Kilkenny IHL- Danesfort rally late to claim big draw with Gowran

Young Irelands (Gowran) and Danesfort both had to be content with a point each after they shared the spoils in their Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai IHL Group B clash in Bennettsbridge on Saturday.

It was a game that ebbed and flowed either way all the way through and Danesfort probably went away the happier after they overturned a three point deficit late in the day to grab a draw.

Inspired by a Padraig O’Neill goal, the Gowran boys looked to be heading to victory with Killian Carey, Paddy Langton and Paddy Brennan coming to the fore but they ran out of steam at a crucial time.

With five minutes left on the clock, Young Irelands still led by three but late efforts from Paddy Hogan via a free in his own half, Cathal Kearney, Anthony Ireland Wall and Dan Dowling ensured the ‘Fort went home rather content with their efforts.

Both of these teams reached the last four of last year’s competition so a top class encounter was always expected and it very much turned out that way at the end of an engrossing 60 minutes of hurling.

Points from Anthony Ireland Wall and Sam Hayes gifted Danesfort the early initiative but it was an advantage that was quickly cancelled out by a pair of Anthony Ireland Wall frees.

The two sides then went on a spree of hitting careless wides and that was kind of a theme of the day with chances being left behind at both ends of the field.

They were level four times throughout the opening half and after Padraig O’Neill and Robbie Walsh swapped efforts, it was Danesfort who made the first real imprint on the round 3 league clash with three scores on the spin giving them a 0-6 to 0-3 lead by the 20th minute.

Cathal Kearney got all three efforts for Adrian Burke’s outfit and despite a little breathing space, they still couldn’t fend off the Gowran challenge with Jim Conlon and Paddy Langton responding in kind while Ted Drea also had a big goal opportunity but the effort was blocked wide.

The game swung one way and then the next all the way through and fittingly even after Kearney and Ireland Wall converted frees, there was still to be nothing between the sides at the break as Gowran knocked over the final three points of the half via Seamus Farrell x2 and Thomas Langton (0-8 each).

The second half kicked off with points from Killian Carey and Diarmuid Langton for the Gowran men and combined with the late rally at the end of the opening half, they had now scored five points in succession.

Danesfort needed to stall the momentum and they did so with a point from play by Cathal Kearney before Gowran nabbed what looked like it would be the game winning score.

A superb team move which included incisive play from Ted Drea and Thomas Langton allowed Padraig O’Neill to shoot the only goal of the game past Paddy Hogan.

Instead of building on the four point advantage, Young Irelands went sleepwalking and with four on the trot Danesfort deleted the lead immediately.

Gowran to their credit refound themselves when Killian Carey with three frees and Diarmuid Langton and Paddy Langton all found the target and while Cathal Kearney and Dan Dowling kept Danesfort in it, the game looked in last year’s county finalists hands when they led 1-15 to 0-15 after 55 minutes.

Three efforts in quick succession soon brought Danesfort level but Gowran still led when Paddy Brennan pointed in the 60th minute.

Danesfort weren’t to be denied their draw though with Dan Dowling levelling the game minutes later.

Teams and Scorers

Young Irelands: Killian Carey (0-6, 6fs); Padraig O’Neill (1-1); Paddy Langton (0-2, 1 ‘65); Diarmuid Langton, Seamus Farrell (0-2 each); Jim Conlon, Paddy Brennan, Thomas Langton (0-1 each)

Danesfort: Cathal Kearney (0-8, 4fs and 2 ‘65’s); Anthony Ireland Wall (0-4, 4fs); Paddy Hogan (0-2, 2fs); Dan Dowling, Robbie Walsh (0-2 each); Sam Hayes (0-1)

Young Irelands: Jason Brennan; Geoff Brennan, Bobbie Brennan, Sam Brennan; Jim Conlon, Mikey Carey, Paddy Langton; Tommy Phelan, Killian Carey; Padraig O’Neill, Seamus Farrell, Jake Byrne; Thomas Langton, Ted Drea, Diarmuid Langton.

Subs: Sean Farrell for B Brennan, 16 mins; Cian Phelan for Byrne, 43 mins; Dylan Carey for O’Neill, 53 mins; Paddy Brennan for T Langton, 56 mins.

Danesfort: Paddy Hogan; Darren Booth, Diarmaid Phelan, Adam Byrne; Daire O’Neill, Paul Murphy, Des Dunne; Cathal Kearney, Cathal O’Neill; Colm Phelan, Dan Dowling, Sam Hayes; Anthony Ireland Wall, Brian McDonald, Robbie Walsh.

Subs; Darragh Coverdale for C Phelan, 50 mins; Finn Mahony for Walsh, 50 mins.

Referee: Conor Everard