Kilkenny IHL- Rampant Mooncoin claim third win on the trot

Mooncoin continued their fine run of recent form with a commanding victory over Blacks and Whites in Tullogher.

It turned out to be a very one sided encounter with Mooncoin in control for much of the contest.

Adam Croke and Killian Hogan were two of the main scoregetters from play but in truth, the South Kilkenny side had things much too easy as their opponents succumbed to a fourth heavy defeat.

Mooncoin started off the campaign with defeat but they’ve been faultless ever since and ahead of facing Tullogher this weekend, they are still in with a shout of finishing in the top two of the group.

Niall Kennedy got the opening score of the game via a free but before Blacks and Whites could raise another white flag, Mooncoin had added five points on the trot.

Adam Croke knocked over two fine points from play and he was a constant thorn for Blacks and Whites while Liam Hogan, Killian Hogan and Ciaran Quilty also found the range.

Dave Guiney’s defeated side responded with with efforts from Niall Kennedy and Sam Byrne which came either side of the aforementioned Byrne hitting the side-netting with a decent goal opportunity.

A goal there would have definitely altered the tone of the half which subsequently saw Mooncoin ramp up the pressure.

A brilliantly floated sideline cut from Killian Hogan was the highlight of the first half scores for Mooncoin as the likes of Martin O’Neill and Oisin Henebery continued to do damage on the scoreboard.

With Croke and the two Hogan’s providing 18 points between them over the course of the hour, it was no surprise when the game was all but over as a contest come the interval (0-16 to 0-7).

Brendan Cahill’s Mooncoin outfit continued to tap away at the scores in the second period but the final 30 minutes were a bit like going through the motions but one worry will be that they didn’t find the net until the 57th minute when sub Mairtin Gannon shot past Keelin O’Grady.

Blacks and Whites had impact themselves off the bench with Ryan Murphy adding five points after coming on at half-time while Louis Brennan had a similar impact when getting a consolation goal late on but that’s all it proved to be as Mooncoin outclassed the 2022 junior kingpins

Teams and Scorers

Mooncoin: Liam Hogan (0-7, 6fs); Killian Hogan (0-6, 1f); Adam Croke (0-5); Mairtin Gannon (1-0); Ciaran Quilty, Oisin Henebery, Sean O’Dwyer (0-2 each); Paul Henebery (0-2, 2fs); Martin O’Neill, Ryan Carroll, Cormac Daly (0-1 each)

Blacks and Whites: Ryan Murphy (0-5, 4fs); Niall Kennedy (0-4, 3fs and 1 ‘65); Louis Brennan (1-0); Sam Byrne (0-2, 2fs); Daire Murphy (0-1)

Mooncoin: Donnacha Hogan; Sean Brennan, Cormac Daly, Ryan Carroll; Jim Delahunty, Paul Henebery, Martin O’Neill; Killian Hogan, Stephen Crowley; Liam Hogan, Oisin Henebery, Adam Croke; Ciara Quilty, Cormac Kinsellla, Stephen Wall.

Subs: Aidan Doyle for Daly, 42 mins; Mairtin Gannon for Quilty, 56 mins; Kevin Crowley for Kinsella, 56 mins.

Blacks and Whites: Keelin O’Grady; Jamie Ryan, Tommy Joyce, Jack Kelly; Seanan Doyle, Paul Murphy, Niall Kennedy; John ‘Nipper Lennon, Martin Kelly; Jamie Byrne, Aaron Foley, James Kennedy; Daire Murphy. Sam Byrne, Jason Byrne.

Subs: Ryan Murphy for J.Kelly, h-t; Louis Brennan for J.Byrne, 48 mins.

Referee: Eoin Maher (Mullinavat)