Kilkenny IHL- Rower Inistioge finish strong to keep Fenians pointless

A second half goal from Eoghan Lyng proved crucial as Rower Inistioge claimed a narrow three point victory over the Fenians (Johnstown) in the intermediate hurling league on Saturday evening.

Lyng came into the game after a quiet opening period and his 50th minute strike helped his team turn the momentum of the contest and with valuable contributions from the likes of Michael Galavan and Jim Ryan amongst others, the Rower were able to see the game out.

Not for the first time in this year’s league campaign, Johnstown were well in the game going down the straight and they even led by six at the halfway mark of the second period but they ran out of steam in the windup as late points from Lyng and Galavan gave the South Kilkenny outfit victory in the end.

Kevin Murphy came in for Sean Bolger from the start for the Rower and he quickly got his side’s account up and running with a 5th minute point from play.

Fenians then grew into the contest with the next three scores via Mark Webster, Cathal Phelan and Sean Tobin.

Ace free-taker Michael Galavan grew into the game for Rower Inistioge and as well as landing two placed balls, the midfielder also scored from play as Sean Power’s team retook the advantage.

The first goal of the game was only around the corner and it was the Johnstown men who got it when a ball inside from Conor Tobin landed close to the feet of Cathal Phelan and the Fenians full-forward pulled on the sliotar and it was to great reward as it whizzed past Rower Inistioge stopper Paddy Lyng.

Galavan and Tom O’Callaghan quickly got the ‘Rower back to parity but it was game that lacked quality for long periods with both sides guilty of shooting wides into double figures.

The midfield pairing of Galavan and Tom Doyle did combine to push the ‘Rower back into the lead but it was a very precarious advantage with Fenians maintaining a big threat down the other end of the field.

While Jim Ryan knocked over two quickfire scores for Rower Inistioge, it was their opponents that ended the half on top with frees from Mark Webster added to by points from play via Cathal Phelan, Mark Hughes and Conor Tobin as the Fenians went into the break with a 1-10 to 0-11 lead.

Galavan and Thomas Sharkey exchanged scores upon the resumption before a well worked Rower Inistioge attack ended with Jim Ryan getting his third point from play and again the gap was back to one (1-11 to 0-13).

Between the 37th and 45th minutes, it was all Fenians though as they knocked over six of the following seven points.

Adam Duggan from play and three more Mark Webster scores came in a four point in a row spell and while Galavan briefly stalled the Johnstown momentum, another spell of scoring looked to have Fenians in a fair degree of control.

Two more Mark Webster frees made it a six point game but crucially Johnstown would only score once more in the remaining minutes.

Back to back Galavan frees gave Rower Inistioge a route into the game but the whole tone of the round 3 league affair changed when Tom O’Callaghan broke forward and offloaded to Eoghan Lyng and after the Kilkenny star found room near the endline, the wing forward made no mistake in shooting to the corner of the net.

Another Galavan point then left the sides deadlocked at 1-17 apiece and although Thomas Sharkey gave Fenians the lead in the 53rd minute, the Johnstown side were unable to hold out with the ‘Rower finishing in style.

An excellent point from Eoghan Lyng on the back of a fine fetch from Jim Ryan in midfield levelled matters for a sixth time soon afterwards and when Galavan added on two more points, the job looked to be done.

There was still late drama though with Johnstown winning a late penalty but Mark Webster’s shot rebounded off the post and with Galavan knocking on another score, Rower Inistioge held on.

Teams and Scorers

Rower Inistioge: Michael Galavan (0-13, 11fs) Eoghan Lyng (1-1); Jim Ryan (0-3); Kevin Murphy (0-2); Tom O’Callaghan, Tom Doyle (0-1 each)

Fenians: Mark Webster (0-9, 7fs); Cathal Phelan (1-2); Tomas Sharkey, Mark Hughes (0-2 each); Sean Tobin, Conor Tobin, Adam Duggan (0-1 each)

Rower Inistioge: Paddy Lyng; Eoin Doyle, Jack Walsh, Ruaidhri Delaney; Rory Galavan, Shane Ryan, Joe Lyng; Michael Galavan, Tom Doyle; Eddie Prendergast, Eoin O’Brien, Eoghan Lyng; Tom O’Callaghan, Jim Ryan, Kevin Murphy.

Subs: Oisin Morrissey for J Lyng, 37 mins; Sean Bolger for Prendergast, 46 mins; Conor Joyce for Doyle, 53 mins.

Fenians: Billy Garrett; Jerry Henderson, Rory Phelan, Padraig O’Grady; John Henderson, Rory Garrett, Willie Brennan; Adam Duggan, Mark Webster; Patrick Cullen, Conor Tobin, Sean Tobin; Thomas Sharkey, Cathal Phelan, Mark Hughes.

Subs; Alex Lawlor for S Tobin, 53 mins; Daragh McCormack for Cullen, 56 mins; Daragh Tobin for Hughes, 61 mins; Pa Duggan for C Phelan, 62 mins.

Referee: Paul Cahill