Rathdowney-Errill cement top spot in Division One with victory over Borris-Kilcotton
Rathdowney-Errill have beaten Borris-Kilcotton in a clash of 1st and 2nd in Division 1 of the Hurling League. Both sides had won three of their opening four games and this was the acid test at the top of the table. Borris-Kilcotton twice fought their way back into the game, but Rathdowney-Errill pulled away in the final quarter.
The hosts were coming off the back of their first defeat which came at the hands of Abbeyleix St Lazarian’s last week. They made seven changes from that side, demonstrating the strength of depth in their squad. Borris-Kilcotton were coming off an important win over Rosenallis, but also shuffled the pack, making five changes to their starting line-up.
Rathdowney-Errill 3-24
Borris-Kilcotton 1-18
Padraig Rafter, Paddy Purcell and Patrick Hassett did the majority of the damage for the home side, each adding seven points to their team's tally. Purcell got the hosts up and running early, but Borris-Kilcotton were keeping up.
There were just three points in the difference after an entertaining opening twenty minutes, but Rathdowney-Errill scored 1-5 without reply in less than five minutes, including a well-hit goal from Rafter.
The visitors were tenacious, however, scoring the last five points, including two frees in stoppage time from PJ Scully, who had a fine game. 1-12 to 0-10 at the interval.
Scully and Jer Quinlan got Borris-Kilcotton off to a great start at the start of the second half with two scores each. But the hosts tagged on three unanswered points inside 90 seconds as they once again looked to pull away.
Then, in the 40th minute, Emmet Jones drove the ball in to the home net to keep the visitors very much in touching distance. But Rathdowney-Errill regrouped and got in for their second goal just two minutes later. Goalkeeper Ben Campion drove a long range free towards the opposition goal where a waiting Purcell finished the job.
Their third and final goal came with twelve minutes remaining when Rafter scored his second, recovering well after initially spilling the ball. Rathdowney-Errill scored four of the last five points to ensure there would be no late drama.
They will look to extend their lead at the top when they play The Harps in Round 5. Meanwhile Borris-Kilcotton will play Camross with both sides on six points.