Kilkenny JHC- Landy fires Windgap into county decider

A goal in each half from James Culleton and Conor Doyle helped Windgap book their place in this year's Junior Hurling Championship Final after they saw off a gallant Emeralds side in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon.

As well as the two goalscorers, Windgap also had a huge display from Emmet Landy as they sealed their place in the county decider for the second time in three years.

Emeralds played their part in what proved to be a very open affair with former Kilkenny underage star Darragh Queally matching Landy’s total of 14 points with the two free takers engaging in something of a shootout for long periods.

While Windgap started well with points from Emmet Landy and Jack Doyle, it was Emeralds that soon gained control when leading 0-6 to 0-3 after 12 minutes of play.

Sean Burke, JJ McLoughlin and Padraig Phelan all scored during this spell to add to efforts by Doyle and Queally.

The Urlingford outfit maintained the advantage till the latter end of a half that was end to end throughout.

Points from James Culleton, Sean Purcell and Emmet Landy kept the winners on the tails of Emeralds and they then pounced for a defining moment in the game when a well directed sideline cut found Culleton who blasted the sliotar into the top corner of the net.

Windgap followed up with further scores from Landy and James Power but with Emeralds replying via Queally and Jack Doyle, the minimum is all that seperated the teams at the change of ends (1-13 to 0-15).

Landy and Queally dominated the opening minutes of the second half as they shared the first six points with four of them going to Windgap as the 2022 finalists advanced into a three point lead.

Emeralds then had a fantastic opportunity to get a goal of their own when Killian Doyle found Queally and the ace forward took a shot that was expertly pushed wide by Eoin O’Shea.

While Queally did convert the subsequent 65 to reduce the gap to two, it would soon become clear that the goal chance would come back to haunt them.

Culleton who had a fine outing in scoring 1-2 helped set up a chance down the other end when he found Emmet Landy and while the Windgap top-scorer was denied by Enda Kelly, sub Conor Doyle who had only just come on was fastest to the rebound as his ground strike found the O’Loughlin’s end net.

That goal really punctured the Emeralds display and they fell away a lot in the final quarter after being very much in contention up to that point.

Windgap kept the scoreboard ticking over in the final few minutes with Landy’s accuracy added to by other scores from play by Jack Doyle, Sean Purcell and Pat Grace.

Queally kept knocking over the frees for the Emeralds and they will feel like they were a bit unlucky not to find the net with Gerry Troy squandering a pair of opportunities with one shot saved by Eoin O’Shea and the other hitting the outside of the post.

The final nine point losing margin doesn’t do Emeralds any justice and while disappointed, they can still look back on a decent championship campaign with plenty to build on for the future.

For Windgap, they now have two weeks to prepare for a county final as they seek to win a first junior title since 1986.

Teams and Scorers

Windgap: Emmet Landy (0-14, 0-9 frees); James Culleton (1-2); Conor Doyle (1-0); Jack Doyle, Sean Purcell (0-3 each); James Power (0-2); Pat Grace (0-1)

Emeralds: Darragh Queally (0-14, 0-9 frees and 0-2 ‘65’s); Killian Doyle, Sean Burke, Gerry Troy (0-2 each); Padraig Phelan, JJ McLoughlin (0-1 each)

Windgap: Eoin O’Shea; Cian Ryan, Darragh O’Shea, Padhraic Foley; Willie Phelan, Niall Walsh, Sean Purcell; Zak Kennedy, Sean Power; Pat Grace, Emmet Landy, Jack Doyle; James Culleton, James Power, Billy Power.

Subs; Sean Foley for P.Foley, h-t; Conor Doyle for B.Power, 45 mins; Michael Power for J.Power, 55 mins; Killian Enright for Culleton, 59 mins; Adam O’Shea for Grace, 61 mins.

Emeralds: Enda Kelly; Michael Ahern, Damien Fitzgerald, Jack Kavanagh; Tony Farrell, Shane Norton, Sean Burke; Oisin Deegan, Killian Doyle; Darragh Queally, Padraig Phelan, Gerry Troy; Liam Grant, Pa Doheny, JJ McLoughlin.

Subs; Adam Barnaville for Deegan, 35 mins; Toddy Moriarty for Kavanagh, 42 mins; Cathal Walsh for Grant, 44 mins; Johnny Dole for Doheny, 50 mins.

Referee: Sean Cleere (O’Loughlin Gaels)