Kilkenny JHC- Freshford impress with big second half display against the Village

St Lachtain’s are into a second successive junior hurling county final after they ran out convincing winners over James Stephens on Saturday afternoon.

A devastating 17 point second half display gave the Freshford side the edge as theytook command all over the field after the two teams went into half-time on level terms.

A late red card to John Fitzparick was the only real negative for St Lachtain’s after they had 10 different scorers over the course of the hour’s action.

James Stephens will look back on the game with a bit of regret and wonder just what happened in the second 30 minutes after they were outrun for long periods.

The Village claimed a section B league and championship double in the last few weeks but there was definitley a big step up playing a strong first team and it showed during this game.

James Stephens made a quick start with consecutive points from Sean Deely and Oisin Bateman before James Maher replied with Freshford’s opening effort.

Mikey Drennan then converted a pair of frees and at this point, the Village looked to be motoring as they led 0-4 to 0-1.

James Maher who had a fine game in scoring five points from play in total doubled his individual and side’s tally before team captain Brian Kennedy scored a great point from his own half.

Oisin Bateman then knocked over a fine score near the sideline for the Village but by the halfway mark of the half, there was still nothing seperating the sides after Cathal O’Leary and Brendan Quinn pointed for Freshford (0-5 each).

There was a real end to end feel to the game in the first half and the momentum switched on many occasions and James Stephens regained control if only briefly with further points from David Walton and Mikey Drennan.

Freshford who needed a last minute goal to get over Galmoy in the Quarter-Finals gradually found their groove and they scored four on the bounce between 21st and 28th minutes as Shane Donnelly, Darragh Maher and Cathal O’Leary all found the target.

It still wasn’t enough to give them the advantage at the break though as Drennan, Walton and Jamie O’Keeffe pointed to get the Village on level terms at 0-10 apiece at half-time.

The scene was set for a cracking affair upon the resumption but the opposite rung true in one of the most one sided third quarters you are likely to see as Freshford outscored their opponents 0-11 to 0-1 to put the result beyond any doubt.

Within three minutes of the start of the second half, Freshford had quickly gone four clear with points from Darragh Maher, Shane Donnelly, Cathal O’Leary and Paddy Killeen.

A Mikey Drennan free narrowed the gap but the reality is that the city side had to wait until the 49th minute to score from play in the second half and by then they were very much on the backfoot.

Freshford scored at will and on another day, they could have scored a few more goals after James Maher missed a couple of good opportunities.

A Mikey Drennan free got James Stephens back on the horse late on before Sean Deely scored the only goal of the game but this was all about Freshford and their atacking intent as James Maher, Cathal O’Leary, Darragh Maher, Alan Rafter and Shane Donnelly all pointed before the end.

A red card for a striking offence to John Fitzpatrick who wasn’t on the pitch very long was the one negative but overall it was a near faultless afternoon for St Lachtain’s.

Teams and Scorers

St Lachtain’s: Cathal O’Leary (0-9, 0-6 frees); James Maher (0-5); Shane Donnelly (0-3); Brian Kennedy, Mark Donnelly, Darragh Maher (0-2 each); Brendan Quinn, Paddy Killeen, Cathal Hickey, Alan Rafter (0-1 each)

James Stephens: Mikey Drennan (0-7, 0-6 frees); Sean Deely (1-1); Oisin Bateman, David Walton (0-2 each); Liam Rafter, Jamie O’Keeffe (0-1 each)

St Lachtain’s: Darren Brennan; Shane Dawson, Criomhthann Bergin, Simon Rafter; Padraig Donnelly, Brian Kennedy, Cathal Hickey; Brendan Quinn, Mark Donnelly; Alexander Rafter, Cathal O’Leary, Paddy Killeen; Darragh Maher, James Maher, Shane Donnelly.

Subs: Cian Dawson for Killeen, 45 mins; Alan Rafter for P.Donnelly, 49 mins; John Fitzpatrick for D.Maher, 58 mins; Conor Donnelly for Dawson, 58 mins.

James Stephens: Daniel Power; Stephen Power Kellett, Adam O’Connor, David Hennessy; Paddy Kehoe, Dinny Stapleton, Eoin Deely; James Tyrrell, Jamie O’Keeffe; Sean Deely, Mikey Drennan, Oisin Bateman; Sean Casey, David Walton, Daniel Ring.

Subs: Ruairi Harrison for Casey, 27 mins; Sam McEvoy for Kehoe, 34 mins; Liam Rafter for Walton, 38 mins; Bill Whelan for Tyrrell, 57 mins; Jacob Breslin for Rafter, 58 mins.

Referee: Raymond Byrne (Glenmore)