Kilkenny IHL- Tullogher firepower to the fore as they maintain winning run

Two goals in each half helped Tullogher Rosbercon defeat St Martin’s in an entertaining league affair on Sunday afternoon.

Walter Walsh (2), Andrew Murphy and Marty Murphy all found the net as Tullogher’s extra firepower told in a notable success.

Added to that was the 12-point tally of Cian O’Donoghue and it’s easy to see why Tullogher’s name is high on the radar of teams who could end the season as county champions.

Tullogher’s addition of goals meant St Martin’s were chasing for a lot of the contest but in Brian Coady they had an outstanding performer as he more than matched O’Donoghue’s contribution as he signed off with 13 points including seven from play.

Sean Hunt and Donal Shore were two more that kept the Tullogher defence on their toes but a potentially significant shoulder injury to James O’Neill at the start of the second half will be a big worry to Cheddar Plunkett and co.

Played in front of a decent attendance, it was one of the last games of the weekend to throw-in but there was still plenty of thrilling action on show.

Tullogher looked a threat almost immediately from the throw-in and wither side of Colman O’Sullivan knocking over the opening point, both Andrew Murphy and Danny Glennon were blocked near the goal.

St Martin’s then responded with successive Brian Coady points which became kind of a theme for the defeated side as the marauding midfielder split the posts with an ever increasing regularity.

Martin’s remained in front but Tullogher’s class soon told when Walter Walsh blasted a shot past Colin McGrath for the opening goal of the game in the 8th minute.

Coady and Jamie Morrissey then replied to leave the game level at 1-2 to 0-5 apiece but 1-4 without reply between the 11th and 17th minutes gave Tullogher an initiative they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.

Marty Murphy then grabbed the winner’s second goal while further points from O’Donoghue and Colman O’Sullivan left Tullogher with a 2-6 to 0-5 lead.

With O’Donoghue continuing to score heavily from play and placed balls and Conor Hennessy growing into the game, the reigning All-Ireland junior champions looked very composed when opening up a 2-12 to 0-10 lead at the change of ends.

James O’Neill’s injury happened at the start of the second half and although Coady’s increasing influence on the game stood out, Tullogher got goals at all the right times to maintain the buffer between the sides.

The third three-pointer for the winners arrived just six minutes into the second period when Walter Walsh engaged on one of his trademark runs and not long afterwards, corner forward Andrew Murphy got in on the act when he tapped home after being set up by Colman O’Sullivan.

O’Donoghue and Coady then had something of a point scoring competition before the end but when it came to the winners there was one very clear result as Tullogher impressed once again. as they won on a 4-22 to 0-22 final scoreline.

Teams and Scorers

Tullogher Rosbercon: Cian O’Donoghue (0-12, 6fs); Walter Walsh (2-2); Andrew Murphy (1-2); Marty Murphy (1-1, 1f) Conor Hennessy, Colman O’Sullivan (0-2 each); Jamie Lyng (0-1)

St Martin’s: Brian Coady (0-13, 6fs); Sean Hunt (0-3); Donal Shore (0-2); Colin McGrath (0-1, 1f); James O’Neill, Jamie Morrissey, Jack Farrell (0-1 each)

Tullogher Rosbercon: Davy Walsh; Richie Gill, Donncha O’Connor, David Kennedy; Lar Murphy, Pat Hartley, Cathal Mooney; Jamie Lyng, Colman O’Sullivan; Marty Murphy, Walter Walsh, Conor Hennessy; Andrew Murphy, Cian O’Donoghue, Danny Glennon.

St Martin’s: Colin McGrath; Justin Manning, Ciaran Nolan, Matthew Bolger; Paddy Nolan, Brian Byrne, Cathal Keegan; Brian Coady, Tristan Roche; Michael Keane, John Mulhall, Aaron Farrell; Jamie Morrissey, Sean Hunt, James O’Neill.

Subs: Donal Shore for Nolan, h-t; Jack Nolan for O’Neill, 32 mins.

Referee: John Walsh (Rower Inistioge)