Lisdowney return to senior ranks with Intermediate Championship success over Gowran

The Hanrahan Cup is on it's way back to Lisdowney after the North Kilkenny side defeated Young Irelands in this afternoon's Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling Championship Final.

Goals in each half from Liam Dunphy and Cathal Jordan gave Trevor Fletcher's side the edge as they repeated their championship success from 2020.

Lisdowney led all the way through and while Young Irelands rallied during different stages, they left themselves with too much to do in the end as the winners claimed a three point success at the full-time whistle.

The opening quarter was tightly fought with Lisdowney opening up a 0-4 to 0-3 lead before they added the first goal of the game when Liam Dunphy gathered the sliotar from a sideline ball before he shot to the net.

Brian Kavanagh, Dylan Jordan, Liam Dunphy and David O'Carroll added on further points before the break and although Sean Carey replied with a pair of frees, it was Lisdowney who were in firm control as they led 1-8 to 0-6 at the break.

Brian Kavanagh pushed Lisdowney six clear at the start of the second half before Sean Carey and Pat Farrell responded for Gowran.

A second Lisdowney goal then arrived in the 39th minute when a pinpoint Niall Brennan pass found full forward Cathal Jordan whose low shot beat Jason Brennan at his near post.

Gowran trailed by seven at this stage but they weren't going to go away easily and between the 44th and 54th minutes, they scored five points on the trot via Sean Carey, Killian Carey and Paddy Langton as Young Irelands sensed an opportunity.

Despite going through a 14 point scoreless period, Lisdowney rose again with points from Dylan Jordan and Brian Kavanagh keeping their noses in front.

Gowran had a couple of late chances to force a draw but this was Lisdowney's day as they held on to see out a 2-12 to 0-15 victory.

Teams and Scorers

Lisdowney: Brian Kavanagh (0-5, 0-5 frees); Liam Dunphy (1-1); Cathal Jordan (1-0);  Dylan Jordan (0-2);  Aidan Tallis (0-1, 0-1 free); Michael Kenny, Pat O'Carroll, David O'Carroll (0-1 each)

Young Irelands: Sean Carey (0-6, 0-6 frees); Killian Carey, Paddy Langton (0-2 each); Mikey Carey, Pat Farrell, Ted Drea, Seamus Farrell, Padraig Naddy (0-1)

Lisdowney: Aidan Tallis; Sean Phelan, Ben Tallis, Laurence Campion; Michael Kenny, Eoin Walsh, Dylan Jordan; David O'Carroll, Kevin Sweeney; Liam Dunphy, Pat O'Carroll, Richard McEvoy; Brian Kavanagh, Cathal Jordan, Niall Brennan. 

Subs: Eibhean McEvoy for P.O'Carroll, h-t; Luke Holohan for L.Dunphy, 44 mins; Andrew McEvoy for R.McEvoy, 49 mins; Alan Dunphy for Phelan, 54 mins.

Young Irelands: Jason Brennan; Geoff Brennan, Bobbie Brennan, Sean Farrell; Michael Walsh, Mikey Carey, Paddy Langton; Pat Farrell, Padraig Naddy; Padraig O'Neill, Seamus Farrell, Killian Carey; Sean Carey, Ted Drea, Jimmy Lennon.

Subs: Jim Conlon for Walsh, 35 mins; Diarmuid Langton for Sean Farrell, 44 mins; Tommy Phelan for O'Neill, 52 mins; Jake Byrne for Naddy, 56 mins; Cian Phelan for P.Farrell, 58 mins.

Referee: Richard Holland (Tullaroan)