Kilkenny IHL- Danesfort dig deep to overcome relegation-threatened Conahy

Two goals from Cathal Kearney allowed Danesfort see off Conahy in a highly enjoyable intermediate league clash last Sunday afternoon.

The victory seals Danesfort’s place in the league shield decider with Tullogher Rosbercon and they will be delighted with their progress given that they played more than half of the campaign without the injured Richie Hogan.

Niall Bergin’s team were without Hogan again at the weekend but with two goals from Cathal Kearney and the likes of Robbie Walsh and Colm Phelan stepping up to the mark, they did enough to see off Conahy but it was far from routine.

Conahy may have relied on 1-11 from the stick of James Bergin but his impact was such that they led at half-time and it wasn’t until Cathal Kearney got Danesfort’s second goal in the in the early stages of the second period that the winners took control of proceedings.

Conahy were still battling to avoid finishing in the bottom two of the group and they were much the better team early on as they led 0-4 to 0-0.

Cathal Kearney and Colm Phelan belatedly got ‘Fort on the board bit with further scores from Tom Rice, rob Ring and even goalkeeper Karl Downey, Conahy still looked in a decent position.

Cathal Kearney then pounced for Danesfort’s opening goal which was a great individual effort but the advantage was still only brief as James Bergin son hit back with one of his own down the other end.

Danesfort did retake the lead but the last three efforts of the half went to Conahy as they went into the dressing rooms with a 1-10 to 1-9 buffer on the scoreboard.

Bergin continued to knock over the frees in the second half and Conahy still led up until Cathal Kearney grabbing his and Danesfort’s second goal of the game where the elusive midfielder was found in space by Adam Byrne.

Further Danesfort scores from Ben Whitty and Conor Condon kept their noses in front but when a pointed James Bergin free levelled matters with seven minutes remaining, it was anyone’s game.

Danesfort proved to be the ones to take the bull by the horn late on with points from Colm Phelan and Ben Whitty enough to see them home by a two point winning margin.

Conahy had six minutes of injury time to try and grab a match winning goal but their opponents held out in the end.

Teams and Scorers

Danesfort - Cathal Kearney (2-1); Ben Whitty (0-7, 0-6 frees); Colm Phelan, Robbie Walsh (0-3 each); James Mullally, Adam Byrne, Conor Condon, Padraic Mullen (0-1 each).

Conahy - James Bergin (1-11, 0-8 frees); Tom Rice (0-3); Karl Downey (0-1, free); Tom Phelan, Rob Ring, Kieran Mooney, Mark Gunner (0-1 each).

Danesfort - Paddy Hogan; Darren Booth, Diarmaid Phelan, Cathal O’Neill; Des Dunne, Paul Murphy; Daire O’Neill; Cathal Kearney, Darragh Coverdale; Ben Whitty, Adam Byrne, Colm Phelan; James Mullally, Robbie Walsh, Jake Cullen.

Subs: Conor Condon for Mullally, h-t; Padraic Mullen for Cullen, h-t; Matthew Cowley for C O’Neill, 38 mins; Dan Dowling for Byrne, 54 mins; Ciaran Mullen for Coverdale, 60 mins, Dylan Dunphy for Dunne, 64 mins.

Conahy - Karl Downey; Eoin Carroll, Philly Cass, Liam Cass; Donal Brennan, Brian Healy, Darragh Hennessy; Eoin Cahill, Tom Phelan; Tom Rice, Kieran Mooney, Jack Murphy; Rob Ring, James Bergin, Mark Gunner.

Subs: Darragh Dooley for Carroll, 38 mins; Bill Murphy for Gunner, 58 mins.

Referee: Eoin Hayes (Thomastown)