Pat’s have three points to spare over Kilcoole

ST PATRICK’S KILCOOLE 1-14 1-11

LAST year’s Junior A champions St Patrick’s made the short trip to Ashford on Tuesday evening last to face Kilcoole in round two of the Intermediate hurling championship.

The game must have brought mixed feelings for St Patrick’s manager Michael Neary, which saw him face his former colleagues from the Goosebank.

Over the years these two clubs always bring out the best in each other and on this occasion it was no different as the game saw committed teams do battle in what was an excellent game of hurling from start to finish.

The end result saw St Patrick’s earn the bragging rights when they emerged victorious with a three-point winning margin, but only after them held off a late challenge when Kilcoole were awarded a late free which saw Fintan Donnelly’s shot saved by a solid winners’ defence as St Patrick’s held on for the win.

The opening round saw Kilcoole suffer a five-point defeat by Carnew Emmets, while the Wicklow town side failed to field against Glenealy which is a matter for the board room.

This latest encounter between these sporting rivals was a pleasure to watch and kept the small band of supporters present on their toes right to the end before referee Ciaran Manley blew full time which left a better balanced Wicklow town side worthy winners in what good all round team performance.

The opening minutes saw both sides record a wide each before an attack resulted in midfielder Niall Hantan being fouled which saw John Dee O’Brien point.

A quick response saw Kilcoole take the game to their opponents, but they found the Wicklow town defence were solid with all six backs playing their part which left scores hard to come by, which resulted in three wides being recorded by the challengers.

After both sides missed two scoring chances county player Ronan Keddy scored a point from a free, which brought a quick response from the winners which saw James Bonner O’Brien land a point, while John Dee O’Brien added his second point to edge his side further ahead, 0-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes.

The opening goal saw a move involving several players which saw full-forward John O’Brien win possession before he cracked the ball past Ryan Heffernan.

At this stage Michael Neary’s side had their tails up and went through a good spell, but their shooting let them down as they recorded four wides in a row from play and placed balls.

Kilcoole kept plugging away which saw Ronan Keddy take control around the middle of the park and he proved a thorn in the winners’ defence with two points, one from play, to reduce the deficit.

With play flowing from end to end in what proved to be a shootout between Keddy and Dee O’Brien the St Patrick’s club man responded with a point from play, which left the score 1-4 to 0-3.

With both defences on top scores were hard to come by which saw six minutes elapse without a score.

Kilcoole set about reducing the deficit and were given a glimmer of hope when after a move involving a number of players impressive Shane Evans found the net.

The remainder of the half saw a point each exchanged by top marksmen Ronan Keddy and John Dee O’Brien, which left the half-time score 1-5 to 1-4 in favour of the winners.

Kilcoole were first out of the traps after the break and were rewarded with a point from play by Ronan Keddy to bring the sides level.

Not for the first time in the game St Patrick’s responded with points from Jimser O’Brien and John Dee O’Brien.

The game continued to be a competitive contest, which saw both defences on top, which forced both sets of forwards to be off target from play and frees, before John Dee O’Brien and Luke Evans exchanged a point each from play.

The hard-working Luke Evans brought the sides level at 1-7 each at the end of the third quarter.

With both teams focused on the task ahead and keen to collect the spoils, the game upped the tempo once more but it was the winners who laid down a marker with four unanswered points.

Corner-forward Jimser O’Brien set the ball rolling with a point and second half substitute George O’Brien landed two points in a row, while John Dee O’Brien pointed a 65 to give the winners a four-point cushion, 1-11 to 1-7.

Not for the first time in the game Ronan Keddy inspired his team mates when he scored two points from play while Jason Walsh also added a point from play to reduce the deficit to a single point with six minutes remaining.

Just as they did all through the game John Dee O’Brien and Ronan Keddy showed their ability as free-takers when they exchanged a point each.

The remainder of the game saw the winners add two more points through John Dee O’Brien and midfielder Niall Hantan which left St Patrick’s worthy winners in a good all round team performance in what was a sporting contest which left referee Ciaran Manley with an easy task as hurling was the real winner on the evening.

Scorers - St Patrick’s: John Dee O’Brien (0-8, three frees, one 65, John O’Brien (1-0), George O’Brien (0-2), Jimser O’Brien (0-2), Niall Hantan (0-1), James Bonner O’Brien (0-1).

Kilcoole: Ronan Keddy (0-8, three frees), Shane Evans (1-0), Luke Evans (0-2), Jason Walsh (0-1).