Experienced Clonkill deny Castletown Geoghegan side

IHC - Clonkill 2-18, Castletown Geoghegan 0-8

By Shane King

Clonkill opened their Intermediate Hurling Championship campaign in impressive fashion with a comprehensive victory over Castletown Geoghegan in difficult conditions at Rochfortbridge on Wednesday evening.

Played in persistent rain and a strong wind, the opening game of this year’s club championship never truly developed into a contest as a more experienced Clonkill side proved far too strong for a youthful Castletown outfit.

The winners were efficient throughout and took complete control after the break, with Kian Loughlin producing an influential display and finishing as Clonkill’s top scorer, while John Kenny and Oisín Loughlin were among the key players in their victory.

The game was slow to ignite, with both sides guilty of early misses before Kian Loughlin opened the scoring from a placed ball. Clonkill then struck for the first goal when Oisín Loughlin delivered a good ball into John Kenny, who showed excellent skill to flick the sliotar over his head and to the net.

Castletown responded immediately through a fine long-range effort from Fergal O’Brien, aided by the breeze, but Clonkill soon tightened their grip on proceedings. Kenny grabbed his second goal after good approach play involving Oisín and Kian Loughlin, with Alex Smyth supplying the final pass.

Rory Quinn converted two frees in succession to reduce the deficit, although the first effort appeared to drift narrowly wide but was awarded by the match officials. Clonkill quickly restored control as Kian Loughlin replied with two pointed frees to re-establish a six-point advantage.

Conal Fagan added a well-taken point for Castletown approaching the end of the first quarter, but Clonkill finished the half strongly. Daire McLaughlin opened the scoring burst with an excellent point before Niall Dowdall and Kian Loughlin added further scores to leave the winners firmly in command.

Quinn landed another free before the interval, but Clonkill still held a comfortable seven-point lead at the break.

With the wind now at their backs, Clonkill effectively settled the outcome early in the second half. John Kenny opened the scoring from play before Oisín Loughlin won possession superbly and split the posts. Kian Loughlin then added a free and an excellent point from open play as the gap continued to widen.

Castletown endured a frustrating spell, registering several wides before David O’Malley finally got their first score of the half with a well-worked point in the 45th minute.

Clonkill responded with another dominant spell, reeling off five unanswered points. Two frees from Kian Loughlin were supplemented by scores from John Kenny, Scott Murtagh and Josh Murtagh as the lead stretched to 15 points.

The black and ambers continued to battle against the elements and were rewarded with late frees converted by Adam Cassidy and Fergal O’Brien. However, Clonkill had the final say as Kian Loughlin, Christopher Austin and Oisín Loughlin all found the target to complete an emphatic opening-round victory.

Scorers - Clonkill: K Loughlin 0-9 (7f), J Kenny 2-2, O Loughlin 0-2, D McLaughlin, N Dowdall, S Murtagh, J Murtagh and C Austin 0-1 each.

Castletown Geoghegan: R Quinn 0-3 (3f), F O’Brien 0-2 (1f), A Cassidy, D O’Malley and C Fagan 0-1 each.

Clonkill: Scott Murray; Conor Daly, Patrick Dowdall, Paul Poynton; Josh Murtagh, Darragh Kenny, Jack Murtagh; Oisín Dowdall, Carl McCormack; Alex Smyth, Oisín Loughlin, Daire McLaughlin; Niall Dowdall, John Kenny, Kian Loughlin. Subs: Shane Power for N Dowdall (HT), Scott Murtagh for McLaughlin (40), Eoin Kenny for J Kenny (49), Darragh Egerton for Smyth (49), Christopher Austin for O Dowdall (49).

Castletown Geoghegan: Eoin Glennon; Conor Maloney, Alan Conlon, Mikey Lynam; Pádraig Kane, David O’Malley, Seán Clarke; Fergal O’Brien, Eoin Carey; Conal Fagan, Rory Quinn, Killian Jackson; Adam Cassidy, Dean Slevin, Ciarán O’Brien. Subs: Aaron Jackson for Slevin (18), Paul O’Sullivan for Fagan (HT), Peter Dalton for S Clarke (42), Shane Maloney for K Jackson (49), R Boyne for D O’Malley (55).

Referee: Eoin Cawley (Cullion).