Kilkenny SHC- ​Glenmore shock Dicksboro with stunning comeback victory

Glenmore produced a stunning display to overturn a seven-point first half deficit as they dumped Dicksboro out of the championship in a thrilling contest that went to extra-time.

The South Kilkenny club can be thankful to a hat-trick of goals by Ciaran Kirwan and further majors via Ian Byrne and Darragh Hartley as well as a huge fighting spirit as they wore down the Boro in a game for the ages.

Kirwan’s two goals in extra-time in particular helped to turn the tide in Seamus Dollard’s team’s favour as Dicksboro led for long periods.

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It’s a horrible way for the Boro season to end and in Cillian Hackett and Timmy Clifford, they had two of the outstanding performers on the pitch but ultimately they were too open at the back and you won’t win any game conceding five goals.

It took all of two minutes for Dicksboro to register the first goal of the game as Timmy Clifford finished to the net past Eoin Murphy.

The Glenmore response was almost instant as Ciaran Kirwan made use of his big frame to cause bother in the Boro rearguard and he too found the net inside the opening 10 minutes.

The Boro gradually gained a foothold throughout that first quarter as Cillian Hackett and Timmy Clifford threatened to run riot while Shane Stapleton, Tom McPhillips and Harry Shine also chipped in with scores.

Ian Byrne, Darragh Hartley and Shane Murphy kept Glenmore in touch but by half-time, the Kilkenny city side were in control as they led 1-15 to 1-10.

Dicksboro maintained their lead at the start of the second period but Glenmore were slowly but surely working their way back into the contest and the sides were level just past the halfway mark of the half after Ian Byrne scored a brilliant goal.

The Glenmore captain won the ball near the Boro endline and after racing past a defender or two, he blasted a shot past Darragh Holohan to level proceedings.

It set up a chaotic final 10 minutes and after Ger Aylward and Shane Stapleton swapped efforts, the storm looked to have been weathered from a Dicksboro point of view as Patrick Lacey fired to the net to leave the Palmerstown outfit leading 2-22 to 2-18. It still wasn’t the end of the drama as Glenmore came back again and with 1-2 on the bounce they looked like they had snatched victory as Darragh Hartley goaled on the back of earlier points from Byrne and Charlie Phelan. Dicksboro still had time to force an equaliser as a Shane Stapleton free brought the game to the extra-period.

It was mainly one way traffic in the extra-time with Glenmore getting on top all over the pitch and the scoreline could have been even bigger in their favour after Ian Byrne missed a penalty.

Luckily for the Southerners it mattered kittle as Ciaran Kirwan bagged a goal in each extra period and his effort in the second half was most noteworthy as he rounded the keeper before finishing to the net.

Cillian Hackett deservedly got a goal back for the Boro but it only served as a consolation and while Tom Kenny and Darragh Hartley were both dismissed late on, this was Glenmore’s day as they sealed a famous seven point win.

​Teams and Scorers

Glenmore: Ian Byrne (1-14, 11fs); Ciaran Kirwan (3-2); Darragh Hartley (1-2); Cathal Beirne, Charlie Phelan (0-2 each); Colm Roche (0-1, 1f); Jack Dollard, Billy Reid, Shane Murphy, Ger Aylward, Ethan Phelan (0-1 each)

Dicksboro: Cillian Hackett (1-7); Shane Stapleton (0-9, 9fs); Timmy Clifford (1-5); Patrick Lacey (1-0); Joe Sheehan, Anthony Clifford (0-2 each); Tom McPhillips, Harry Shine, (0-1)

Glenmore: Eoin Murphy; Darragh Vereker, Eoin Aylward, Richie Hennessy; Tomas Mullally, Shane Murphy, Billy Reid; Darragh Hartley, Jack Dollard; Cathal Beirne, Ian Byrne, Jason Cody; Charlie Phelan, Ciaran Kirwan, Philly Roche.

Subs: Dean Croke, Colm Roche, Ethan Phelan, Ger Aylward.

Dicksboro: Darragh Holohan; Niall Rowe, Padraic Moylan, Evan Cody; Alan Phelan, Tom Kenny, Eoin Fennelly; Tom McPhillips, Joe Sheehan; Anthony Clifford, Harry Shine, Timmy Clifford; Mark Nolan, Shane Stapleton, Cillian Hackett.

Subs; Patrick Lacey, Ollie Walsh, Eoghan Moylan, James Carroll, Louis Raggett, Kevin Moore.

Referee: Gavin Quilty