Kilkenny IHL- ​Hogan strikes late to give Mooncoin an opening league win

​Mooncoin deservedly picked up the league points in the opening round of the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling League against Carrickshock in Piltown on Friday evening.

The winners held the edge for much of the game, but when they lost a player to a second yellow card in the 44th minute of the second half, Carrickshock took control.

What was looking like a comfortable Mooncoin victory now became a very competitive game as Carrickshock controlled the contest for the next 10 minutes to leave just a goal between the sides on 51 minutes.

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Mooncoin faced the breeze in the first half and played some delightful hurling in the opening quarter. Carrickshock struggled for possession and were not helped by some wayward shooting which saw them hit nine wides in the opening half, a number of which should have been white flags.

In that opening quarter the winner’s attack ably led by Martin O’Neill, Adam Croke and Killian Hogan landed some great points.

A 16th minute goal from James O’Keeffe was a big score when he collected a pass from Kilian Hogan. Carrickshock came more into the game in the second quarter.

John Power, picked at corner forward, started in defence in the absence of team captain John Cahill, and was key to his side’s improved showing. Michael Rohan and Padraig Lennon also impressed in the second quarter for Carrickshock.

A big improvement in the Carrickshock attack saw Eoghan O’Neill and Jake O’Dwyer land good points which reduced the margin to four points by the interval.

Mooncoin always posed the greater goal threat and when Martin O’Neill bore down on the Carrickshock goal on the cusp of half time a green flag looked assured, but his flicked effort just went over the bar despite a hefty challenge from a Carrickshock defender. O’Neill was clearly being fouled but stayed on his feet. If he had fallen down, a penalty would likely have been awarded and the defender dismissed as he was already on a yellow card.

Mooncoin’s dominance continued in the third quarter, helped by a powerful display from midfielder Paul Hennebry who landed three points in the opening eight minutes.

The game looked to be heading decisively towards the winners on 42 minutes when Martin O’Neill brilliantly controlled a cross-field delivery from Jim Delahunty to shoot to the Carrickshock net and put his side into a nine point lead.

A goal from a penalty on 44 minutes from Eoghan O’Neill was the catalyst for the Carrickshock recovery.

The incident which resulted in the penalty saw a Mooncoin defender dismissed and now with an extra player, the ‘Shock slowly eroded the margin between the teams.

O’Neill, along with Jake O’Dwyer and Conor Farrell benefited from the open spaces of the pristine Piltown pitch and by the 51st minute just a goal separated the sides.

A Paul Hennebry point for Mooncoin, their first score in 11 minutes, stopped the Carrickshock momentum and that score along with a number of stoppages for injuries, saw Mooncoin regain their composure.

John Power and Padraig Lennon landed a brace of points from distance to leave two points between the sides and the pendulum was now edging towards the ‘Shock.

The margin remained at two points when Killian Hogan (free) and John Power exchanged points on the 60- minute mark.

In injury-time a long delivery into the heart of the Carrickshock defence was poorly defended with the alert Killian Hogan fastest to the breaking ball to score the game’s winning goal.

Teams and Scorers

Mooncoin: Killian Hogan (1-6, 0-5 frees); Paul Hennebry (0-5); Jim Delahunty (0-3); Martin O’Neill (1-1); James O’Keeffe (1-0); Adam Croke (0-2) and Aidan Carroll (0-1).

Carrickshock: Eoghan O’Neill (1-5 (1-2, frees); Jake O’Dwyer (0-5, 0-1, free); John Power (0-4); Conor Farrell, Edward Dwyer, Mikey Murphy, Barry Lennon and Padraig Lennon (0-1, each).

Mooncoin: Donnacha Hogan, Ben O’Hanlon, Cormac Daly, Aidan Doyle, Liam Hogan, Mark Kearns, Cormac Kinsella, Jim Delahunty, Paul Hennebry, Robbie Doherty, Adam Croke, Killian Hogan, Martin O’Neill, James O’Keeffe, Aidan Carroll.

Subs: Ryan Carroll for James O’Keeffe; Stephen Brennan for Aidan Carroll and Darragh Murphy for Jim Delahunty.

Carrickshock: Jamie Power, Michael Rohan, Sean Moore, Eddie Dunphy, Niall Tennyson, Padraig Lennon, John Power, Mikey Murphy, Matthew Murphy, Conor Farrell, Jake O’Dwyer, Barry Lennon, Adam Franks, Eoghan O’Neill, Edward Dwyer.

Subs: Darragh Brennan for Adam Franks.

Referee: Julian O’Dwyer (Windgap).