Mighty Moorehouse points the way for impressive Bray
Emmets have too much class for gallant Kiltegan side
BRAY EMMETS KILTEGAN 3-17 2-11
COUNTY player Christy Moorehouse scored more than half of Bray Emmets points as they got their Dacia Senior Hurling Championship campaign off to a winning start after a nine-point victory over Nigel Byrne’s Kiltegan side in Joule Park in Aughrim on Monday evening.
After last year’s heartbreaking defeat to Glenealy and missing out on their fourth championship in a row, Bray Emmets set the pace early to prove that they would be difficult to stop this season. With new manager Paul Carley at the helm, they will be hoping to right last year’s wrongs.
Kiltegan will want to prove that they are worthy of a Senior hurling place but were thrown right in at the deep end with this opening match.
Both teams showed fighting spirit throughout the opening period but Bray, who were clear favourites going into the clash, showed their immense skill on the ball with many beautiful long passes from Cian O’Byrne and Eoin McCormack among others.
A lot of water was distributed to both sides on what was a very warm evening at Joule Park.
Conditions were almost perfect for a game of hurling, though the hard ground caused the ball to bounce significantly higher than usual, but Bray were taking advantage of this, proving their skill.
The Kiltegan defence was under pressure early on as nine minutes in Bray manufactured their first goal chance as Eoin McCormack’s low drive was well saved low to his right by goalkeeper Luke Byrne.
McCormack got his goal five minutes later as he broke through the Kiltegan defence running about 30 yards to then fire low into the net.
Kiltegan struggled to create opportunities as they went through the first half without a score from open play.
Their first real chance came from Padraig O’Toole but his shot well expertly blocked by Cian O’Byrne.
Kiltegan subsequently missed the 65 following the chance.
Sean O’Gorman’s frees were just about keeping the western side in the game.
Referee Eddie Leonard was called into action several times in the first half, distributing three yellow cards, as the possibility of it becoming a heated affair looked increasingly likely.
Bray scored several unanswered points to stretch them into a 10-point lead going into the interval.
The second half began much the same as the first did. Kiltegan struggled to clear their lines on many occasions as Bray reclaimed possession and were quicker to retrieve the loose ball, sometimes too easily for Kiltegan’s liking.
Bray Emmets showed their strength in depth with substitutes Cathail O Dualleachain and Liam Kenny putting in great shifts in the second half.
It took Kiltegan 49 minutes to post a score from open play as JJ Phelan fired over the bar.
The game calmed down in the early stages of the second half as Mr Leonard was rarely called into action.
Christy Moorehouse showed why he will be such an integral part in Bray’s charge this season with his accurate free taking.
Sean O’Gorman was matching him free for free, with open play being the difference between the two outfits.
Bray extended their lead after 52 minutes when great work from Liam Kenny led to the ball landing in the hands of Christy Moorehouse who slotted it home into the corner.
Four-time champions Bray Emmets looked strong under the high ball and even if they lost that battle, were almost always first to the loose ball.
In the closing stages, Kiltegan, who last won the championship back in 2001, got more points on the board to leave a healthier look on the scoreboard in a game that they were never really going to overturn the early deficit.
They fought right to the end, with Sean O’Gorman grabbing a goal, netting from a rebound after Bray keeper Peter O’Reilly blocked an effort from Liam Keogh.
Bray rubbed more salt into Kiltegan’s already damaged wounds when Cathail O Dualleachain’s block from goalkeeper Luke Byrne’s clearance ended up in the back of the net.
Kiltegan did however manage to score a second goal as O’Gorman completed his impressive tally of two goals and eight points, finishing from close range after goalie Peter O’Reilly dropped the ball into his path.
Bray never looked like they would be in any trouble from the first whistle to the final whistle and will be tough to beat this season.
They will be hoping to go one better this season after last season’s heartache under the leadership of new gaffer Paul Carley.
With Kiltegan only scoring three points from open play they will be hoping to improve that total in games to come. Despite this they will take many positives from this game.
Their desire and fight to the end will help them push on during what will surely be a really difficult season with many tricky tests to come.
Final Score: Bray Emmets 3-17 Kiltegan 2-11
Scorers - Bray Emmets: Christy Moorehouse 1-11 (5f, 1 65); Eoin McCormack 1-0, Cathail O Dualleachain 1-0, Cian O Byrne 0-2, Diarmuid Masterson 0-2, Tom Cash 0-1, MacDaragh O Midheach 0-1.
Kiltegan: Sean O Gorman 2-8 (8f); Padraig O Toole 0-1, JJ Phelan 0-1, Stephen Coogan 0-1.