Kilkenny SHL- Thomastown on top in high class affair with Tullaroan

Defending county champions Thomastown showcased their title credentials with a come from behind victory over Tullaroan in Callan last Saturday night.

The opening round senior league clash looked the game of the weekend on paper and it didn’t disaapoint with Tullaroan giving Noel Doherty’s men a stern examination over the course of the 60 minutes of play.

Tullaroan led by five points at the break and that was in no small part to a impresssive 1-3 tally from Shane Walsh early on but the loss of the inside forward to a shoulder knock scuppered the Sash’s chances and backed by second half goals from Stephen Donnelly and Colm Treacy, Thomastown gradually took control.

In a constant theme of the weekend, there was a big crowd in John Locke Park and Tullaroan hit the ground running with a pair of early scores from Shane Walsh while the same player also had a goalbound effort saved by Diarmuid Galway.

Thomastown repsonded with Brian Staunton and Stephen Donnelly to level up the contest for the first time before Tullaroan kicked on again with Bill Walton and Mossy Keoghan finding the target.

Thomastown’s Rory Connellan and Peter McDonald then excahnged efforts with Walsh and Bill Walton before Tullaroan grabbed control of the scoreboard in the 11th minute when an inside pass from Jack Keoghan found Shane Walsh in space and he shot the sliotar to the net to leave his team 1-6 to 0-4 leaders.

Thomastown replied like champions though as they reeled off the next four points in succession with John Donnelly coming into his own with three superb efforts from play and with Luke Connellan also on target, just a point seperated the sides.

Despite trying to play on, Tullaroan then lost Shane Walsh to injury but that seemed to inspire the 20-time county champions as they ended the half in style.

Gearoid Dunne in a new look position at half back slotted two efforts from distance and with Tommy Walsh, Mossy Keoghan and Tomas Dunne also pointing, Ken Coogan’s team led 1-13 to 0-11 at the interval.

While Thomastown were still playing decent hurling in the first half, they came out a different machine in the second period as they hit their oppoents with a devastating 2-5 without reply upon the resumption.

Back to back Robbie Donnelly frees got the ball rolling and when talented yougster Colm Treacy was on the end of a well worked move which included Luke Connellan and Robbie Donnelly, he made no mistake in shooting to the net and the ‘Town very much had their dander up at this stage.

Further points from John Donnelly, Stephen Donnelly and Peter McDonald soon followed to make it 1-16 to 1-13 in favour of Thomastown but it would get even better from their point of view as Treacy nabbed his second three pointer of the night after more good play from Stephen Donnelly who was in superb form throughout the game.

Tullaroan were visiby shellshocked by Thomastown’s tour de force but true to form they kept plugging away and with Niall Holland in the goal landing a few monster frees and Mossy Keoghan, Gearoid Dunne and Dylan Simpson also finding their range the gap was back to two going into the final ten minutes.

Just when Tullaroan sensed an opportunity to dig out a result, Thomastown replied in some style as Stephen Donnelly intercepted a loose ball in defence before slotting that ball past Niall Holland for his side’s third goal.

Points from Dylan Simpson and Joe Coughlan kept Tullaroan within a score right till the end but Thomastown had done enough to prevail after a cracking encounter.

Teams and Scorers

Thomastown: Stephen Donnelly (1-4); Colm Treacy (2-0); Robbie Donnelly (0-6, 6fs); John Donnelly (0-5); Peter McDonald (0-2); Rory Connellan, Luke Connellan, Jonjo Farrell, Brian Staunton (0-1 each)

Tullaroan: Dylan Simpson (0-6, 3fs); Shane Walsh (1-3, 1f and 1 ‘65); Martin Keoghan, Gearoid Dunne (0-4 each); Bill Walton (0-3); Niall Holland (0-3, 3fs), Tomas Dunne, Tommy Walsh (0-1 each)

Thomastown: Diarmuid Galway; Peter Connellan, Ned Kirwan, Oisin O’Reilly; Brian Staunton, Eddie Donnelly, Peter McDonald; Jonjo Farrell, Zach Bay Hammond; John Donnelly, Robbie Donnelly, Luke Connellan; Colm Treacy, Stephen Donnelly, Rory Connellan.

Subs: Alex Cass for Farrell, 48 mins; Daithi Barron for Treacy, 55 mins; Pauric Kirwan for P.Connellan, 60 mins.

Tullaroan: Niall Holland; Eamon Holland, Tommy Walsh, Joe Coughlan; Gearoid Dunne, Padraig Walsh, Bill Gaffney; Jack Keoghan, Bill Walton; Shane Walsh, John Walton, Tomas Dunne; Peter Walsh, Martin Keoghan, Dylan Simpson.

Subs: Ciallin Brennan for S.Walsh, 19 mins.

Referee: Michael O’Sullivan