Mullinavat secure senior football league win over Thomastown

Mulllinavat recorded their second set of senior football league points with a comfortable victory over Southern neighbours Thomastown on Sunday afternoon last.

The Vegas lads were in control all afternoon, led by six points at the interval, and had the ability to get goals when such chances presented themselves.

This was a Thomastown side missing several players currently involved with various Kilkenny inter county hurling squads.

John Walsh opened the scoring for Mullinavat, but Thomastown responded with a fifth minute goal, finished by David Prendergast, following a “45” that landed short. John Walsh reduced that lead with a “45” , this responded to by a Thomastown free.

Fiachra Knox got a point back for Mullinavat, to which Prendergast replied for Thomastown (0-3 to 1-2).

This was after 16 minutes, but from here to the break,  Mullinavat outscored the visitors 1-7 to 0-1. Established players such as Tom Aylward, James Culleton, Michael Malone, and scorer in chief Oisin Knox were controlling the game in this period.

Half time - Mullinavat 1-9; Thomastown 1-3

Two early second half points from Oisin Knox showed the Vegas lads were still in charge after the break, these sandwiching a Thomastown point from Conor Monks.

When Knox, an ex- Waterford FC underage starlet, struck a neat soccer style goal in the 40th minute, the game appeared done and dusted (2-11 to 1-4).

The Town got a glimmer of hope shortly afterwards when Vegas goalie Jack Walsh conceded a penalty, and a black card also resulted for this foul in the goal area. James Culleton took over goalkeeping duties and made a fine sae from the resulting penalty.

Mullinavat continued to dominate and eased to the finish line by outscoring their opponents 2-4 to 1-0.

Mullinavat fielded a much more experienced team, and it showed throughout, whereas Thomastown will hope to have some of their regulars back for the latter part of the Kilkenny Gaelic football season.

Teams and Scorers

Mullinavat- Jack Walsh, Michael Walsh, Ian Mansfield, Sean Fitzpatrick, Padraig Dempsey, Ger Malone, John Walsh (0-2, 1 “45”), Tom Aylward (1-0), James Culleton, Padraig Gahan (1-0), Michael Malone (0-3, 0-1 free), Fiachra Knox (0-1), Oisin Knox (2-7, 0-3 frees), Brian Phelan (0-2, 0-1 frees), Jamie Davis.

Substitutes - Simon Aylward, George O’Connor, Jack Byrne Doyle.

Thomastown- Luke McNena, Jack Cullen, Oisin O’Reilly, Tyler Nolan, Sean Denieffe, Nathan Sherry, Alex Cass (1-0), Eddie Donnelly, Brian Staunton (0-1), Gerard Hughes, David Barron, Conor Monks (0-1), Thomas O’Hanrahan, David Prendergast (1-2), Liam Treacy.

Substitutes -Conor Barcoe, James Lanigan, Conor McCaul, Cian Moore, Sean O’Keeffe.