Kilkenny JHC- Flurry of Maher goals fires Freshford into semi-finals

A goal and a point in injury time saw St Lachtain’s over the line at the end of a cracking Premier Junior championship quarter-final in Johnstown on Sunday.

This game provided a high level of entertainment all through for the large crowd gathered, with Galmoy bringing the fight to their more fancied opponents from the very off.

A haul of four goals and three points meant James Maher was the match winner for St Lachtain’s. The former county man had the knack of always seeming to be in the right place at the right time.

Right from the throw-in, however Galmoy could well have had the first goal of the game when Callum Lonergan was deprived as he bore down on goal.

They did, however, draw first blood when Billy Drennan struck the first of his 13 points in the opening minute.

Shane Donnelly then proved very elusive for his marker with two points in as many minutes to put the Freshford men ahead.

Galmoy were full of running early on and reeled off the next five points without reply, the haul coming courtesy of three Drennan frees and a point each from Brandan Phelan and Callum Lonergan to lead 0-6 to 0-2 after 10 minutes of play.

As the half progressed however, St Lachtain’s began to settle into their game .

James Maher was playing a roving role and he popped over two good points from play midway through the half.

Billy Drennan converted three more first half frees with Niall Drennan striking an impressive Galmoy point from the right wing in the 24th minute after receiving a Jason Stanley pass.

In the 25th minute, James Maher rode two tackles as he advanced from the right wing. His physical strength carried him forward as he struck the first goal of the game to bring St Lachtain’s to parity, despite playing second fiddle for the opening 20 minutes.

It was a level game 1-7 to 0-10 at half-time with Galmoy unlucky not to goal when Callum Lonergan passed to Billy Drennan who saw his batted shot come back off the post.

St Lachtain’s had a tonic start to the new half when Liam Hickey passed to James Maher in front of the Galmoy goal.

Maher miscontrolled but had time to go back for a second attempt, round his marker and strike to the net.

Brendan Quinn popped over a point and the Freshford men were suddenly buzzing.

Brian Kennedy, who had been quiet up to this point, was now getting on lots of ball and began to send good intelligent deliveries forward.

Cathal O’Leary and Billy Drennan (2) exchanged frees with Shane Donnelly adding his third point from play for the men in black and amber, leaving the scoreboard reading 2-10 to 0-12 at the three-quarter stage.

St Lachtain’s had dominated that third quarter but Galmoy were guilty of some weak finishing with a number of balls dropping into the grasp of goalkeeper Darren Brennan, who was very impressive in that second half in particular.

Slowly but surely, Galmoy dragged themselves back into the game, with Gearóid Phelan, Nigel Stanley and in particular centre back Conor Drennan providing a regular supply of ball to their comrades up front.

As the supply increased the frees came from the resultant pressure and Billy Drennan continued to split the posts.

He struck over two and one from play over the course of the next five minutes and a 48th minute goal by Brandan Phelan blew this game wide open again.

Phelan saw his first shot on goal brilliantly saved by Darren Brennan, but he followed up to kick the sliotar over the line (1-15 to 2-10).

Brian Kennedy came upfield to point and settle his side but Callum Lonergan replied for Galmoy.

In the 52nd minute Oisín Phelan made a run up the middle and sent over another Galmoy point to put the men in blue three ahead.

Maher pulled one back before Drennan and O’Leary exchanged frees.

In the 58th minute, a good passing move involving Shane Donnelly and substitute Cian Dawson resulted in James Maher hitting the net again.

Within a minute, Callum Lonergan levelled up the affair once more as the crowd wondered if extra-time was on the cards.

However, a drop in concentration at the back for Galmoy saw James Maher hit the net once more from an almost impossible angle on the end line .

Buoyed on by that score St Lachtain’s won the puckout and Cathal O’Leary sealed a four point win .

All in all, this was a tremendously entertaining game with both sides serving up a thriller, but the Maher goals proved the difference in the end.

Teams and scorers

St Lachtain’s - Darren Brennan; Shane Dawson, Criomhthann Bergin, Simon Rafter; Padraig Donnelly, Brian Kennedy (0-1), Cathal Hickey; Brendan Quinn (0-1), Mark Donnelly; Alexander Rafter, Liam Hickey, Paddy Killeen; Shane Donnelly (0-3), James Maher (4-3), Cathal O’Leary (0-6, 0-5 frees).

Subs: Cian Dawson, Darragh Maher, John Fitzpatrick.

Galmoy - Brian Kelly; Dylan Grace, Nigel Stanley, Kieran Phelan; Conor Grace, Conor Drennan, Gearóid
Phelan; Sean Phelan, Niall Drennan (0-1); Billy Drennan (0-13, 0-12 frees), Ryan Murphy, Brandan
Phelan (1-1); Callum Lonergan (0-3), Jason Stanley, Oisín Phelan (0-1).

Subs: Brendan Phelan, Rohan Lonergan.

Referee - Paddy Bowden (Lisdowney).