Kilkenny GAA- James Stephens show class in Minor Roinn A league success

A star-studded James Stephens team had too much aces for Danesfort in last Thursday’s roinn A Minor league Final in MW Hire Dunmore.

Goals from Conor McEvoy, Conor Milea and Zach Scanlon got the goals for the city side and the likes of Rory Glynn, Diarmuid Behan and Daragh Power also excelled as the Kells Road club continue to make a mark at this age grade.

Danesfort were making a rare appearance at this level and while they were well beaten on the night, the final scoreline was probably harsh in the end with Charlie Sheehan, Fionn Mahony and Aiden Cowley looking like potential stars of the future.

James Stephens have built up a winning habit at this level and they looked a class apart for the early minutes of the contest as they quickly raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead.

It was non-stop attack from the Village in those opening few minuteswith Andrew Brennan, Conor McEvoy, Rory Glynn, Bill McDermot and Zach Scanlon all finding the target.

It took until the 8th minute for Danesfort to register on the scoreboard when Charlie Sheehan pointed from play and when Coleman Dunne and Aiden Cowley increased the tally for Johnny Ryan’s team, there was a sense that they were very much in the contest.

Efforts from Tuan Hyland, Rory Glynn and Diarmuid Behan maintained the Village stranglehold on proceedings however and by the halfway stage of the first half, the back to back minor county champions led 0-10 to 0-4.

Backed by a big following Danesfort kept battling away and they got the opening goal of the game when Charlie Sheehan was first to the rebound after Aiden Cowley had a shot well saved by Padraig Joyce and the wing forward buried a shot to the net.

The Village then had a goal opportunity in the next attack when Daragh Power went close before Rory Glynn added on another score from play.

The Danesfort goal threat wasn’t going away though and Sheehan nabbed his second of the game on the back of an inside pass from Mark Reddy and when the double goalscorer added on another point, the sides were deadlocked at 0-11 to 2-5.

Danesfort went in front for the only time of the game when the excellent Fionn Mahony pointed his team ahead with five minutes left in the opening half.

Going behind seem to brush the Village into action as three points on the bounce from Glynn, McEvoy and Diarmuid Behan left them tow to the good at the break while Bill McDermott also had a close in effort saved by Patrick Sinnott.

Any opportunity of Danesfort getting back into the game all but evaporated in the thrd quarter as James Stephens quickly reeeld off 2-4 without reply which added to their three points at the end of the first half put a big gap between the sides on the scoreboard.

The Village’s opening two efforts in the second period were both goals as Conor Milea and Zach Scanlon found the net in quick succession as they quickly pushed the advantage out to eight points (2-16 to 2-8).

Daragh Power, Conor Milea and Conor McEvoy then added on points and the result was academic by the time Aidan Cowley pointed a free in the 44th minute to end a 20 minute scoreless period for Danesfort.

Fionn Mahony and Conor Dillon added to the Danesfort tally but once James Stephens upped it a few gears, they had no answer to their firepower and the city outfit finished the game in style.

Conor McEvoy had a fine outing in his playmaker centre-forward role and as well as scoring three points before the end, he also fired in a stoppage time goal on the back of Daragh Power having a shot parried by the Danesfort stopper.

By the full-time whistle, double-scores seperated the teams as James Stephens emphatically claimed further underage glory.

Teams and Scorers

James Stephens: Conor McEvoy (1-9, 7fs); Conor Milea, Zach Scanlon (1-1 each); Rory Glynn (0-4); Diarmuid Behan, Daragh Power (0-3 each); Tuan Hyland, Andrew Brennan, James O’Brien, Bill McDermott (0-1 each)

Danesfort: Charlie Sheehan (2-2); Aiden Cowley (0-5, 4fs); Fionn Mahony (0-4); Coleman Dunne, Timmy Corr, Conor Dillon (0-1 each)

James Stephens: Padraig Joyce; Tuan Hyland, Daragh Behan, Larry Phelan; James Bergin, Conor Heffernan, John Barton; Conor Millea, Andrew Brennan; Daragh Power, Conor McEvoy, Diarmuid Behan; Zach Scanlon, Bill McDermott, Rory Glynn.

Subs: Oliver Phelan for Barton, h-t; James O’Brien for Brennan, 47 mins; Ben Blanchfield for Glynn, 52 mins; Ryan Burke for Millea, 56 mins.

Danesfort: Patrick Sinnott; James Tierney, Jetro Duffin, Louis Lawlor; Mark Reddy, Ronan O’Mahony, Calum Murphy; Conal Doyle, Coleman Dunne; Charlie Sheehan, Fionn Mahony, Oisin Barry; Timmy Corr, Aiden Cowley, Ruairi O’Casaide.

Subs: Mattie Corr for Barry, h-t; Jonathan Kennedy for Duffin, 32 mins; Enda Cunningham for O'Mahony, 35 mins; Conor Dillon for Dunne, 50 mins.

Referee: Conor Everard