Kilkenny IHL- Galavan points the Rower to crucial victory over Lisdowney

The Rower-Inistioge grabbed a crucial three point success over Lisdowney in a very stop-start intermediate league affair in Kilmanagh on Sunday afternoon.

Lisdowney were already assured of a spot in the league final and the subsequent championship quarter-finals ahead of this fixture but they’ll still be disappointed at how they performed here as the Rower deservedly took the honours. The game, which never really took fire, was dominated by the placed ball heroics of Michael Galavan and Brian Kavanagh as well as the two goalkeepers.

Victory did however mean a lot more to the Rower-Inistioge as the two league points ensured they stay clear of the battle to stay up. They can look forward to a meeting with Fenians of Johnstown in round one of the intermediate hurling championship this coming weekend.

The first half proved to be a very scrappy affair in particular with scores at a premium and defences on top for much of the contest.

Despite the defeat, Lisdowney looked the better side in the early stages with Brian Kavanagh knocking over successive frees on the back of also having a goalbound effort saved by Paddy Lyng who went on to have a very influential game between the sticks for the Rower.

Michael Galavan got Inistioge off the mark in the ninth minute via a free and Seamus Kelly’s side began to slowly get on top all over the field as efforts from play by Jim Ryan and Eoin O’Brien levelled up matters.

Brian Kavanagh edged Lisdowney back in front in the 20th minute but their opponents scored five of the following six points to take the lead for the first time.

In the midst of that spell, Rower-Inistioge also had a great chance for goal when Eoghan Lyng latched onto a booming Paddy Lyng puckout but the youngster was denied by Kilkenny stopper Aidan Tallis.

The Rower’s 0-9 to 0-6 interval lead was extended through a Jim Ryan score in the opening seconds of the second period.

reduced deficit

Lisdowney duo Richard McEvoy and Pat O’Carroll quickly reduced the deficit back to two points before Michael Galavan briefly extended the Rower-Inistioge advantage.

Lisdowney with a strong wind at their back and four points in a row between the 37th and 45th minutes of which included a long distance free from Aidan Tallis looked poised to seal another league win.

Rower Inistioge had other ideas though and they restricted the league finalists to just one point in the final quarter as they finished strongly.

Two Paddy Lyng frees from his own half as well as three more placed ball efforts by Michael Galavan punished Lisdowney indiscipline at a crucial stage as the Rower got the required scores on the board to see the game out in a frantic finale with almost six minutes of added time required after a number of stoppages throughout.

Teams and Scorers

Rower-Inistioge - Michael Galavan (0-9, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65); Paddy Lyng (0-2, frees); Jim Ryan, Kevin Murphy (0-2 each); Eoghan Lyng (0-1).

Lisdowney - Brian Kavanagh (0-5, 0-4 frees); Aidan Tallis (0-3, frees); Kevin Sweeney (0-2); Luke Holohan, Richard McEvoy, Pat O’Carroll (0-1 each).

Rower-Inistioge - Paddy Lyng; Eoin Doyle, Ruaidhri Delaney, Shane Ryan; Ruairi Galavan, George Murphy, Pat Lyng; Eoin O’Brien, Sean Lyster; Jim Ryan, Michael Galavan, Eoghan Lyng; Kevin Murphy, Tom Murphy, Joe Lyng.

Subs: Eddie Prendergast for Murphy, 50 mins; Tom O’Callaghan for J Lyng, 62 mins; Joe Mulholland for Doyle, 64 mins.

Lisdowney - Aidan Tallis; Alan Dunphy, Martin McEvoy, John Brennan; Dylan Jordan, Niall Brennan, Michael Kenny; Kevin Sweeney, Cathal Jordan; Eibheann McEvoy, Richard McEvoy, Andrew McEvoy; Brian Kavanagh, Pat O’Carroll, Luke Holohan.

Subs: Liam Dunphy for Holohan, 47 mins; Killian Dunne for Brennan, 48 mins; David O’Carroll for Sweeney, 50 mins; Vinny Fitzpatrick for P O’Carroll, 50 mins.

Referee - Gavin Quilty (Slieverue)