Kilkenny SHL- Simpson brilliance helps Tullaroan to narrow victory
Tullaroan 4-16 Danesfort 2-19
Tullaroan battled to a hard-fought 4-16 to 2-19 victory over newly promoted Danesfort in a pulsating encounter in Páirc Lachtáin, Freshford, on Sunday afternoon in the opening round of the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League.
Inspired by the brilliance of Dylan Simpson, who finished with a remarkable personal tally of 4-8, the Sash edged their counterparts in black and amber to get their campaign off to the perfect start.
Simpson opened the scoring inside 20 seconds after referee Maurice Flynn awarded a free for dissent straight from the throw-in, but Paddy Hogan quickly cancelled it out with a superb long-range effort.
Mark Simpson then forced an excellent save from goalkeeper Niall Holland before Fionn Mahony levelled matters in the third minute.
Points from Robbie Walsh and Ben Whitty pushed Danesfort 0-4 to 0-2 ahead before Simpson responded to halve the deficit.
Whitty and Mahony added further scores to make it double scores by the 10th minute, but Simpson struck for the opening goal in the thirteenth minute, burying a close-range free to leave it 0-6 to 1-3.
Danesfort almost responded immediately. On the quarter-hour mark, Anthony Ireland-Wall and Sam Hayes forced a remarkable double save from Holland before Mahony extended their lead to 0-8 to 1-3.
Two unanswered points from Tullaroan brought the sides level once again, but Ireland-Wall produced a moment of magic when his sideline cut deceived Holland and found the back of the net.
Tullaroan responded emphatically, with Simpson grabbing his second goal four minutes later to level matters once more. Whitty and Simpson exchanged frees before Whitty added two points from play to edge Danesfort into a narrow 1-12 to 2-8 lead at the interval.
Whitty picked up where he left off after the restart with another free, but Simpson completed his hat-trick just three minutes into the second half. Scores from Ireland-Wall, Mahony and Whitty kept Danesfort in front, while Simpson continued to lead Tullaroan’s charge, leaving the scoreboard reading 2-17 to 3-10 with a quarter of an hour remaining.
The Sash, however, dominated the closing stages, outscoring Danesfort 1-6 to 0-2. Bill Walton and Simpson pointed before Robbie Walsh briefly steadied the Danesfort challenge.
Gearóid Dunne, Martin Keoghan and Simpson’s fourth goal with nine minutes remaining swung the momentum decisively in Tullaroan’s favour, making it 4-14 to 2-18.
Peter Walsh extended the advantage before Cathal Kearney reduced the gap late on. As Danesfort pushed desperately for a goal, Dunne landed the insurance point to seal a thrilling opening-round victory for Tullaroan.
Danesfort will look to bounce back when they face Erin’s Own next Friday, while Tullaroan take on Dicksboro in their second outing.
Teams and Scorers
Tullaroan: Dylan Simpson 4-8 (4f, 1 65), Gearoid Dunne 0-2, Peter Walsh 0-1, Martin Keoghan 0-1, Bill Walton 0-1, Billy Gaffney 0-1, Padraig Walsh 0-1.
Danesfort: Ben Whitty 0-9 (7f), Anthony Ireland Wall 1-2, Fionn Mahoney 1-2, Robbie Walsh 0-2, Paddy Hogan 0-1 (1f), Mark Simpson 0-1, Sam Hayes 0-1, Cathal Kearney 0-1.
Tullaroan: Niall Holland; Joe Coughlan, Tomas Dunne, Charlie Cleere; Tommy Walsh, Padraig Walsh, Bill Walton; Martin Walsh, Bill Gaffney; Martin Keoghan, Peter Walsh, Dylan Simpson; Mark Simpson, Gearoid Dunne, John Walton.
Subs: Ciallin Brennan for J Walton (44 mins), Eamonn Holland for Charlie Cleere (47 mins), Jim Moore for M Simpson (52 mins).
Danesfort: Paddy Hogan; Adam Byrne, Diarmuid Phelan, Darren Booth; Des Dunne, Paul Murphy, Daire O’Neill; Cathal O’Neill, Cathal Kearney; Brian McDonald, Ben Whitty, Sam Hayes; Anthony Ireland Wall, Robbie Walsh, Fionn Mahony.
Subs: Paddy Hickey for B McDonald (52 mins), Dan Dowling for R Walsh (56 mins).
Referee: Maurice Flynn (Mooncoin)