Carrickshock show resolve to claim Minor B success over Rower Inistioge

It needed extra-time in the end to seal it but Carrickshock eventually did enough to overcome Rower-Inistioge in last Saturday’s Minor B hurling final in UPMC Nowlan Park.

A Liam O’Grady goal in the opening stages of the added on period broke Rower Inistioge’s resistance as the ’Shock came through to win by six points in the end.

The South Kilkenny outfit will wonder how it even needed extra-time to settle the result after Rower sensationally scored two goals in stoppage time via Paul Kirwan and Jack Hogan to snatch the late draw.

Donnchadh Hogan got Carrickshock’s other goal but it was the 13-point display of Adam Franks that really stood out as the full-forward made use of his senior experience in attack.

Ned Spellman opened the scoring for the Rower within three minutes of the start before Carrickshock battled back with the next four points via three frees from Adam Franks and an effort from play by Liam O’Grady.

The Rower responded in kind and although Oisin Roche had a goalbound effort well saved by Dara O’Neill in the 11th minute and with Ned Spellman, Roche himself and Jack Roche following up with scores, the sides were deadlocked at 0-4 apiece.

Adam Franks and Sam Kelly then swapped efforts before Carrickshock had a bit of daylight on the scoreboard with Cian Franks and Conor Farrell adding to the winning side’s tally.

The opening goal of the contest arrived five minutes from the end of the half with Oisin Smithwick O’Brien assisting Tadhg Walsh who shot the sliotar past Dara O’Neill.

The ‘Shock were on top for the rest of the half however with Adam and Cian Franks contributing three points between them and while Rower Inistioge’s goalscorer Tadhg Walsh also pointed, it was Carrickshock who went into the break with a 0-10 to 1-6 advantage.

Rower Inistioge had a goal opportunity immediately upon the resumption but Eoghan Byrne’s effort was blocked just wide.

Even though Adam Franks briefly extended the Carrickshock lead, the goal chance proved to be a sign of things to come over the following minutes with Rower’s midfield pairing PJ Mackey and Jack Roche both on target as they edged their way in front.

That proved to be a real wake up call for Carrickshock as they quickly rattled off 1-6 without reply over the following 10 minutes.

Four Adam Franks points as well as a Cian Franks effort arrived either side of a Donnacha Hogan goal after he finished to the net after the original attempt was well blocked.

Carrickshock led by eight points at this juncture and they looked as good as home but Rower Inistioge produced a sensational final few minutes to reel their opponents in.

Points from Sam Kelly and Jack Roche left just the two goals in it and once Jack Hogan netted with just a minute remaining, just a puck of the ball separated the sides.

The stoppage time was chaotic stuff as Carrickshock did everything to hold out but after a looped ball into the square, Paul Kirwan blasted in a goal with the last puck of the game and extra-time followed. Carrickshock composed themselves in the extra period and with Liam O’Grady goaling within a minute, they took control immediately to run out big winners in the end.

Teams and Scorers

Carrickshock: Adam Franks (0-13, 8fs and 1 ‘65); Liam O’Grady, Donnchadh Hogan (1-1 each); Conor Farrell (0-3, 2fs); Cian Franks (0-3); Sam Mansfield (0-2).

Rower Inistioge: Jack Roche (0-5, 4fs); Tadhg Walsh (1-1); Paul Kirwan, Jack Hogan (1-0 each); Ned Spellman (0-3); Sam Kelly (0-2); Oisin Roche, PJ Mackey, Conor Downey (0-1 each).

Carrickshock; Dara O’Neill; Seamus Murphy, Matthew Murphy, Christopher Aylward; Eoin O’Gorman, Michael Rohan, John Somers; Mark Askins, Oisin Drea; Cian Franks, Conor Farrell, Sam Mansfield; Donnchadh Hogan, Adam Franks, Liam O’Grady.

Subs: Tom Duggan for Drea, 41 mins; Aidan Farrell for Askins, 60 mins.

Rower Inistioge: Ben Chapman; Odhran McGorry, Darragh Murphy, Sean Doyle; Conor Downey, Paul Kirwan, Jamie Doyle; PJ Mackey, Jack Roche; Oisin Smithwick O’Brien, Ned Spellman, Tadhg Walsh; Sam Kelly, Eoghan Byrne, Oisin Roche.

Subs: Oisin Walsh for Byrne, 60 mins.

Referee - Eoin Hayes (Thomastown).