Match of the Week: St Kevin’s Kilian’s see off tough Commercials

ST KEVIN’S/Kilian’s made it two wins from two in Division Four of the Under 13 Hurling League after recording a 4-8 to 1-7 victory over Commercials in Rathcoole last Saturday.

Missing several key players for this tie, the Tallaght side was certainly made work for the spoils by their hosts, who are still awaiting the first points of their campaign.

A hat-trick of goals by Sean Kelly and furthers scores from Joe Joyce went a long way to seeing the Saints emerge on top.

Kelly accounted for their opening goal of the day when he saw his effort fly through a number of bodies en route to the back of the net.

Joyce also chalked up a goal when he won a puck-out to midfield before slipping several challenges as he burst forward to create the space needed for his strike to the target.

St Kevin’s Kilian’s made it two wins from two in Division Four

Commercials, however, remained well in contention as James Walsh struck over the bar and Fionn Bailey weighed in with a handful of points from both play and frees.

And when a long ball in from Walsh fell nicely for Marley Gregg, the Commercials player pulled on the ball first time to see it past goalkeeper, Charlie Bramble.

Commercials battled all the way, but were still left awaiting their first league win

Bramble, himself, turned in great performance in goal for Kevin’s/Kilian’s, keeping his side in front on several occasions, most notably when he pulled off a fine stop from Edward Murphy that appeared destined for the back of the net.

Darragh Crone, Gregg, Sean Roche and Bailey also went close to adding to Commercials only goal of the match, but Bramble was more than up to the task.

Eoghan Brogan of St Kevin’s Kilians puts in a challenge on Commercials’ Donncha Scanlon during their sides’ clash in Division Four of the Under 13 Hurling League

Indeed the homeside may have been left wondering if they would have stood a better chance of salvaging something from this tie had they opted to put these efforts over the bar rather than going for the big score.

With their opponents countering very effectively, Commercials were left chasing the match as Kelly again rattled the net and Adam Fitzpatrick unloaded a superb 40-yard effort over the bar while Tiarnan Poole was proving quite a headache too for the home defence.

Commercials’ Diarmuid Walsh keeps a close eye on the ball

Daniel Devoy and Jamie Murray in the full back line were uncompromising for the visitors as was Eoghan Brogan among the half backs.

As a result, scores were at a premium for this Commercials outfit which never let up in their drive for a way back into the match.

While they were dealt hammer blows by Kelly and Joyce, particularly late on in the tie, they did see a number of their own defenders turn in solid shifts, particularly Sean McGrail at full back and Dermot Walsh at centre back while netminder, Jonathan Kinsella pulled off a couple of fine saves.

St Kevin’s Kilian’s Joe Joyce serves up a fine display of ball control

But it was not enough to prevent their Tallaght rivals inflicting on them another defeat, although they will have another chance to get off the mark in Division Four when they take on Faughs later this evening.

COMMERCIALS : J Kinsella, C Daly, S McGrail, O Fogarty, C O’Conghaile, D Walsh, C Birchall, F Bailey, M Gregg, J Walsh, J Whelan, D Scanlon, E O’Brien, H McLindon, S Roche, E Murphy, F Hurley, D Crone.

ST KEVIN’S/KILIAN’S : C Bramble, A Carroll, J Murray, D Devoy, E Brogan, B Mackin, R Phelan, J Joyce, S Kelly, T Poole, J Waine, A Fitzpatrick, S Costello