Kilkenny SHL- Thomastown stars shine in big win over Castlecomer

Thomastown had it mostly their own way as they claimed a comprehensive win over Erin’s Own in John’s Park on Sunday afternoon.

Goals from Robbie Donnelly, Peter McDonald and Naoise Dempsey put some gloss on the final scoreline, but the truth is that the county champions were relatively comfortable throughout the Group B league clash.

The one big setback for Noel Doherty’s outfit was the straight red card to Rory Connellan for a high tackle during the second half but such was the tone of the contest, it didn’t have much impact on the game — although he will serve an automatic suspension.

Castlecomer, on the other hand, relied heavily on the free-taking exploits of Jack Buggy, and while he scored 11 points throughout, the North Kilkenny club needed more of a threat to really test the county champions.

The opening few minutes were well contested with the sides level on three occasions as ‘Comer efforts from Buggy, Eoin Brennan and team captain John Dowd gave Erin’s Own a route into the game.

Luke Connellan, Stephen Donnelly and Rory Connellan got Thomastown’s tally in that same period and Noel Doherty’s side gradually got top of the contest.

Four points on the bounce via Brian Staunton, Colm Treacy, Peter McDonald and Luke Connellan got the ball rolling and the gulf in class between the teams beacme more obvious as the half went on.

With rest of the Comer attack now struggling against a ferocious Thomastown rearguard, the side from the South took over all over the field with McDonald and Robbie Donnelly pushing the lead out even further.

A goal looked like it was on the way and it arrived at the city end in O’Loughlin’s in the 22nd minute when Naoise Dempsey kicked the ball to the net past Erins Own stopper Sean Buggy after the roving midfielder originally lost the control of his hurl.

Robbie Donnelly, Brian Staunton and John Donnelly then quickly added to the tally and all of a sudden, ten points seperated the teams nearing the half-time interval.

Jack Buggy kept Comer plugging away with six first half points in total but it looked a mountain to climb for his team as they changed ends with a 1-14 to 0-8 deficit to deal with.

To their credit, Erins Own did muster up a bit of a revival at the beginning of the second period as after Buggy and Colm Treacy exchanged efforts, David Buggy’s outfit notched three points on the spin with Jack Buggy, John Dowd and Dan Coogan scoring to leave just six between the teams.

Just when Comer followers sensed an opportunity, disaster struck when Naoise Dempsey was fouled in the square and match official Patrick O’Reilly duly awarded a penalty with Robbie Donnelly making no mistake in shooting to the net.

That proved to be the breaking point for Comer really as it wasn’t long till Thomastown found the net for a third time with Zach Bay Hammod combining with Kilkenny star Peter McDonald who rounded off a superb display from wing back when finding the bottom corner.

Comer had a couple of chances to get a goal of their own but decent goalkeeping from Diarmuid Galway and a spirited defence kept the opposition out until Thomastown went down the other end to score again with Robbie Donnelly getting a second major as his shot into the ground evaded evaded Sean Buggy.

Jack Buggy ended the scoring with a free but it was Thomastown’s day as they claimed a big victory.

Teams and Scorers

Thomastown: Robbie Donnelly (2-8, 7fs and 1'65); Peter McDonald (1-2); Naoise Dempsey (1-0); Colm Treacy, Luke Connellan (0-2 each); Rory Connellan, Stephen Donnelly, John Donnelly, Brian Staunton (0-1 each)

Erin’s Own: Jack Buggy (0-11, 9fs and 1 ‘65); John Dowd, Conor McMahon (0-2 each); Eoin Brennan, Dan Coogan (0-1 each)

Thomastown: Diarmuid Galway; Peter Connellan, Ned Kirwan, Oisin O’Reilly; Brian Staunton, Eddie Donnelly, Peter McDonald; Naoise Dempsey, Zach Bay Hammond; Robbie Donnelly, John Donnelly, Luke Connellan; Colm Treacy, Stephen Donnelly, Rory Connellan.

Subs: Alex Cass for O’Reilly, 48 mins; Daithi Barron for J.Donnelly, 56 mins; Pauric Kirwan for Treacy, 57 mins; Aaron Kehoe for S.Donnelly, 60 mins.

Erin’s Own: Sean Buggy; Bobby Brennan, Ciaran Wallace, Jack Comerford; Chris Korff, Conor Delaney, Eoghan Moore; Declan Buggy, Conor McMahon; Shane Feehan, John Dowd, James Coogan; Aidan Moran, Jack Buggy, Eoin Brennan.

Subs: Tommy Coogan for D.Buggy, 28 mins; Shane Coogan for Moore, h-t; Dan Coogan for J.Coogan, h-t; Alec Kerr for Brennan, 52 mins; Cathal Holland for Feehan, 52 mins.

Referee: Patrick O’Reilly.