Kilkenny GAA- Club Hurling Championship throws-in with some big results
There was a feast of hurling activity around the county
The Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling League and JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling League both commenced this weekend as club players finally got a piece of championship action.
One of the star acts thus far was James Stephens with the intermediate favourites claiming a huge 5-28 to 1-15 success over Blacks and Whites in Clara.
The city side all but wrapped up the contest in the opening 10 minutes with Matthew McWey netting a hat-trick of goals before Luke Scanlon added two more in the second period.
Ryan Murphy got a late consolation goal for Blacks and Whites but it was very much James Stephens night as Ed Lauhoff, Cian Kenny and Tadhg O’Dwyer starred in the 25 point victory.
There was two closer encounters earlier on Saturday afternoon with Dunnamaggin and Rower Inistioge grabbing opening round wins.
Dunnamaggin ran out two point winners over Young Irelands of Gowran with three goals arriving in the second period after Dunna had initially built up a four point lead.
Gowran are currently shorn of Mikey Carey who is away travelling but with Denis Walsh to the fore, Dunnamaggin had enough to claim the win.
The middle game in the intermediate grade on Saturday proved to be a real cracker with Rower Inistioge running out 2-23 to 4-16 victors over St Lachtain’s.
The Freshford men looked firmly in control during the opening quarter, racing into a commanding seven-point advantage, but a remarkable second-half comeback, inspired in part by the introduction of former intercounty man Richie Leahy, saw the South Kilkenny outfit snatch victory with virtually the final puck of the game.
There was also two games on Friday night with Lisdowney overcoming intermediate new boys Barrow Rangers while Mooncoin defated Carrickshock.
There is still one game to come on Sunday with Tullogher Rosbercon and St Martin’s meeting in St John’s Park.
In the junior grade, Piltown had a 1-24 to 2-17 win over Windgap with a Robbie Culleton goal in the final quarter helping the South Kilkenny side to success with earlier goals from Jack Doyle and Adam O’Shea initially giving Windgap the edge.
In the other two games St Patrick’s of Ballyragget started their campaign in style with a 2-16 to 0-18 win over Galmoy while Conahy Shamrocks had five points to spare over Cloneen.