Kilkenny IHL- Fitzpatrick fires Dunamaggin to decisive win over Blacks & Whites

Dunnamaggin produced a dominat display as they outclassed Blacks and Whites in Group A of the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai intermediate league on Sunday.

A pair of goals from Joe Fitzpatrick as well as telling contrubutions from the likes of Denis Walsh, Ruaidhri Holden and Ross O’Neill ensured Noel Lahart’s team made a winning start to the campaign.

It’s a familiar feeling for Blacks and Whites after they lost every league game in 2024 and they will be hoping for an upturn in form over the next few weeks as they were well beaten on the day.

The boys from Skeoughvosteen had began brightly with Emmet Foley getting the first score of the game via a free but they would only score five points in total during the opening 30 minutes.

Dunnamaggin quickly got into their stride with Alex Moore, Ross O’Neill, Denis Walsh and Ruaidhri Holden all pointing to give their side a 0-4 to 0-1 lead on the scoreboard.

Blacks and Whites remained in touch with fleeting effforts from Aaron Foley, Jamie Byrne and Emmet Foley but Dunamaggin were proving very hot to handle and by the 22nd minute, the lead had increased to six with Ruaidhri Holden excelling with three points from play and Denis Walsh continuing to be ultra relaible from frees.

Emmet Foley kept Blacks and Whites honest but by the time of the half-time whsitle, the game was all but over as a contest after Joe Fitzpatrick pounced on defensive indecision before shooting to the net as Dunnamaggin led 1-13 to 0-5 at the change of ends.

A triple half-time substitution for Blacks and Whites was further proof at how the game was developing but the overall trend and arc continued in Dunnamaggin’s favour.

Blacks and Whites threatened very briefly to make it more of a contest when getting the first two points of the second half but once Fitzpatrick bagged his second goal, the feel and intensity of the game dropped a notch or two.

Despite the tie being settled well before the final whistle, Dunnamaggin maintained their quality in attack with Ray Cody and Colin Fitzpatrick getting in on the act before the end as they eventually secured an impressive final 2-23 to 0-11 success.

Teams and Scorers

Dunnamaggin: Joe Fitzpatrick (2-3); Denis Walsh (0-8, 6fs); Ruaidhri Holden (0-5); Ross O’Neill (0-3); Alex Moore (0-2); Ray Cody, Colin Fitzpatrick (0-1 each)

Blacks and Whites: Emmet Foley (0-5, 3fs); Jamie Byrne (0-3, 2fs); Jason Byrne, Aaron Foley, Louie Brennan (0-1 each)

Dunnamaggin: James Logue; Ian Walsh, Harry Walsh, Pierce Costello; Darragh O’Keeffe, Eoghan Kearney, Alex Moore; Ray Cody, Dylan Crehan; Ross O’Neill, Denis Walsh, Ruaidhri Holden; Jimmy O’Neill, Joe Fitzpatrick, Paul Kirwan.

Subs: Noah Cahill for J.O’Neill, 40 mins; Colin Fitzpatrick for Kirwan, 46 mins; Jack Brett for Costello, 54 mins; Sean Lawton for R.O’Neill, 56 mins.

Blacks and Whites: Keelin O’Grady; Jamie Ryan, Daire Murphy, Tommy Joyce; Michael Prendergast, Paul Murphy, Niall Kennedy; James Kennedy, John Lennon; Emmet Foley, Jason Byrne, Ian Foley; Aaron Foley, James Whitty, Jamie Byrne.

Subs: Seanan Doyle for A.Foley, h-t; Edward Murphy for Kennedy, h-t; Louie Brennan for I.Foley, h-t; Joe Kelly for E.Foley, 46 mins; Paddy Cushen for Jamie Byrne, 55 mins.

Referee: Richard Holland