Lisdowney captain Aidan Tallis is presented with the Kilkenny IHL trophy by PJ Kenny, chairman Kilkenny GAA
A late, late rush helped Lisdowney land the intermediate league title.
The North Kilkenny side led for long parts of Saturday’s final at UPMC Nowlan Park, but looked to be heading home empty-handed when Young Irelands (Gowran) stole into a late lead, Diarmuid Langton crashing home a low drive with three minutes of normal time left (2-18 to 2-16).
Lisdowney hit back, but when Gowran extended their lead courtesy of a Sean Carey point their number seemed to be up - but they never gave in. The game was in injury-time when Lisdowney grabbed a lifeline, sub Eibhann McEvoy rising highest to flick Liam Dunphy’s dropping free to the net.
Was extra-time on the cards? Captain and goalkeeper Aidan Tallis didn’t think so. With just seconds left on the clock he came from his line to take a free close to half-way and duly split the City End posts for the match-winning score.
The finish was just as frenetic as the rest of the game, where the sides duked it out with gusto. A bullet-like strike from Seamus Farrell saw Young Irelands go ahead midway through the half (1-8 to 0-8), but the sides were level within minutes when Tallis drilled a penalty to the net after Cathal Jordan was fouled.
Lisdowney kicked on from here, but were only a point ahead at half-time (1-11 to 1-10). It was nip and tuck for most of the second half, but Lisdowney held on to the lead until that Langton goal.
At that stage they looked to be in bother, but Tallis came to their rescue.
See People Sport for full report
SCORERS
Lisdowney - Aidan Tallis (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-2 frees); Liam Dunphy (0-5, 0-2 frees, 0-1 65); Brian Kavanagh (0-5, 0-4 frees); Luke Holohan, Eibhann McEvoy (1-0 each); Kevin Sweeney (0-2); Cathal Jordan, Eoin Walsh, David O’Carroll (0-1 each).
Young Irelands - Sean Carey (0-8, 0-6 frees); Seamus Farrell (1-1); Diarmuid Langton (1-0); Pat Farrell, Ted Drea, Padraig O’Neill (0-2 each); Mikey Carey (0-2, frees); Jimmy Lennon, Jack Brennan (0-1 each).
Check out the Kilkenny People Sport Podcast below:
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