Kilkenny IHL- Second half Carey goals prove key as Gowran get better of Fenians

Two second half goals in the space of three minutes from Killian Carey swung the pendulum firmly in favour of Young Irelands (Gowran) in this intermediate hurling league tie played in Muckalee.

Having played with the aid of a slight breeze in the first half, The Fenians (Johnstown) had finished well to sneak into a 0-8 to 1-3 lead at the interval but once Young Irelands got the breaks in the second half, the result was never in doubt.

The early stages didn’t yield too many scores. It was centre-back Mikey Carey who came forward to strike the opening point from midfield for Young Irelands.

A fourth minute penalty save by Billy Garrett from a Killian Carey effort was the early highlight. It was Ted Drea who was pulled down in the square that won the penalty.

From the clearance, Mark Webster opened the Fenians account from midfield. Garrett brought off two other decent saves at this juncture but after a number of missed attempts for the Gowran men they hit the big target.

Ted Drea fielded a high ball in and laid off to Seamus Farrell. Billy Garrett saved well but Thomas Langton was in like a flash to one hand the sliotar to the net in the eighth minute.

In fairness, the Fenians responded well with Conor Tobin striking over a line ball from 40 metres out and two converted frees from Mark Webster to level the game.

In the 15th minute Paddy Langton, who played well all through, came upfield to strike a point off his left with Mikey Carey adding another.

The last 10 minutes of the half saw the Fenians hit four good points to ease into the lead. Conor Tobin put over another lineball while Alex Lawlor and defenders Padraig O’Grady and Rory Garrett all pointed from well out, to give their side a two point advantage.

Facing the breeze for the new half, the Fenians got off to a good start with a Conor Tobin point from midfield.

After Diarmuid Langton had pointed in reply, Killian Carey travelled in to the 20 metre line to convert a free, following a foul on the busy Ted Drea.

Carey remained inside temporarily and this soon paid off . In the 38th minute, a Ted Drea pass set up Carey to shoot low past Billy Garrett.

Within three minutes, Diarmuid Langton intercepted a Fenians pass and Carey again made no mistake to rifle home, 3-5 to 0-9 after 40 minutes.

Those two goals sounded the death knell for the Johnstown men as Young Irelands were now inspired and, attacking in waves, the points flowed over from a whole host of players.

The Fenians just managed two more Mark Webster points as their marauding opponents piled on the agony.

Teams and scorers

Young Irelands - Killian Carey (2-5, 0-4 frees); Thomas Langton (1-1); Mikey Carey, Paddy Langton (0-3 each); Seamus Farrell (0-2); Jim Condon, Diarmuid Langton (0-1 each).

Fenians - Mark Webster (0-5, 0-4 frees); Conor Tobin (0-3, 0-2 lineballs); Padraig O'Grady, Rory Garrett, Alex Lawlor (0-1 each).

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

Subs: Paddy Brennan, Cian Phelan, Ben Phelan.

Fenians - Billy Garrett; Darragh McCormack, Rory Phelan, Padraig O’Grady; Rory Garrett, John Henderson, Jerry Henderson; Adam Duggan, Mark Webster (0-5,0-4 frees); Alex Lawlor, Conor Tobin, Sean Tobin; Tomás Sharkey, Cathal Phelan, Willie Brennan.

Subs: Regan Downey, Darragh Tobin, Pa Duggan, Cormac Ryan.

Referee - Stephen Delaney (Graigue Ballycallan).