Kilkenny IHL- Tullogher Rosbercon deliver a statement with victory

Helped by a 1-12 tally from Cian O’Donoghue, Tullogher Rosbercon again showed the talent at their disposal as they eased to a comprehensive 11-point victory over Blacks and Whites last Saturday week.

Bar the last few minutes where Blacks and Whites pulled a few scores back, it was all one way traffic with five of Tullogher’s starting six forwards scoring from play.

Conor Hennessy’s goal just before half-time really set back Blacks and Whites and it was exhibition stuff for the South Kilkenny side from that point on in an impressive display.

The signs were ominous of what way the game would go right from the get-go as Tullogher raced into a five point lead after seven minutes with Andrew Murphy, Cian O’Donoghue, Marty Murphy and Lar Murphy all getting on the scoresheet for the winners.

Niall Kennedy replied with a couple of frees for Blacks and Whites but the 2022 junior champions didn’t score from play until 17th minute and by then they already trailed by six points.

Any Blacks and Whites misdemeanour was also ruthlessly punished by O’Donoghue on placed balls and while Ryan Murphy and James Kennedy kept plugging away with pointed efforts for Dave Guiney’s outfit, the game was all but over as a contest come the half-time whistle after Conor Hennessy claimed a crossfield ball from Cian O'Donoghue and advanced towards goal before shooting past Keelin O’Grady.

That gave Tullogher a 1-13 to 0-6 interval advantage and if anything the second period was even more sided.

Blacks and Whites did get the opening second half score from Jamie Byrne but they then didn’t score again for another 12 minutes as Tullogher scored 1-8 without reply in a relentless surge of scoring.

O'Donoghue’s goal was of the fortunate variety after a free near the sideline dropped over the head Keelin O’Grady and ended up in the roof of the net.

Tullogher added on further points from the likes of Walter Walsh and sub Michael Handrick and they did take the foot off the pedal for the last quarter as Blacks and Whites regained a bit of respectability in the final few minutes.

Ryan Murphy scored four points off the bench and midfielder Martin Kelly scored a fine goal but unfortunately for Blacks and Whites, the surge arrived much too late in the day as they fell to a second successive league defeat.

Teams and Scorers

Tullogher Rosbercon - Cian O’Donoghue (1-12, 8fs and 2 ‘65’s); Conor Hennessy (1-1); Andrew Murphy (0-3); Marty Murphy (0-2); Lar Murphy, Colman O’Sullivan, Walter Walsh, Michael Handrick (0-1 each)

Blacks and Whites - Ryan Murphy (0-4, 3fs); Niall Kennedy (0-4, 4fs); Martin Kelly (1-0); Jamie Byrne (0-3); Jack Kelly (0-2); James Kennedy (0-1)

Tullogher Rosbercon - Davy Walsh; Richie Gill, Donncha O’Connor, David Kennedy; Lar Murphy, Pat Hartley, Cathal Mooney; Jamie Lyng, Colman O’Sullivan; Marty Murphy, Walter Walsh, Anthony O’Connor; Andrew Murphy, Conor Hennessy, Cian O’Donoghue.

Subs: Michael Handrick for A O’Connor, 37 mins; Ryan Murphy for Lyng, 50 mins; Tarek O’Connor for Hennessy, 50 mins.

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

Subs: Ryan Murphy for Foley, 34 mins; Louis Brennan for S Byrne, 54 mins; Aaron Foley for N Kennedy, 54 mins; Emmet Foley for J Kennedy, 58 mins.

Referee - Raymond Byrne (Glenmore)