Kilkenny SHL- Quick flurry of goals gives Glenmore win over the ‘Bridge
Glenmore 3-21 Bennettsbridge 1-21
Two quickfire second-half goals from Jason Cody and Ian Byrne proved crucial as Glenmore battled to a six-point success over Bennettsbridge in the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League on Sunday evening.
With both teams winless after round 1, the Group A meeting took on extra significance and there was very little between the teams prior to that quick double salvo of goals as Bennettsbridge really struggled afterwards.
Darragh Hartley also goaled for the winners and while David Blanchfield did likewise for the ‘Bridge, the Kilkenny player’s effort only arrived in stoppage time and the result had already been settled in Seamus Dollard’s side’s favour.
Ian Byrne registered the first point of the game in Glenmore’s favour after three minutes before it was quickly cancelled out by an effort from Jimmy Lennon.
The first goal of the contest then arrived a minute later when a well worked Glenmore move ended with wing-back Darragh Hartley finding the net past former outfield Bennettsbridge goalkeeper Nicky Cleere.
A quickly followed up Ian Byrne free made it 1-2 to 0-1 in Glenmore’s favour before Bennettsbridge got a bit of momentum going with five points on the trot between the 8th and 12th minutes.
A James Hughes free got that ball rolling for the Bridge with Sean Morrissey, Conor Murphy and Liam Blanchfield soon adding to the tally for Brian Lannon’s outfit.
The advantage was short-lived as a result of Dean Croke and Ian Byrne pointing in quick succession for Glenmore and the nip and tuck nature of the opening half didn’t let up for the remainder of the first 30 minutes.
James Hughes led the fight for the ‘Bridge with a number of placed ball efforts in addition to two points from play by Ciaran Brennan.
Glenmore’s tally was more spread out with Ian Byrne, Jason Cody, Shane Murphy and Charlie Phelan hitting the target as the teams went into the dressing rooms deadlocked at 1-9 to 0-12.
The Bridge made a rampant beginning to the second period with David Blanchfield, Jamie Harkin and Jimmy Lennon pointing to put themselves three points to the good.
Ger Aylward and Sean Morrissey then swapped scores before Glennmore youngsters Billy Reid and Darragh Vereker pointed to leave just the minimum between the sides.
The Bridge soon regained control again however when Sean Morrissey, Hugh O’Neill and Ciaran Brennan made full use of the wind at their back and with a 0-19 to 1-13 advantage at the halfway mark of the half, they looked the most likely to strike for home.
The opposite turned out to be through with Bennettsbridge’s finsihing tally of 1-2 never likely to be enough as Glenmore piled on the pressure and two goals in as many minutes really took the game away from the Bridge. An inventive line ball from Ian Byrne that saw Jason Cody get the first of the quick double was well executed and Byrne himself then rifled a shot to the top corner of the net barely 60 seconds later.
The ‘Bridge were left shellshocked as a result with Ciaran Kirwan, Ethan Phelan and Jason Cody all pointing before Blanchfield’s stoppage time goal as Glenmore ran out six point winners in the end.
Teams and Scorers
Glenmore: Ian Byrne (1-5, 5fs); Jason Cody (1-3, 1f); Darragh Hartley (1-0); Ciaran Kirwan (0-3); Ger Aylward, Billy Reid, Charlie Phelan (0-2 each); Dean Croke, Shane Murphy, Darragh Vereker, Ethan Phelan (0-1 each)
Bennettsbridge: James Hughes (0-6, 6fs); David Blanchfield (1-1); Sean Morrissey (0-4); Ciaran Brennan (0-3); Jimmy Lennon (0-2); Liam Blanchfield, Hugh O’Neill, Bill Hughes, Jamie Harkin, Conor Murphy (0-1 each)
Glenmore: Eoin Murphy; Darragh Vereker, Eoin Aylward, Richie Hennessy; Darragh Hartley, Shane Murphy, Billy Reid; Jack Dollard, Tomas Mullally; Ciaran Kirwan, Ian Byrne, Jason Cody; Dean Croke, Charlie Phelan, Ger Aylward.
Subs: Ethan Phelan for G.Aylward, 50 mins; Colm Roche for Croke, 55 mins; Oisin Mullally for Byrne, 60 mins.
Bennettsbridge: Nicky Cleere; Shane Byrne, Enda Morrissey, Kyle Ryan; Conor Murphy, David Blanchfield, Timmy Kelly; Jimmy Lennon, Jamie Harkin; Sean Morrissey, Bill Hughes, Hugh O’Neill; Ciaran Brennan, Liam Blanchfield, James Hughes.
Subs: Gearoid Kent for Ryan, 28 mins; Charlie Fitzgerald for J.Hughes, 55 mins.
Referee: John Kennedy