Tullaroan find that bit extra to see off Mullinavat in senior clash
Tullaroan 1-28 Mullinavat 2-20
Tullaroan recorded a first victory in the knockout stage of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship since 2022 with an extra-time victory over Mullinavat at John Lockes GAA Grounds in Callan on Sunday.
Shane Walsh put Tullaroan ahead with a first minute sideline cut, a score replied to by Conor Power for Mullinavat.
Dylan Simpson put Tullaroan back in front, but a sequence of three Oisin Knox frees left Mullinavat 0-4 to 0-2 clear.
Simpson with a pointed score from midfield and Oisin Knox (M) traded scores, as did Peter Walsh (T) and Adam Mansfield (M).
Two points for Tullaroan from Peter Walsh and Bill Gaffney left the sides all square, 0-6 each, by the 20th minute.
Oisin Knox from a free restored the Vegas lead, but Tullaroan replied on the double with points from Dylan Simpson and John Walton by the 27th minute.
By the interval Mullinavat had added an unanswered 1-2 with points from Michael Malone and Oisin Knox along with a Brian Phelan goal, this after efficient work from Conor Power.
Oisin Knox from a Mullinavat free opened the second half scoring, this replied to by Martin Keoghan. Then came the sending off. Mullinavat’s hard working veteran midfielder Michael Malone was red carded, after a clumsy head high challenge on an opponent.
Conor Walsh put Mullinavat five points clear following an interception, but already Tullaroan were now finding more space in the midfield areas.
Scores from Simpson (free), and two from the excellent Keoghan, left it 0-12 to 1-11 by the 40th minute.
Conor Power and impact substitute John Walsh from 50 metres left Vegas 1-13 to 0-12 clear but the next five points were all for the Northern side.
Ciallan Brennan, Bill Gaffney, Dylan Simpson along with two marvellous 100 metre plus distance frees from Tullaroan goalkeeper Niall Holland accounted for these, to leave it 0- 17 to 1-13 in Tullaroan’s favour.
Two Oisin Knox frees sandwiched a Shane Walsh placed ball, to take the game to extra-time.
Tullaroan were quicker out of the blocks in extra-time with three unanswered points from Shane Walsh (2) and Dylan Simpson.
John Walsh landed a Vegas free but by the tenth minute extra time interval points from John Walton and Gearoid Dunne had Tullaroan 0-24 to 1-17 ahead.
Again, Tullaroan was faster to the ball when the action recommenced, and a high ball into the square was grabbed and finished to the Vegas net by Martin Keoghan. When Shane Walsh added a further point a minute later there was eight between them, 1-25 to 1-17.
Most sides would have admitted defeat at this stage, chasing a major deficit, a man short, time running out, and some walking wounded players - but not Mullinavat!
Conor Duggan pointed, John Walsh got a goal from a free and the same player got two wonder points. The score was now 2-20 to 1-25, incredibly just two points between the sides.
By the finish Tullaroan added points from Gearoid Dunne and a Shane Walsh free to record a deserved but hard earned four-point victory.
Teams and Scorers
Tullaroan: Shane Walsh (0-7, 0-2 frees, 0-1 sideline), Dylan Simpson (0-6, 0-1 frees), Martin Keoghan (1-3), Peter Walshe (0-3), Bill Gaffney (0-2), John Walton (0-2), Niall Holland (0-2), Gearoid Dunne (0-2), Ciallin Brennan (0-1).
Mullinavat: Oisin Knox (0-9, 0-6 frees), John Walsh (1-4, 1-1 frees), Brian Phelan (1-0) Conor Power (0-2), Conor Duggan (0-2), Adam Mansfield, Michael Malone, Conor Walsh, (0-1 each).
Tullaroan: Niall Holland, Joe Coughlan, Tomás Dunne, Charlie Cleere, Tommy Walsh, Pádraig Walsh, Bill Walton, Martin Walsh, Bill Gaffney, Martin Keoghan, Peter Walsh, Dylan Simpson, Shane Walsh, Gearoid Dunne, John Walton.
Substitutes; Ciallin Brennan for Shane Walsh, Eamonn Holland for Charlie Cleere.
Mullinavat: Seán Fitzpatrick Bill Dempsey, Tom Aylward, Joe Gahan, Pádraig Dempsey, Padraic Gahan, Michael MaloneI, Ian Duggan, Conor Walsh, Oisín Knox, Ger Malone, Conor Power, Brian Phelan, Adam Mansfield.
Substitutes: John Walsh for Brian Phelan, George O’Connor for Adam Mansfield, Conor Duggan for Conor Power, Patrick Walshe for Padraic Gahan, Adam Mansfield for Oisin Knox, Patrick Walshe for Ian Duggan, Conor Power for Conor Walsh.
Referee: Peter Burke.