Kilkenny rivals go head-to-head for senior county championship in UPMC Nowlan Park
Mullinavat 1-15 Tullogher Rosbercon 0-11
Mullinavat made it eight JJ Kavanagh Kilkenny Senior Football Championship in ten seasons, with a blistering second half against Southern neighbours Tullogher Rosbercon, at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday evening last.
After a hard hitting, but well contested opening thirty minutes, where the sides were together at 0-7 each, few could have predicted the holder’s takeover after the break. The Vegas boys now move outright fourth in the Kilkenny SFC roll of honour on nine titles, behind Railyard (22), Glenmore (20) and Muckalee (12).
Michael Malone got Mullinavat up and running with a first minute point, but Tullogher Rosbercon settled the better, and points from Danny Glennon, along with three from Donnacha O’Connor (including a two pointer), had the challengers 0-4 to 0-1 clear on seven minutes.
Scores from Oisin Knox, and a Michael Malone two-pointer from a free, levelled matters at 0-4 each after 12 minutes.
A point by Danny Glennon, after being set up by ex-inter county hurler Walter Walsh, and a point by the latter, had Tullogher 0-6 to 0-4 ahead on 19 minutes.
Ian Duggan and Oisin Knox had Vegas back on terms by the 26th minute. Scores before the interval by Conor Hennessy (TR) and Padraic Dempsey (M) left things all square at the interval (0-7 each).
What a transformation in the new half, however, where, by the 43rd minute, Mullinavat led 1-12 to 0-7.
Goalkeeper Jack Walsh landed a two-pointer free, Michael Malone, Ian Duggan, and Oisin Knox all added points, and then a crucial goal, this after an excellent team move. Oisin Knox and Liam Fennelly were involved, before Brian Phelan shot past Eoin Ryan in the Tullogher goal.
Danny Glennon did land a two-pointer for TR after 45 minutes; this was replied to by Jack Walsh: “45”. It was now 1-13 to 0-9.
By the finish Donnacha O’Connor landed two frees for Tullogher Rosbercon, these sandwiching two Vegas points from Ian Duggan and Ger Malone.