Kilkenny IHL- Three from three for ruthless Gowran

Young Irelands made it three wins from three in the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate League as they easily got the better of a disappointing Blacks and Whites in Bennettsbridge.

While the trajectory of Gowran is definitely moving in a positive direction, alarm bells will be soon ringing in Blacks and Whites after a very poor display.

Over the course of the 60 plus minutes, the 2022 junior champions only managed a meagre two points from play and that won’t win you many games at this level of hurling.

The side has been dented with a number of injuries ad avoiding relegation when the championship comes around may already be on the agenda but Gowran can only beat what’s put in front of them.

After previous wins over Mooncoin and Fenians, this was another step in the right direction for Young Irelands and while never really needing to go through the gears, they still looked like a side that are primed to be big contenders this year.

Sean Carey, Seamus Farrell and Ted Drea have all stood out during the league series thus far and they continued that type of form on Sunday as they scored 1-11 from play between them.

Young Irelands had a strong wind at their back in the opening 30 minutes and they had the two points in the bag by the time they entered the dressing rooms as they led 2-12 to 0-2 and it was more exhibition type stuff by the side in red and white in the second period.

Within eight minutes, Gowran had already raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead with Jack Brennan scoring a brilliantly taken goal on the back of points from Sean Carey and Ted Drea.

Jamie Byrne replied with Blacks and Whites first score but in the ten minute period before their next score, Gowran knocked over four on the bounce to lead 1-7 to 0-1 Carey, Farrell and Drea tormented the opposition defence.

Blacks and Whites only other point in the first half from a Ryan Murphy free stemmed the bleeding but the breathing space was only temporary as Sean Carey soon knocked in his side’s second goal and with Jack Brennan and Paddy Langton also taking points at their leisure, all of 16 points separated the two teams by the half-time whistle.

Blacks and Whites needed plenty of scores at the beginning of the second half to even suggest that a mini comeback was possible but that opportunity very much went when Gowran hit four points on the spin with Tommy Phelan joining Carey and Farrell on the scoring front.

Blacks and Whites kept at it with five second half points but they were much second best on the day and the end scoreline didn’t flatter the winners either who had nine different players get on the scoresheet.

The final scoreline of 2-26 to 0-7 very much suggests the two clubs will have very different ambitions over the next few weeks.

Teams and Scorers

Young Irelands: Sean Carey (1-9, 7fs); Seamus Farrell (0-5); Ted Drea (0-4); Jack Brennan (1-1); Paddy Langton (0-3, 2fs); Jason Brennan (0-1, 1f); Tommy Phelan, Diarmuid Langton, Pat Farrell (0-1 each)

Blacks and Whites: Ryan Murphy (0-4, 4fs); Jamie Byrne (0-2); Emmet Foley (0-1, 1f)

Young Irelands: Jason Brennan; Geoff Brennan, Pat Farrell, Sean Farrell; Michael Walsh, Mikey Carey, Paddy Langton; Jack Brennan, Padraig Naddy; Jimmy Lennon, Seamus Farrell, Padraig O’Neill; Sean Carey, Ted Drea, Tommy Phelan.

Subs: Paddy Brennan for Lennon, 34 mins; Diarmuid Langton for J Brennan, 39 mins; Ben Phelan for S Carey, 48 mins; Charlie Fitzgerald for S Farrell, 50 mins.

Blacks and Whites: Keelin O’Grady; Jack Kelly, Ryan Murphy, Michael Prendergast; Seanan Doyle, Louis Brennan, Niall Kennedy; John ‘Nipper Lennon, Martin Kelly; Jamie Byrne, Ian Foley, James Kennedy; Daire Murphy, Sam Byrne, Jason Byrne.

Subs: Emmet Foley for L.Brennan, 41 mins; Aaron Foley for Prendergast, 42 mins; Padraig Joyce for J Byrne, 42 mins; Killian Phelan for S Byrne, 48 mins.

Referee - Michael O’Sullivan (Shamrocks)