Kilkenny IHL- Paulstown claim maiden league success over St Martin's

Reigning Kilkenny junior hurling champions Barrow Rangers picked up their first brace of points in this year’s Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling League with a deserved three-point victory over St. Martin’s in Ballyragget on Sunday afternoon.

The margin between the teams was no more than a couple of points throughout the game. Barrow Rangers looked the more likely winners for long periods ,but could not shake off a stubborn St. Martin’s side that kept battling to the finish.

The losers had a couple of late chances to tie the game, with a 20-metre free from Oisin Kelly well saved by the Barrow Rangers rearguard on the cusp of full-time.

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The closeness of the early exchanges saw the sides share four points. An early Shane Kinsella free for St. Martin’s saw his side take an early lead. Joe Healy tied the game moments later and he would play a key role for his side throughput the game.

Richie Doyle in the Barrow Rangers goal came to his side’s rescue on seven minutes when he brilliantly saved a well struck shot which went out for a 65. That was quickly taken by Shane Kinsella who found Dan Comerford and he pointed for St. Martin’s.

A great 60 metre run by the St Martin’s wing-back Colin Hayes saw his shot deceive Richie Doyle in the Barrow Rangers goal on nine minutes for the game’s opening goal. Hayes was outstanding for St. Martin’s landing a couple of well-struck points also during the game.

St. Martin’s could not build on that Colin Hayes goal with Joe Healy responding with a brace of points, one from a free. Although Sean Hunt replied for St. Martin’s, the superior team work from the winners saw them land four points without reply over the next five minutes through Billy Hanlon, Shane McDonald, Michael Doyle and a Kieran O’Neill free from distance.

Key to the Barrow Rangers dominance was the energetic display from midfielder Jack Kelly, who drove forward at every opportunity and Kelly landed a second point on 23 minutes, but aside for those scores he was the instigator of many Barrow Rangers attacks.

The winners held a two point margin at the interval – 0-11 to 1-6.

After Shane Kinsella narrowed the margin on the resumption, Oisin Kelly in the St. Martin’s goal brilliantly saved from Jack Kelly after another darting run by the Barrow Rangers midfielder. Joe Healy pointed the resultant 65.

The margin was stretched out to four points by the eight minute when Barrow Rangers landed three points in quick succession through Jack Kelly, Joe Healy and Gary Hill. All three scores resulted from quick movement of the ball from defence to attack.

With the game now in danger of slipping away, St. Martin’s responded well with points from Colin Hayes and Sean Hunt to bring the margin back to two points.

The margin remained at two points with the game entering the final quarter when the teams shared four points.

The tempo grew in that final quarter, but defences dominated as both attacks struggled for scores.

That defence dominance was best illustrated by the fact that the last score of the game came in the 24th minute aside from the additional three minutes of injury time.

St. Martin’s did have a couple of late scoring chances to tie the game. One effort whizzed across the goal area but went narrowly wide. When they were awarded a late twenty metre free, goalie Oisin Kelly’s well struck shot was brilliantly saved on the goal Iine by an alert Barrow Rangers rearguard and cleared.

Teams and Scorers

Barrow Rangers: Joe Healy (0-6, 0-4 frees); Jack Kelly (0-5); Billy Hanlon (0-3); Gary Hill (0-2); Shane McDonald, Mikey Doyle and Kieran O’Neill (free) (0-1, each)

St. Martin’s: Shane Kinsella (0-5, frees); Colin Hayes (1-2); Dan Comerford and Sean Hunt (0-2, each); Michael Ruane and Jack Coogan (0-1, each).

Barrow Rangers: Richie Doyle, Paul Delaney, Conor Dermody, Kevin Brennan, Ciaran Breen, Kieran O’Neill, Patrick Purcell, Jack Kelly, Marc Drennan, Keith Flavin, Billy Hanlon, Mikey Doyle, Joe Healy, Gary Hill, Shane McDonald.

Subs– Brian Kelly

St. Martin’s: Oisin Kelly, Matthew Bolger, Ciaran Nolan, Tristan Roche, Micheal Ruane, Brian Coady, Colin Hayes, Shane Kinsella, Donal Shore, Ross Dowling, Michael Keane, Jack Coogan, Sean Hunt, Dan Comerford, Justin Manning.

Referee: Anthony Barcoe (Blacks and Whites).