Kilkenny JHC- Drennan-inspired Galmoy finish strong to deny Piltown

A really strong closing burst saw Galmoy strike late to take the spoils in this pulsating Premier Junior Hurling tie at Tullaroan on Sunday.

A Niall O’Brien point in the 58th minute left Piltown leading 0-25 to 0-24, but four unanswered points from Galmoy saw them hit the winning post in front.

This was a high class game with some super points all through from both sides in front of a smashing crowd.

After Cian Kinsella had opened the scoring for the southerners, three points from Callum Lonergan, Conor Drennan and Billy Drennan saw Galmoy lead by two after five minutes of play.

Piltown then dominated the remainder of the first quarter, as Aidan Walsh hit three impressive points from midfield along with a pair from Martin Power and one from Kinsella to put them ahead 0-7 to 0-4 at the end of that quarter.

Kinsella and Power were really troubling the Galmoy rearguard while Aidan Walsh could do no wrong at midfield.

Callum Lonergan had begun well for the northerners and hit four first half points. He was deprived of a goal by a good save from Pauric Wall who deflected the shot out for a 65 which Billy Drennan converted in the 17th minute.

Drennan was unerring from placed balls all day, many of which he won himself.

Piltown were full of running in that first half and finished strongly with a flurry of points from Walsh, Robbie Culleton, Billy O’Callaghan, Cian Kinsella and a Daryl Maye free to lead 0-15 to 0-10 at the interval.

Culleton’s point in particular, was a cracking team effort involving Power and Kinsella. Galmoy were glad to get to the interval without losing any more ground as they availed of the break to recompose themselves.

It was Piltown who drew first blood again, however, with Niall O’Brien hitting his third point of the day.

Galmoy captain Sean Phelan replied from the left to which Daryl Maye posted a response with his only score from play, following a Billy O’Callaghan pass, again stretching the Piltown lead to six points.

Galmoy were not for lying down however. As Callum Lonergan soloed in from the right hand side , his shot on goal was just deflected out for a 65 which Billy Drennan converted.

Lonergan then struck over his fifth point of the day following an Oisín Phelan pass, with Phelan then winning a free which Drennan pointed.

Another similarly converted free brought the gap back to just two points (0-17 to 0-15) with 40 minutes on the clock.

By the 45th minute though, Piltown had moved back into a four point lead 0-20 to 0-16.

Billy Drennan pointed three frees in as many minutes, two for fouls on himself and one on Conor Grace, as Galmoy began to test the Piltown defence, 0-20 to 0-19.

In continuing with the topsy-turvy nature of the game, Piltown moved on again, courtesy of two Daryl Maye frees and a point each from the strong running Martin Power and the opportunistic Niall O’Brien.

Callum Lonergan posted a Galmoy reply before passing to Oisín Phelan who struck over a gem from the right hand sideline.
Galmoy were now gaining momentum and their confidence increased.

At the back Dylan Grace, Kieran Phelan and particularly Nigel Stanley began to exert their influence over the Piltown attackers.

Niall O’Brien was the exception here with two late points but those last four Galmoy points were down to sheer workrate and a will to win.

Oisín Phelan pointed from midfield, Billy Drennan struck over a 65 followed by a 35 metre free won by substitute Brendan Phelan who had just been introduced.

Their final point exhibited their desire to advance.

Conor Drennan won Pauric Wall’s long puckout and soloed out of defence and up through the spine of the Piltown rearguard before releasing to Ryan Murphy who in turn passed to Jason Stanley to raise the final flag of the day for a victory epitomised by the final act.

Teams and Scorers

Galmoy - Brian Kelly; Dylan Grace, Nigel Stanley, Kieran Phelan; Conor Grace, Conor Drennan (0-1), Gearóid Phelan; Sean Phelan (0-2), Niall Drennan; Billy Drennan (0-13, 0-11 frees), Ryan Murphy (0-1), Brandan Phelan (0-1); Callum Lonergan (0-6), Jason Stanley (0-2), Oisín Phelan(0-2).

Subs: Brendan Phelan, Rohan Lonergan.

Piltown - Pauric Wall; Niall Kinsella, Darragh Walsh, Robert Tobin; Michael O’Dwyer, Aaron Kinsella, Andrew Phelan; Aidan Walsh (0-4), Daryl Maye (0-5, 0-4 frees); Brandon Wheeler, Robbie Culleton (0-1), Martin Power (0-4); Cian Kinsella (0-4), Billy O’Callaghan (0-2), Niall O’Brien (0-5).

Subs: Kevin Brophy and Aidan Friend.

Referee - Stephen Delaney (Graigue-Ballycallan)