Smyth double gives Kilkenny Seconds some Leinster league points

The Kilkenny Hockey Club Men’s Seconds played out a very competitive game against Rathgar Thirds on Saturday.

Rathgar took an early lead after a defensive error by the Cats in the opening quarter. The Dublin side then went on to double their lead after winning the ball back in the midfield area, and charging at the Kilkenny goal.

Much to their credit, Kilkenny heads never dropped and before long, they began to grow into the game. Their purple patch came in the third quarter when George Smyth battled hard in the opposition circle. Smyth was fouled and Kilkenny were awarded a stroke, however the ball did not find its way to the back of the net, rattling the post instead.

Richie Byrne then took the game by the scruff of the neck and came up with the first goal. Michael Heneghan won the ball in midfield before passing it into Luke McDonald who touched the ball neatly into the circle for Byrne to strike it first time past the goalkeeper.

George Smyth was back in the thick of the action once more and soon after scored his first goal of the game. A mix up in the Rathgar defence saw Smyth coolly slot the ball past the goalkeeper to make the game all square.

An eventual final quarter saw Rathgar pull a goal back early in the fourth quarter, but that didn’t stop Kilkenny.

With great blocks on the line from both Michael Heneghan and Harry Ogilvie, Kilkenny were determined to take something from the game.

Smyth then stepped up in the dying minutes to score two more goals, with his final goal coming in the last minute to secure a well fought victory for Kilkenny.

Kilkenny Seconds - Jake Farragher, Peter Firbank, Nigel Dagg, Evan Matthews, Michael Heneghan, Conor Comerford, Harry Ogilvie, Jethro Duffin, Richie Byrne, Luke McDonald, Ross Comerford, George Smyth, Alex Dagg, David Balfour.