to 0-18 success.

Teams and Scorers

Danesfort - Paddy Hickey (1-4); Ben Whitty (0-7, 4fs); Colm Phelan (1-1); Anthony Ireland Wall (0-3); Robbie Walsh, Cillian Treacy (0-2 each); Philly Cooney, Des Dunne (0-1 each)

Dunnamaggin - John Fitzpatrick (0-8, 7fs); Andy Hickey (0-3); Alex Moore, Paul Kirwan, Darragh O’Keeffe (0-2 each); Ruaidhri Holden (0-1)

Danesfort - Paddy Hogan; Darren Booth, Diarmaid Phelan, Cathal O’Neill; Des Dunne, Darragh Coverdale, Daire O’Neill; Cathal Kearney, Anthony Ireland Wall; Ben Whitty, Paddy Hickey, Colm Phelan; Philly Cooney, Robbie Walsh, Cillian Treacy.

Subs: Eanna O’Casaide for Treacy, 48 mins; Jake Cullen for C Phelan, 48 mins; James Mullally for Cooney, 55 mins; Ciaran Mullen for Ireland Wall, 58 mins.

Dunnamaggin - James Logue; Paul Kirwan, Harry Walsh, Ian Walsh; Eoghan Kearney, Jack Brett, Darragh O’Keeffe; Alex Moore, Joe Fitzpatrick; Andy Hickey, Ray Cody, Peter Kenneally; Denis Walsh, John Fitzpatrick, Ruaidhri Holden.

Subs: JJ Dunphy for Moore, 44 mins; Colin Fitzpatrick for Kenneally, 45 mins.

Referee - Richard Dowling (Kilmacow)