Kilkenny SHL- Thomastown cruise to emphatic win over Clara
Thomastown 1-31 Clara 2-16
Thomastown signalled their intentions for the upcoming season with a comprehensive victory over Clara in the opening round of the senior hurling league on Saturday afternoon.
Led by a 1-4 tally from relative newcomer Daithi Barron, the Town put in an exhibition display with John Donnelly, Peter McDonald and Stephen Donnelly all putting in huge scoring tallies in a game they were rarely threatened in. Dara and Rory Glynn bagged the Clara goals and they were probably the only positives on a day where they were very much second best against a Thomastown side that look primed to return to their senior championship winning form from two years ago.
The South Kilkenny side were in rampant form right from the start as they raced into a 0-7 to 0-0 lead after only 10 minutes of play. The scores came from everywhere on the field with Ben Nevin, John Donnelly, Luke Connellan, Daithi Barron and Thomas O’Hanrahan all scoring in that opening spell.
Clara battled back with efforts from the midfield pair of Dara Glynn and Rory Glynn before Robbie Donnelly’s second free made it a six point game. Paul Cody and Peter McDonald then exchanged efforts before Clara grabbed the opening goal of the game in the 21st minute when Dara Glynn found himself at the end of a well worked move before shooting past Diarmuid Galway in the Thomastown goal.
That brought the deficit back to three points but with Stephen Donnelly, Peter McDonald, John Donnelly and Daithi Barron scoring from play before the interval, the Town looked in control.
Clara weren’t out of the contest at this stage though with Dara Glynn, Chris Bolger and Paul Cody pointing to leave five between the sides at the change of ends (0-15 to 1-7). The second half began with the two teams exchanging a pair of points apiece with Thomastown efforts from Stephen and John Donnelly cancelled out by two well taken points from Martin O’Connell.
Noel Doherty’s team then gradually eased clear of their opponents with Robbie and Stephen Donnelly grabbing a pair of points each as the scoreboard read 0-20 to 1-9 in the winners favour.
To their credit Clara didn’t give up the ghost but everytime they got forward to score, there was an almost immediate reaction down the other end. Daithi Barron got Thomastown’s only goal 10 minutes from time as they put up a huge score in the final few minutes. Clara had a consolation goal of their own via Rory Glynn late on but there was no doubting that this was Thomastown’s day as they ran out 12 point victors.
Teams and Scorers
Thomastown: Robbie Donnelly (0-8, 7fs); Daithi Barron (1-4); John Donnelly (0-5); Stephen Donnelly, Peter McDonald (0-4 each)Luke Connellan (0-3); Ben Nevin, Thomas O’Hanrahan, Conor Barcoe (0-1 each)
Clara: Dara Glynn, Rory Glynn (1-2 each); Paul Cody (0-4); Conor O’Shea (0-3, 1f and 1 ‘65); Chris Bolger, Martin O’Connell (0-2 each); Luke Lawlor (0-1)
Thomastown: Diarmuid Galway; Ned Kirwan, Peter Connellan, Rory Connellan; Brian Staunton, Eddie Donnelly, Zach Bay Hammond; Ben Nevin, Peter McDonald; John Donnelly, Robbie Donnelly, Luke Connellan; Daithi Barron, Thomas O’Hanrahan, Stephen Donnelly.
Subs: Cian Doherty for O’Hanrahan, 42 mins; Jack Holden for Bay Hammond, 53 mins; Conor Barcoe for S.Donnelly, 55 mins.
Clara: Kevin Nolan; Bill Carrigan, Shane Staunton, Martin O’Connell; Paddy Bolger, Matt Kenny, Harry Boyle; Dara Glynn, Rory Glynn; Conor O’Shea, David Barcoe, Chris Bolger; Joe Power, Paul Cody, Ciaran Prendergast.
Subs: Luke Lawlor for Power, 40 mins; David Langton for Carrigan, 45 mins; Lester Ryan for Prendergast, 50 mins; Liam Ryan for P.Bolger, 51 mins.
Referee: Owen Beehan