Kilskyre/Moylagh v Na Fianna Junior 2 H.C. Round 1 Tuesday 29.8.23 at Kilskyre

Final Score:  Kilskyre/Moylagh 1.15 Na Fianna 0.10 

A late goal and a point from substitute Eanna Brody ensured Kilskyre/Moylagh qualified for the semi-final of the Junior 2 Hurling Championship with this 8-point win over a gallant Na Fianna side in an entertaining refixed Round 1 match played in Kilskyre on Tuesday evening.

The home side took an early lead with points from Ronan McGuinness (2) and Conor Rennicks in the first 3 minutes.  Na Fianna replied with points in the 7th and 8th minutes.  Another 3 points from Emmet Hallinan (2) and a free from Niall Farrelly extended the home side’s lead to 4 points after 13 minutes.  The teams traded points from there to the half time whistle with Farrelly (2) and Joe Melia pointing for Kilskyre/Moylagh in response to 3 points from Na Fianna.  The hosts had a lucky escape just before the break when a Na Fianna shot came back off the crossbar to safety.  At the break it was 0.9 to 0.5 in favour of Kilskyre/Moylagh.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw Kilskyre/Moylagh extend their lead to 6 points with scores from Farrelly (2), Hallinan and McGuinness in reply to 2 points from Na Fianna.  The visitors pointed in the 18th minute to narrow the gap to 5 but from the puck out Conor Rennicks restored the 6-point lead.  Na Fianna piled on the pressure at this stage and with the home players legs tiring and available substitutes limited it took some heroic defending coupled with some good fortune to restrict them to 2 points in the 22nd and 24th minutes.  In the 24th minute substitute Eanna Brody pointed to give the home side some breathing space and in the final minute of added time he added a goal following excellent work from fellow substitute Paddy Grall to seal the victory.

Kilskyre/Moylagh: K Hannon, G Corrigan, Philip Grall, H Briody, C Foley, J Boyle, D O’Reilly, C Rennicks (0.2), K Foley, J Casserly, N Farrelly (0.5), J Melia (0.1), R McGuinness (0.3), E Hallinan (0.3), C Briody.

Subs:  Paddy Grall for C Briody, E Brody (1.1) for Hallinan, C Briody for Farrelly.

Referee: Conor Ferguson (Gaeil Colmcille)

By joeleavy Wed 30th Aug