Kilkenny SHL- Glenmore on top in tight affair with Bennettsbridge

A second half Ethan Phelan goal set Glenmore on their way as they overcame Bennettsbridge in an entertaining affair at a sunny Inistioge on Sunday.

Prior to Phelan’s goal in the 48th minute it was all to play for but the goal coupled with an exhibition of free-taking from Ian Byrne saw the South Kilkenny outfit deservedly take the full points.

A stoppage time Hugh O’Neill goal arrived too late for Bennettsbridge to reel in their opponents and with only one draw to their name as it stands, they looked set for a possible relegation battled in the next few weeks.

Glenmore raced out of the blocks and were at full tilt from the start with an effort from play by Ciaran Kirwan followed by successive Ian Byrne frees.

James Hughes got the Bridge off the mark with a place ball of his own in the 8th minute but when the winners hit another three points in the bounce, they were very much dictating matters at the halfway stage of the opening half.

Ian Byrne added his third and fourth points of the half while in between Jack Dollard knocked over a booming effort from distance.

Glenmore led 0-6 to 0-1 as a result but an eight minute scoreless spell saw the Bridge get their house in order and with Timmy Kelly and Liam Blanchfield adding to a trio of James Hughes frees, the sides were level heading into the dying embers of the first half.

Points from Byrne, Colm Roche and Cathal Beirne saw Glenmore retake the lead but with Bennettsbridge adding to the tally via Hughes, Sean Morrissey and Nicky Cleere, there was very little between the sides.

Seamus Dollard’s Glenmore team still maintained an advantage on the scoreboard come the interval with points from play by Kirwan and Beirne who were part of a flourishing attack.

Cathal Beirne and Nicky Cleere exchanged efforts at the beginning of the second half as Glenmore maintained a two point advantage but like the first 30 minutes, the Bridge soon hit a purple patch of scoring to leave the result very much up for grabs.

Successive Bennettsbridge efforts from James Hughes, Liam Blanchfield and Enda Morrissey squared up the tie at 0-14 apiece come the end of the third quarter and it was anyone’s guess who was in control at this point.

It was Glenmore who took the bull by the horns however with Ethan Phelan getting the opening goal of the game a couple of minutes later after he fielded a long sideline cut from Darragh Hartley before shooting the ball past Enda Cleere.

Enda Morrissey and Ciaran Brennan kept the Bridge honest but with Ian Byrne continuing his free-taking exploits as well as pointing from play, the game looked to be within Glenmore’s grasp.

Bennettsbridge got a lifeline when Hugh O’Neill goaled in stoppage time but even that didn’t spark a revival, with Byrne and Nicky Cleere trading two more points before the end.

Teams and Scorers

Glenmore: Ian Byrne (0-11, 10fs); Ethan Phelan (1-0); Cathal Beirne (0-3); Ciaran Kirwan (0-2); Charlie Phelan, Colm Roche, Billy Reid, Jack Dollard (0-1 each)

Bennettsbridge: James Hughes (0-6, 6fs); Hugh O’Neill (1-0); Liam Blanchfield, Enda Morrissey, Nicky Cleere (0-2 each); David Blanchfield (0-1, 1f); Sean Morrissey, Timmy Kelly, Ciaran Brennan (0-1 each)

Glenmore: Eoin Murphy; Richie Hennessy, Eoin Aylward, Jack Dollard; Tomas Mullally, Shane Murphy, Darragh Vereker; Darragh Hartley, Colm Roche; Ian Byrne, Charlie Phelan, Cathal Beirne; Robbie Fitzgerald, Ciaran Kirwan, Ethan Phelan.

Subs: Michael Harney for Roche, h/t; Alan Murphy for Fitzgerald, h/t; Billy Reid for Aylward, 35 mins; Jason Cody for C Phelan, 51 mins.

Bennettsbridge: Enda Cleere; Shane Byrne, Enda Morrissey, Daniel Murphy; David Blanchfield, Conor Murphy, Timmy Kelly; Jamie Harkin, Bill Hughes; Hugh O’Neill, Sean Morrissey, James Hughes; Jack Campion, Liam Blanchfield, Nicky Cleere.

Subs: Ciaran Brennan for Campion, 42 mins; William Murphy for N Cleere, 52 mins; Aidan Cleere for J Hughes, 58 mins.

Referee: Eoin Maher