Useful workout for Garden county side

at Shamrock Park

Once again the team fell foul to Sunday fixtures with one third of the team coming straight from club games.

While nobody is offering this as an excuse, it is impossible ask of young lads of this age to be playing back to back fixtures especially in the heat of the day.

Full credit has to be given to Kilkenny they were a very attractive footballing side full of running and counter-attacking.

They were a very disciplined and organised. From the first whistle they were going forward trying to stretch Wicklow.

Wicklow did have did have their chances and could have been two or three up before Kilkenny scored. Cody Reid, Eoin Doyle, Ross Quinn and Josh Odlum all going close.

But it was the counter-attack that undone Wicklow as they showed a certain amount of naivety.

Players pouring forward adding to the attack with tired legs it left us vulnerable and susceptible as we succumbed to their counter-attack.

Wicklow got back into the game and again began to threaten Kilkenny once again they showed their naivety getting drawn in and hit on the counter-attack. Wicklow went further behind as a through ball split our defence and allowed them to open up a three-goal lead at the break.

Half-time gave Wicklow a chance to regroup and examine they mistakes. The second half saw a far more disciplined side, tougher to break down. Wicklow then took the initiative and played Kilkenny at their own game, as Eoin Doyle released Ben Free on a counter-attack of our own. Ben rounded the keeper and calmly slotted home.

Kilkenny did score late in the second half making the score 1-4 at the end.