Kilkenny JHL- Classy Emeralds always in control against Kilmacow
Emeralds 1-23 Kilmacow 0-13
Eleven points in succession after half time saw Emeralds come from behind and take control against Kilmacow on the old pitch in Danesfort on Sunday afternoon in the Premier Junior Hurling League.
Kilmacow had the backing of the breeze for the opening half and lead 0-10 to 0-6 at half time, but once the Emeralds had the help of the elements ,they took complete control ,limiting their opponents to just three second half points.
Another factor in Kilmacow’s low return was the fact that they hit a total of 20 wides over the course of the hour.
Kilmacow looked impressive early on with some good running and support play seeing them hit the opening four points, through frees from Sean Dowling and James Walsh, along with a pair from play by Patrick Dollard and Johnny Hayes.
It was the 13th minute before the Emeralds, who had been very quiet up front, registered their first point from Darragh Queally.
James Walsh intercepted a short puckout and struck his second for the southerners, before Blanchfield added another from midfield in the 16th minute.
They had also hit eight wides in that first quarter showing how much they dominated and they will rue these chances when a good lead could have been forged.
Slowly but surely, Emeralds came into the game. Adam Barnaville pulled first time on a Conor Martin lineball to point from 30 metres before Callum Lawlor pointed from the right, his first of three.
With County U-20 player Mícheál Ahern policing the experienced Johnny Hayes, it was Patrick Dollard who proved to be Kilmacow’s
best forward on the day and he struck his second following a good passing move in the 25th minute.
They added three more before the break via frees from James Walsh and Sean Dowling along with another from impressive midfielder Sean Blanchfield.
Emeralds had just one more point, but it was a thing of beauty, as Conor Martin caught the sliotar and struck from under his own dugout on the right hand side to leave it Kilmacow 0-10 Emeralds 0-6 at the break.
Emeralds had a let off just before the break when goalkeeper Enda Kelly brought off a cracking save from Johnny Hayes.
It was as if someone flicked a switch for the Emeralds after the interval, as they reeled off those eleven unanswered points from Darragh Queally 0-3, Adam Barnaville, Callum Lawlor 0-2 and 0-4 from Conor Martrin, who was now roving around the park to great effect. Even corner back Mícheál Ahern came forward to score a point, at the second attempt, in the 46th minute to push his side ahead 0-17 to 0-10.
Kilmacow were dealt a blow when midfielder Sean Blanchfield had to retire with a hamstring strain in the 41st minute, but try as they might they could never come to grips with that second half performance from the northerners. Emeralds then began to introduce their subs and it was two of these ,Johnny Doyle and Jimmy Cleere who finished off a good team move, for Cleere to strike the final nail in the Kilmacow attempt with a 57th minute goal.
Emeralds: Enda Kelly, Niall O Gorman, Shane Norton, Mícheál Ahern (0-1), Toddy Moriarty, Sean Burke, Darragh Hickey, Adam Barnaville (0-3), Eoin Moriarty, Gerry Troy, Liam Grant, Oisín Deegan, Conor Martin (0-11,0-4frees), Darragh Queally (0-5),Callum Lawlor (0-3).
Subs: Kieran Cleere for Niall O Gorman 40 mins, Daniel Tobin for Liam Grant 41 mins, Johnny Doyle for Callum Lawlor 53 mins, Jimmy Cleere (1-0) for Eoin Moriarty 55 mins, Padraig Phelan for Adam Barnaville 59 mins.
Kilmacow: Kieran Dowling, Calum Regan, Niall Bowe, Rian McDonald, Tadgh Connolly, Tom Butler, Fergal Suffin, Sean Dowling (0-2 frees), Sean Blanchfield (0-2), Tom Reddy, James Walsh (0-3, 0-2frees), John Hayes (Capt.)(0-1), Patrick Dollard (0-4), Oisín O’Dwyer, Jack O Neill.
Subs :Donnacha Williams for Sean Blanchfield 41 mins, Aaron Cass for Oisín O Dwyer 48 mins, Billy Phelan for Fergal Suffin 54 mins,Jack Power(0-1) for Jack O’Neill 57mins.
Referee: Paul Whelan (Mullinavat)