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kilkennyobserver.ie
The Kilkenny Observer Friday 03 December 2021
Hurling matters
Sport On the run - Mark Aylward bursts forward
... CONTINUED
few minutes later, when after a Lir McDonald sideline cut into the danger zone, resulted in a little pinball, before wing-forward Cian O’Shaughnessy riffled the loose ball past Mikey Kirwan to the back of the net and gave his side the lead for the first time in the game, 1-7 to 0-9. The underdogs were thriving, and starting to think an upset may have been on the cards. Alan Murphy then struck a lovely free low and over the bar to tie the game. The same man would put his side back in front with a stunning long range placed ball. Alan would then pick out his captain with a lovely pass, which gave him the
time to slot over a tasty point. Glenmore seemed to have been spurred on by their opponent’s goal, and were starting to play the hurling we know they are capable of. This was evident with their next score. Great play from Colm Doherty was the ball slipped to Mark Aylward who drove forward and played the ball into corner-forward Ian Byrne, who managed to find the supporting run of Philly Roche, who pointed from out on the right, much to the delight of the traveling Glenmore faithful. Liam Hennessey, who had been a lot more subdued, won possession from a long Kirwan free, before battling hard and eventually, winning
a free from just outside the ‘21, which Alan Murphy dispatched between the posts, to push his side’s lead to 4 points. Glenmore then won a sideline cut on the Ballinakill ‘65. Alan Muphy took it short, and Philly Roche did well to touch the ball into the path of the on-running Eoin Muphy, who burst through like a steam train before passing to Mark Aylward, whose shot was well blocked by the keeper. Substitute David Burke was quick on the scene and struck to the net for his sides first major. Declan Wall’s men held a 7-point lead as the referee signaled the second water break, 1-14 to 1-7. The
quality of the Noreside team was now in full effect. To their credit, Seamus Dowling’s men kept plugging away, and got their first score in almost 10 minutes, when Ian Shanahan fired over a point, followed by scores from Sean Downey and TJ Lalor. Alan Murphy then pointed his sides 15th point, to leave the score 1-15 to 1-10 with just under 10 minutes left on the clock. Lalor then popped over a routine free following a yellow card for Eoin Aylward. Glenmore then struck for their second major of the day. A Ballinakill sideline cut was intercepted by substitute Ethan Phelan, who took possession before arrowing
a lovely pass into his captain Ger Aylward. Ger collected the pass brilliantly before turning his marker and riffling across the keeper and into the net. There was still time for Phelan to get his name on the score sheet, when his keeper found Cathal Beirne, who flicked the ball beautifully into the path of Ethan Phelan, who struck over for his sides final point. From the puck out, referee Adam Kinahan blew for fulltime. A provincial semi-final now awaits the men from Glenmore.
Sean Downey 0-2 (0-1 free), Noel Duggan, Ian Shanahan, Lir McDonald, Jamie Drury 0-1 each.
BALLINAKILL (Laois) Scorers: TJ Lalor 0-5 frees, Cian O’Shaughnessy 1-1,
GLENMORE (Kilkenny) Scorers: Alan Murphy 0-8 frees, Ger Aylward 1-3, David
Team: Paul Simms; Noel Duggan, Brian O’Mara, Mark Kehoe; Ian Shanahan, Sean Downey, Michael Moran; Lir McDonald, Padraig Lawlor; Jamie Drury, Seamus Fitzpatrick, Cian O’Shaughnessy; Evan Dunne, Eddie Dwyer, TJ Lalor. Subs: Cathal O’Shaughnessy for Evan Dunne (temp), Dan Bergin for Jamie Drury (41), Dylan Byrne Gray for Eddie Dwyer (46m)
