Hockey- Kilkenny lose out on the double on home soil

Men’s EY2 - Round Two- Bandon 3 Kilkenny 1

It was a chilly afternoon as the Kilkenny men’s team welcomed Bandon to the Loreto for the second round of the EY2 clash.

The home side, eager for points, took to the field with determination, but it would be the visitors who would leave with the spoils, securing a 3-1 victory.

The first quarter was a lively spectacle, with both teams throwing everything at each other. Bandon broke the deadlock through a well-executed short corner. Colin Kingston, calm and composed, stepped up and fired a low drag flick to Ian O’Keeffe’s right-hand side. The ball rattled the backboard, and Bandon were 1-0 ahead.

As the quarter wound down, drama unfolded in the Kilkenny circle. Eddie Dore’s shot struck a Bandon shinpad on the line, with Kilkenny appealing for a penalty stroke, believing the ’keeper was beaten. But the umpire disagreed, awarding only a penalty corner. Howard McDonnell and Billy McEnery’s attempt to combine fell short, and the ball rolled harmlessly wide. Kilkenny were left frustrated, but Bandon had the advantage.

The second quarter saw both sides settle into a rhythm. Kilkenny began to show signs of life, with Javier Romero latched onto a brilliant ball from John McNamara, turning in the circle and firing narrowly wide.

Kilkenny were knocking on the door, but it was Bandon who struck again. Another short corner, another opportunity for Kingston. This time, O’Keeffe was able to cover the initial drag flick, but a wicked deflection saw the ball loop over his head and into the net. Bandon were 2-0 up, and with the half-time whistle blowing, Kilkenny had it all to do.

The second half began with Kilkenny pressing forward, desperate for a way back into the game, but Bandon, clinical on the counter, struck again. Alistair Smyth charged down the left, delivering a pinpoint ball to captain Fionn O’Leary. The skipper, with the grace of a master, flicked a low reverse shot into the bottom corner. It was 3-0, and Bandon were in full control.

Kilkenny came out in determined mood for the final quarter pushing forward at every opportunity. They earned several penalty corners, but the final touch eluded them. Then, in a moment of individual brilliance, Howard McDonnell stepped up to the plate, blasting a drag flick past the Bandon ’keeper to give Kilkenny a lifeline. 3-1. Hope flickered briefly.

The team gave a final push, and went close with a missed opportunity from Billy McEnery, but the home side couldn’t find the second goal they so desperately needed. The final whistle blew, and Bandon had held firm to claim the 3-1 victory.

Kilkenny - Ian O’Keeffe, George Smyth, Kyle Hancock, Emmett Hughes, Howard McDonnell, John McNamara, Riain Delaney, Sean Corbett, Andy Atkinson, Billy McEnery, Eddie Healy, Pablo Gimenez, Javier Romero, Eddie Dore, Eoin Finnegan, Kieren Delaney, Evan McClure, Dave McClure.

Women’s Leinster League Division 1- Three Rock Rovers 1 Kilkenny 0

Kilkenny Ladies Firsts hosted in-form Dublin side Three Rock Rovers in Kilkenny College in a midweek fixture.

Despite the late tip-off time, the Cats were quick off the mark and settled into the game from the offset. Niamh Spratt O’Shea, Sam Willis and Sarah Richardson opted for a clever style of play as they looked to hold onto possession of the ball and build from defence.

With Three Rock Rovers looking to clinch top spot on the league table, coach Danny Mulligan’s pressing strategy meant that forwards Cliodhna O’Connor, Laura O’Neill and Ally Carter had to work tirelessly to protect the middle of the pitch.

With the teams all square at the end of the opening quarter, both sides looked to probe the opposition defence more in the second quarter.

As the game progressed, Kilkenny midfielders Clair Phelan, Sara Browne and Ciara Mahon were responsible for setting up many dangerous attacks for their side. Attacker Poppy Williams was unlucky not to hit the backboard after a decent save from the Three Rock Rovers goalkeeper, who kept the game very much in the balance as the teams went into the half-time break.

The second half saw the travelling side hit their purple patch and put the Cats under pressure on both the left and ring hand sides of the pitch. Trusty shot-stopper Jess Cary pulled off a fine save in the third quarter to keep the sides all square, and the crowd could look forward to a nail-biting finish to the fixture in the last quarter.

Just as it looked like the teams would take home an even share of the spoils, the Dublin side managed to win themselves a penalty corner while they duly concerted.

Much to Kilkenny’s credit, their spirits never dropped and the home side raced up the pitch in search of a last gasp equaliser. Newcomer to the squad, Kate Crotty, was through on goal in the dying embers after a neat pass from defender Paula Farrell on the left wing. Before she could get her shot away, Crotty was blatantly fouled and a penalty stroke was given. Sue Shirley stepped bravely up to the mark, only for her shot to fizz the wrong side of the post.

Kilkenny Firsts - Paula Farrell (C), Jess Cary, Niamh Spratt O’Shea, Clair Phelan, Lucy Simms, Sam Willis, Kate Crotty, Ally Carter, Sara Browne, Ciara Mahon, Sue Shirley, Laura O’Neill, Cliodhna O’Connor, Poppy Williams, Sarah Richardson, Gemma O’Dwyer.

Coach/Manager - Danny Mulligan, Jenny Wallace.