Match report from the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior Section B S/F
James Stephens 1-19 Lisdowney 1-12
A well prepared James Stephens junior team took the field in Jenkinstown on Sunday morning for the Kilkenny JJ Kavanagh & Sons junior championship section B semi-final against Lisdowney and set about their business in double quick time. A blitz start saw The Village shoot into a 0-03 lead within 3 minutes and when dashing corner forward, Ethan Butler drove through the Lisdowney defence to hit the nett a minute later, Lisdowney were already 1-03 to 0-00 in arrears. The Lisdowney opener came via a point from Eoin Delaney in the 5th minute. Continuing on the offence the James Stephens attack forced many fouls from their opponents, which the inform David Walton punished from all angles. The water break saw James Stephens hold a 1-08 to 0-04 lead. On the return Lisdowney took charge reversing the roles through hard tackling by a strong half back line of Stephen Delaney, Peter Bergin and John Brenan driving the team forward and putting their opponents in the Village defence under pressure. Lisdowney outscored the city men by 0-04 to 0-02 in that quarter, thanks to free taker Aaron Fogarty which marginally reduced the James Stephens lead to 5 points at 1-10 to 0-08 at half time. A point for Lisdowney 2 minutes into the second half threatened a further Lisdowney revival but the Village attack soon clicked into action,and a foul on Ethan Butler following a brave catch on 10 minutes gave David Walton the opportunity to tap over another point — 13 in all over the hour.. Even allowing for a defensive slip up from a long range punt into the Village goalmouth resulting in a goal, just before the final water break which reduced their arrears to 4 points at 1-15 to 1-11 it failed to ignite a major response from the northern club men. A masterful defensive display led by centre back Jackie Tyrrell with huge help from the inside trio of Shane Murphy, Mikey Byrne and Adam O’Connor plus supportive wing men, Ben Lawlor and Ryan Scanlon was key to this victory for James Stephens. Hard as they tried, Lisdowney simply could not break down the James Stephens defensive barrier which secured them a comfortable 1-19 to 1-12 win and a place in the section B final against Dicksboro .
James Stephens : Gavin Costigan (0-1 F), Shane Murphy, Mikey Byrne, Adam O Connor, Ben Lawlor, Jackie Tyrrell, Jack McGrath (0-3), Ethan Butler (1-1), Geoff Coyne, Ryan Scanlon, David Walton (0-13) 7F, Jamie O Keeffe, Tommy Walton (0-1F) Tomás Keogh, Evan Buggy. Subs David McCormack
Lisdowney : Richard McEvoy (1-0F) Laurence Campion, Niall Mackey, Jack McGree, Stephen Delaney (0-1), Peter Bergin, John Brennan, Jack Dunphy (0-1), Luke Campion, Eibhan McEvoy, Aaron Fogarty(0-5F), Charlie Brennan (0-1), Luke Holohan, Eoin Delaney (0-1), Eoin Kenny Subs Killian Dunne (0-3), Eddie Hickey
By Mary Morgan Fri 22nd Oct
