Kilkenny IHC- Mooncoin blow Rower-Inistioge away with big display

Mooncoin made an eye-catching statement on Saturday evening, brushing aside what many people classed as a strong Rower Inistioge team with consummate ease on to put their name well and truly in the equation as contenders for the intermediate championship.

In a well-rounded team performance, one could not look past the contribution of wing-forward Adam Croke, who led by the front, bagging a hat-trick inside the opening 17 minutes all but ended the game as a contest before it even began (4-5 to 0-1).

The Rower Inistioge will look back on their showing with regrets, with a myriad of wides and inability to score for 13 minutes which left them adrift by 10 no doubt leaving them wondering what happened.

Meanwhile, Brendan Cahill’s team, who finished their league campaign with an underwhelming eight point loss to James Stephens will be hoping last weekend’s five star showing will spark them into life when they face Danesfort in the last eight in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday evening.

However, on a day where there was joy and disappointment, both teams should be commended for standing down the number 6 jersey of former Kilmacow player Luke Harney, with both Martin O’Neill (Mooncoin) and Shane Ryan (Rower Inistioge) wearing the number 30 as a mark of respect.

On the field, Mooncoin made the best possible start, and led by an eye-watering 3-4 to no score after just 12 minutes. A brace of goals from Adam Croke and a netted finish from Liam Hogan doing the damage.

Rower Inistioge did find the scoreboard midway through the half with a brace from Eoghan Lyng but a further goal from Adam Croke on the 17th minute put the game well and truly in favour of the men from the deep south (4-5 to 0-3).

Mooncoin showed no signs of letting up and further points from Liam and Killian Hogan along with the game’s fifth goal on the 20th minute from Killian had the game done and dusted with five minutes of the opening half remaining (5-8 to 0-3).

In what was a disastrous opening half for the Rower Inistioge, they did keep battling away and did convert four of the half’s final six points with a brace from Eoghan Lyng, Eddie Prendergast and Tom Doyle giving the losers something to cheer about (5-10 to 0-7 at half-time).

Any slim hopes of a Rower Inistioge comeback were quelled early on in the second half with points from Liam Hogan and Stephen Crowley leaving a whopping 20 points between the sides (5-13 to 0-8).

A golden period for the Rower Inistioge put somewhat of a gloss on the scoreboard as Sean Power’s men hit 1-3 without reply over a six minute spell as their standout player Eoghan Lyng netted and contributed 1-2 overall in that period (5-13 to 1-11).

The teams traded scores over the next period and with 10 minutes to play Mooncoin held a 5-18 to 1-15 advantage. But, in a closing period of 1-6 to 0-0 including the cherry on top from Aidan Carroll, the winners cruised to the next stage.

TEAMS & SCORERS:

Mooncoin - Liam Hogan (1-8, 0-7f); Adam Croke (3-1); Ciaran Quilty (0-4); Killian Hogan, Aidan Carroll (1-1); Martin O’Neill (0-2f); Robbie Doherty (0-2); Stephen Crowley, Sean Gannon, Martín Gannon (0-1 each)

Rower Inistioge - Eoghan Lyng (1-10, 0-7f); Kevin Murphy (0-2); Eoin O’Brien, Jim Ryan, Tom Doyle (0-1 each).

Mooncoin - Donnacha Hogan; Mark Kearns, Aidan Doyle, Ryan Carroll; Jim Delahunty, Martin O’Neill, Sean Gannon; Liam Hogan, Stephen Crowley; Ciaran Quilty, Martín Gannon, Adam Croke; Killian Hogan, Cormac Kinsella, Paul Henebry.

Rower Inistioge - Paddy Lyng; Eoin Doyle, Jack Walsh, Ruairi Delaney; Tom Doyle, Shane Ryan, Richie Leahy; Ruairi Galavan, Michael Galavan; Kevin Murphy, Eoin O’Brien, Tom O’Callaghan; Eddie Prendergast, Eoghan Lyng, Jim Ryan.

Referee - Michael O’Sullivan.