Kilkenny IHL- Carrickshock in charge during dominant success over Conahy

A dominant second half saw Carrickshock overcome Conahy Shamrocks in Round 4 of the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling League on Sunday afternoon in Palmerstown.

The winners completely dominated the game during the opening ten minutes and raced into a 0-6 to 0-0 lead as Conahy struggled to make any headway against opponents who were high on confidence.

Eoin O’Neill (free) and Jake O’Dwyer pointed within three minutes of the start and these two players would play significant roles in the Carrickshock victory.

Aaron Roche with two points, another pointed free from Eoghan O’Neill and a fine score from Kevin Farrell saw the winners in full control.

Conahy Shamrocks eventually got off the mark with a James Bergin point on ten minutes and although Jake O’Dwyer landed another point for the winners, Conahy were slowly starting to get to get a solid grip on the game.

Four unanswered points from Rob Ring, Kieran Mooney and James Bergin (two frees) reduced the margin to two points.

Remarkably, in the 21st minute Conahy Shamrocks went ahead when a fine run by Tom Phelan saw the ball laid off to Rob Ring who shot to the Carrickshock net.

The margin remained at a goal when Eoghan O’Neill and Mark Gunner exchanged points, but the closing stages of the first half were a key moment for the winners when they scored three points without reply through Jake O’Dwyer, Eoghan O’Neill (free) and Michael Rice to tie the game at the interval.

Sub Eoin Crowley made a good impact with two points while the super free-taking of Eoin O’Neill from all distances and angles was key to the Carrickshock victory.

James Bergin kept Conahy in touch from frees, but the key moment in the second half arrived on 44 minutes when Kevin Farrell scored a Carrickshock goal when brilliantly set up with a superb pass from Eoghan O’Neill.

Another great run from Tom Phelan drew a brilliant save from Jamie Power in the Carrickshock goal and when the winners lost a defender to a second yellow card they had to withstand strong Conahy pressure in the closing stages.

Another brace of pointed free from James Bergin brought the margin back to four points, but it was fitting that the game’s two outstanding players Eoghan O’Neill and Jake O’Dwyer should land late points for Carrickshock to see their side score a deserved victory.

Teams and Scorers

Carrickshock: Eoghan O’Neill (0-9, 0-6 frees and 0-1 ’65); Jake O’Dwyer (0-4); Kevin Farrell (1-1), Aaron Roche and Eoin
Crowley (0-2, each), Michael Rice (0-1).

Conahy Shamrocks: James Bergin (0-9, 0-8 frees); Rob Ring (1-1); Tom Phelan, Mark Gunner and Kieran Mooney (0-1, each).

Carrickshock: Jamie Power, Edward Dunphy, John Cahill, Padraig Lennon, Niall Tennyson, John Power, Sean Moore, Michael Murphy, Aaron Roche, Kieran Conway, Eoghan O’Neill, Kevin Farrell, James Grace, Jake O’Dwyer,
Michael Rice.

Subs (Used) – Eoin Crowley, Liam Walsh and Barry Lennon.

Conahy Shamrocks:  Karl Downey, Ciaran Rice, Philly Cass, Liam Cass, Donal Brennan, Brian Healy, Darragh Hennessy, Eoin Cahill, Tom Phelan, Tom Rice, James Bergin, Jack Murphy, Rob Ring, Kieran Mooney, Mark Gunner.

Subs (Used) – Bill Murphy and John Mullan.

Referee – Owen Beehan (Fenians).