FYI: What we know after round two of the Kilkenny senior hurling league
Full match reports available in this week's edition of the Kilkenny People
The St Canice's Credit Union Senior Hurling League returned for match week two and delivered the usual mix of incidents and surprises.
In what many people class as the 'group of death' Group A, Glenmore brought the Shamrocks back crashing down to earth with a home 2-21 to 2-20 win. Henry Shefflin's team looked like a team on a mission early on, racing into a 2-1 to 0-2 lead as Eoin Cody and TJ Reid raised green flags. However, Glenmore dug in and despite being six points adrift at half-time. However, goals in either half from Cathal Beirne and Jason Cody as well as an inspired performance from Alan Murphy meant the hosts were injected with a winning energy. The conclusion was heart stopping and with Pairc Na Ratha rocking with excitement and joy, the home crowd roared their team home to victory. - SEE PICTURES HERE
In the same group, a late David Blanchfield free saved Bennettsbridge from dropping two crucial points in Clara. The Bridge led all the way until the 59th minute when it seemed the city club were going to steal the game (0-22 to 1-18) but a late free from the the Kilkenny back inside his own 65 meter line meant the teams had to share the points. Meanwhile, in Canon Kearns Park, the prolific forwards of Luke Hogan and Kevin Murphy combined for five goals in a 5-19 to 1-16 defeat of Lisdowney, where a brave effort from last year's intermediate champions was wiped out by the goal hungry Gaels.
In Group B, Thomastown fought off a spirited Erins Own display early on to ease to a 4-18 to 0-17 win. Goals from Robbie Donnelly, Peter McDonald and Naoise Dempsey goaled but one setback was the straight red card to Rory Connellan for a high tackle during the second half.
Elsewhere, a fast-finishing Tullaroan grabbed their opening senior league win as they saw off Clara in an entertaining affair in Ballyragget 0-24 to 0-22. The Sash scored five of the last six points of the contest to prevail a man of the match display from Bill Walton, Mossy Keoghan and Dylan Simpson proving crucial. While the ending to the game was hugely positive for the winners, the start was like a nightmare after Tommy Walsh was stretchered off with a serious looking knee injury after only two minutes of play. The incident occured with the Kilkenny star tracking Rory Glynn and his knee gave way on the turn and added to Shane Walsh’s shoulder problem, it’s been a testing start on the injury front for Ken Coogan’s team.
Meanwhile, Mullinavat (2-21) and Graigue Ballycallan (3-18) played out a draw for the second year in a row after a highly competitive clash in Group B in Dunnamaggin on Saturday afternoon. Mulllinavat had what looked like a comfortable eight-point lead in the opening stages of the second half, but the Kilmanagh side kept battling and eventually got their reward with a series of late pointed frees.