Dicksboro win back to back Byrne Cup league titles with win over Thomastown
The ’Boro claim early season silverware with decisive win at home
Dicksboro 3-20 Thomastown 1-16
A personal 2-11 tally from Shane Stapleton proved the catalyst as Dicksboro overcame Thomastown in the Byrne Cup decider in Palmerstown.
The full-forward bagged two second half goals, including one from a penalty, as the Kilkenny city side showed their intent for the season ahead with a 10-point success over the 2024 county champions.
Kilkenny under-20 star Patrick Lacey also bagged 1-1 off the bench and despite being down a number of regulars, Eamon Jackman’s men were much too good on the night.
Thomastown were absent the likes of John Donnelly and relied on the free-taking accuracy of Robbie Donnelly and even though they were well beaten in the end, it was still a more than worthy workout for Noel Doherty’s side ahead of their opening championship clash against Clara in a few weeks time.
Stephen Donnelly opened the scoring for the Grennan men before Shane Stapleton converted a 65 after Liam Moore initially had an attempt at goal saved by Diarmuid Galway.
The ‘Town then got a bit of momentum going with successive scores from Robbie Donnelly, Naoise Dempsey and Thomas O’Hanrahan giving the South Kilkenny outfit a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage on the scoreboard.
The leaders then went through a 14 minute barren scoring spell as the home side notched off nine points without reply as the Boro quickly took control of the contest.
A pair of Shane Stapleton scores and an effort from play by Anthony Clifford levelled up matters for the second time before the side in maroon and white then ran riot on the scoreboard with Clifford and Liam Moore adding to Stapleton’s excellence on the placed balls.
In the space of just a few minutes, the Boro marched six points clear and they maintained that advantage to the half-time break with Timmy Clifford and Tom Kenny pointing from play before the Thomastown response arrived via Robbie and Stephen Donnelly.
Dicksboro all but put the contest to bed within three minutes of the resumption when Shane Stapleton netted a penalty after he was fouled by Brian Staunton in the square.
The goal left the Boro nine points to the good and although Thomastown replied with three of the next four scores via Robbie Donnelly, Eddie Donnelly and Naoise Dempsey but with Stapleton continuing to do damage down the other end, the winners were never in much bother.
The full-forward grabbed a second for himself in the 48th minute and with sub Patrick Lacey also finding the net inside the final 10 minutes, Dicksboro were home and hosed as they wrapped up the Byrne Cup for a second year running.
Thomastown did finish with a bit of a flourish as Brian Staunton and Robbie Donnelly landed points before Jack Holden got their only goal in stoppage time as Dicksboro won out on a final 3-20 to 1-16 scoreline.
Teams and Scorers
Dicksboro: Shane Stapleton (2-11, 6fs and 1 ‘65); Patrick Lacey (1-1); Anthony Clifford (0-3); Tom McPhillips (0-2); Liam Moore, Tom Kenny, Timmy Clifford (0-1 each)
Thomastown: Robbie Donnelly (0-6, 5fs); Jack Holden (1-1); Stephen Donnelly (0-3); Naoise Dempsey (0-2); Thomas O’Hanrahan, Eddie Donnelly, Brian Staunton, Luke Connellan (0-1 each)
Dicksboro: Darragh Holohan; Niall Rowe, Padraic Moylan, Evan Murphy; Eoghan Moylan, Tom Kenny, Tom McPhillips; Joe Sheehan, Bill O’Shea; Timmy Clifford, Cillian Hackett, Anthony Clifford; Liam Moore, Shane Stapleton, Dan Carroll.
Subs: Patrick Lacey for Carroll, 40 mins; Louis Raggett for Sheehan, 45 mins; James Carroll for Hackett, 52 mins; Alan Phelan for Murphy, 53 mins.
Thomastown: Diarmuid Galway; Peter Connellan, Brian Staunton, Rory Connellan; Zach Bay Hammond, Eddie Donnelly, Sean Denieffe; Ben Nevin, Peter McDonald; Robbie Donnelly, Luke Connellan, Stephen Donnelly; Thomas O’Hanrahan, Jack Holden, Naoise Dempsey.
Subs: Conor Barcoe for Denieffe, 46 mins; Cian Farrell for O’Hanrahan, 46 mins; Luke McNena for Nevin, 50 mins.
Referee: John Kennedy (Shamrocks Ballyhale)