Kilkenny IHL- Mooncoin see off 14-man Martin’s in Callan

Mooncoin overcame the disappointment of losing their first round tie in the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Hurling League to Young Ireland’s with a deserved win over St Martin’s in the second round in John Locke Park on Saturday afternoon.

A big turning point in this game came just before the interval when a St Martin’s defender, who had just been on the pitch for a couple of minutes as a substitute, was dismissed for what appeared to have been a striking offence.

Not alone would St Martin’s be down a player in the second half but they would also be facing the breeze.

Sean Hunt landed the first point of the game for St Martin’s with Aaron Farrell adding another two minutes later.

A Liam Hogan pointed free brought Mooncoin’s first score on five minutes.

St Martin’s were the better side for the opening 20 minutes and led by five points (0-8 to 0-3).

Sean Hunt, Brian Coady and the excellent John Mulhall were to the fore for St Martin’s but twice during that period Mooncoin’s Ciaran Quilty was denied clear goal-scoring chances, firstly by an excellent save by Colin McGrath and then a brave body block by Ciaran Nolan.

But Quilty would not be denied a third time when he goaled for the winners in the 25th minute to tie the game.

The sides shared four points just before the interval – Sean Hunt after a brilliant catch and Brian Coady (free) for St Martin’s with Sean O’Dwyer and Liam Hogan (free) replying for Mooncoin.

Right on the cusp of half-time came the red card to the St Martin’s defender, but they finished the half well with Sean Hunt adding a point to see his side ahead by the minimum at the interval.

Despite having a player advantage it took an excellent Cormac Kinsella goal for Mooncoin on 43 minutes to put a little daylight between the sides.

That goal was the result of a brilliant run from defence by Martin O’Neill who laid off the ball to Cormac Kinsella. O’Neill, unavailable for last weekend’s first round game, made a huge contribution to his side’s victory.

The closeness of the exchanges continued into the closing quarter. Brian Byrne, Paddy Nolan, Brian Cody, Sean Hunt and especially John Mulhall kept pushing St Martin’s forward and it took some stout defending from Mooncoin to keep their opponents at bay.

Paul Henebry, the best player on the pitch, along with Cormac Daly, Martin O’Neil, Cormac Kinsella and Ciaran Quilty, despite having to leave the pitch with an injury, were all superb for the winners.

Martin’s will never know if the loss of a player cost them this game, but for sure it had some bearing on the outcome.

This, though, was a much improved performance from Mooncoin and on the balance of play they deserved their 2-15 to 0-19 victory.

Teams and Scorers

Mooncoin - Ciaran Quilty (1-3), Cormac Kinsella (1-2), Liam Hogan (0-4, frees), Stephen Wall and Oisín Hennebry (0-2, each), Sean O’Dwyer and Ethan Ryan (0-1, each).

St Martin’s - Brian Coady (0-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ’65), Sean Hunt (0-5), John Mulhall (0-3), Aaron Farrell, Colin McGrath

(free), Tristan Roche, Brian Byrne and James O’Neill (0-1, each).

Mooncoin - Donnacha Hogan, Sean Brennan, Cormac Daly, Ryan Carroll, Jim Delahunty (Mex), Paul Henebry, James Aylward, Martin O’Neill, Stephen Crowley, Liam Hogan, Oisín Henebry, Sean O’Dwyer, Ciaran Quilty, Cormac Kinsella, Stephen Wall.

Subs: Ethan Ryan, Kieran Dunphy, James O’Keeffe.

St Martin’s - Colin McGrath, Tadgh Gill, Ciaran Nolan, Matthew Bolger, Paddy Nolan, Brian Byrne, Cathal Keegan, Brian Coady, Tristan Roche, Donal Shore, John Mulhall, Aaron Farrell, Russel Kealy, Sean Hunt, James O’Neill.

Subs: Ollie Walsh, Bill Dowling, Jack Farrell, Adam Comerford.

Referee – Peter Burke (Emeralds).