Kilkenny IHL- Spirited Blacks & Whites effort falls short against Johnstown

The Fenians booked their spot in the first round of the intermediate hurling championship beating the Blacks & Whites on Sunday afternoon.

A loss for the Johnstown outfit would have consigned them to the dreaded relegation semi-finals but two successive wins against St Martin’s and the struggling Skeough men means they will remain at the grade in 2025.

The Fenians were deserving winners but the Blacks & Whites put in a valiant effort. Led by free taker Ryan Murphy, they reduced a nine point deficit with five minutes of the first half remaining to four on the brink of full- time.

The Fenians made a dream start, going 0-5 to 0-1 in front by the seventh minute, as a brace from Jerry Henderson as well as points from Conor and Sean Tobin along with Kieran Grehan provided the perfect response to Sam Byrne’s opener for the Skeough men.

Two Niall Kennedy frees kept the Blacks and Whites ticking along but the Fenians were bossing general play and by the 20th minute it was 0-8 to 0-3.

The opening goal of the game arrived in the 25th minute when Kieran Grehan pulled off a magical first touch to control a Mark Hughes delivery before rocketing the ball past Keelin O’Grady (1-10 to 0-4).

Grehan was back on the scoreboard within 60 seconds of the goal with a dazzling point from the sideline and when Conor Tobin bagged his first point from play on the 28th minute the Fenians appeared to be out of sight at 1-12 to 0-4.

However, the Blacks and Whites found the last three points of the half courtesy of Sam and Jason Byrne to leave the scoreline at 1-12 to 0-7 at half-time.

The Blacks and Whites substitution of Ryan Murphy proved to be an inspired one as his seven second half frees gave the Skeogh outfit a fighting chance.

The Blacks and Whites outscored the Fenians 0-4 to 0-3 between the 34th and 47th minutes to leave the scoreboard reading 1-17 to 0-11.

Conor Tobin responded with a free for the Fenians but the Blacks and Whites momentum showed no signs of slowing and three Ryan Murphy frees and a score from Senan Doyle narrowed the gap to 1-18 to 0-15 with two minutes to go.

A foul committed by Billy Garrett gave Ryan Murphy an opportunity to create a grandstand finish with a penalty in the dying stages but an uncharacteristic miss followed. A late goal did arrive from Jason Byrne but it was too little, too late as a brave Blacks and Whites fell short.

Teams and Scorers

Fenians - Conor Tobin (0-10, 0-7 frees); Kieran Grehan (1-3); Jerry Henderson, Regan Downey, Sean Tobin (0-2 each); Mark Hughes (0-1).

Blacks & Whites - Ryan Murphy (0-7, 0-6 f, 0-1 65); Sam Byrne (0-4); Jason Byrne (1-1); Niall Kennedy (0-2), Senan Doyle (0-1).

Fenians - Billy Garrett; Aaron Dermody, John Henderson, Cormac Ryan; Rory Phelan, Kieran Grehan, Rory Garrett; Willie Brennan, Padraig O’Grady; Mark Hughes, Darragh McCormack, Sean Tobin; Cathal Phelan, Conor Tobin, Jerry Henderson.

Subs: Alex Lawlor for Ryan.

Blacks & Whites - Keelin O’Grady; Jamie Ryan, Tommy Joyce, Michael Prendergast; Senan Doyle, Paul Murphy, Niall Kennedy; John Lennon, Martin Kelly; Aron Foley, Jack Kelly, James Kennedy; Daire Murphy, Sam Byrne, Jason Byrne.

Subs: Emmet Foley for Lennon, Ryan Murphy for Kennedy.

Referee - Paddy Bowden (Lisdowney).