Killenaule reap the rewards of strong second half performance

Killenaule 3-24 Sean Treacys 1-18

Killenaule turned in a blistering second half performance to overcome the challenge of Sean Treacys in the FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 4 Round 2 clash at sunny Dundrum on Saturday to record their first win in the championship.

After an opening round defeat to Burgess, the Robins needed a big display to get their campaign back on track and they delivered in style, outscoring the West Tipp side by 1-10 to 0-1 in the first twenty minutes of the second half.

It was an awesome second period from Killenaule after a less than impressive first. They trailed Sean Treacys by 0-3 to no score after three minutes and were still behind at the break by 1-11 to 1-10.

However, they were a transformed side in the second, led by their brilliant captain Joe O’Dwyer, whose final total of 1-9 included a great first half goal.

Second half goals from Luke Ryan and Paudie Feehan embellished their win, with good performances off the bench from Eoin Shaw and Dara Fitzgerald.

The result raises real relegation fears for Sean Treacys after losing their first round game to St Mary’s, and their final group game against Burgess will now be a real pressure encounter. They opened brightly and were the better team for the first quarter with Eoin Sheldon, Patrick Dawson and Paddy Carey looking sharp.

But when Killenaule turned on the afterburners in the second period, they couldn’t live with the South side. After a bright opening half, their seven points in the second half, on a glorious day for hurling, was a poor return.

Killenaule will now relish their final group game against table-toppers St Mary’s, with the two South sides battling for group honours.

But on one of the hottest days of the summer on Saturday, they were slow to get into their stride. They looked off the pace as Treacys ran into a three-points lead in three minutes, with Paddy Carey pointing from a free and a 65, and Eoin Sheldon knocking a nice score over from play.

Nice interplay with Paudie Feehan saw Tom Stakelum open Killenaule’s account in the fourth minute but Colm Kennedy quickly restored Treacys’ three-points advantage. A Patrick Deegan point from a quickly-taken sideline was sandwiched between Killenaule points from Paudie Feehan and Tom Stakelum, before two in a row from Patrick Dawson and a Paddy Carey 65 put the West side four ahead, 0-7 to 0-3.

Then four in a row from Killenaule, with two Joe O’Dwyer frees and points from play from Mark Stakelum and Luke Ryan, saw them draw level, before a fifth on the spin from the impressive Mark Stakelum put them ahead for the first time.

And it got even better when a high ball from Paudie Feehan was gathered by team captain Joe O’Dwyer, who rounded Sean Treacys goalkeeper and captain Shane Stapleton to shoot to the net for the game’s opening goal.

However, the Killenaule celebrations had hardly died down when Sean Treacys scored an equally good goal, Patrick Deegan shooting from a tight angle to beat Joe Caesar to leave it 1-8 to 1-7 for Killenaule after twenty minutes. And with Killian O’Dwyer having to leave the field injured, they were behind within two minutes, with Treacys points from Paddy Carey and Jody Ryan.

The margin remained one point at the break, 1-11 to 1-10, with Killenaule points from Mark Stakelum and a Joe O’Dwyer free responded to by Michael Feehan and Patrick Dawson for Sean Treacys.

However, that was the last time that Treacys were in contention, as a whirlwind third quarter decided the outcome for Killenaule.

After Paddy Carey failed to extend the Treacys lead in the first minute of the second half, when a free came back off the upright, Killenaule went into overdrive. In the next move, Paudie Feehan drew them level and they bossed the game for the next twenty minutes, going 2-20 to 1-12 ahead.

Their hurling was superb with Paddy Codd, Jimmy Feehan, Joe O’Dwyer, Tom Stakelum, Paudie Sheehan, Mark Stakelum and Luke Ryan pulling the strings.

Joe O’Dwyer restored their lead with a free from his own half; Mark Stakelum pushed it out to two points from a Luke Ryan pass; Joe O’Dwyer pointed three more frees, as well as a superb point from play from the touchline; great passing from Finn Nolan and Joe O’Dwyer set up Luke Ryan for a score, who also had a well-taken goal; a similar flowing move involving Thomas Keaveney and Mark Stakelum put Dara Fitzgerald through to score; and Eoin Ryan knocked over a nice point.

The only Sean Treacys response during that Killenaule scoring spree was a pointed free from Paddy Carey.

A game that had been competitive and full of intensity was now virtually over with twenty minutes left. A Paddy Carey pointed free was Treacys’ second point of the second half after 20 minutes, but every time they tried to hit back, Killenaule came back stronger.

The sides traded points over those closing ten minutes that didn’t alter the outcome. But to put an even better gloss on their performance, Killenaule finished with a great goal in the closing minutes, Paudie Feehan winning possession from a Joe O’Dwyer free to give Shane Stapleton no chance in the Treacys goal.

Much of Killenaule’s play was outstanding, as they have worked hard to overcome the disappointments of their South final defeat to Carrick Swan, and first round county campaign loss to Burgess. Joe O’Dwyer is an inspirational captain from open play and placed balls, and drives the team on with his energy.

Killian O’Dwyer’s departure through injury might have caused problems but replacement Eoin Shaw fitted in seamlessly. And with players of the calibre of Paudie Feehan, Luke Ryan, Mark Stakelum, Dara Fitzgerald and Paddy Codd, the Robins will now look forward to an extended run in the championship.

For Sean Treacys, attention now turns to the do-or-die clash with north divisional champions Burgess. Treacys’ first half performance on Saturday will give them cause for hope, with fine displays from Paddy Carey, Eoin Sheldon, Patrick Deegan, Patrick Dawson and Brian Carey, but their virtual collapse in the second half will cause concern.

Killenaule: Joe Caesar, Finn Nolan, Paddy Codd, Jack Hassett, Ciaran O’Dwyer, Jimmy Feehan, Eoin O’Connell, Killian O’Dwyer, Joe O’Dwyer 1-9, 8 frees; Thomas Keaveney, Fionn Fitzgerald, Tom Stakelum 0-2; Luke Ryan 1-4, 2 frees; Paudie Feehan 1-2; Mark Stakelum 0-4.

Subs: Eoin Shaw 0-1 for Killian O’Dwyer, Oisin Shelly for Mark Stakelum, Dara Fitzgerald 0-2 for Fionn Fitzgerald, Nathan Barrett for Tom Stakelum.

Sean Treacys: Shane Stapleton, Brian Nolan, Sean Hickey, Andrew O’Brien, Eoin Sheldon 0-1; Paul Nolan, Sean Ryan, Cillian Kennedy, Patrick Deegan 1-3; Brian Carey 0-2 frees; Michael Feehan 0-1; Colm Kennedy 0-1; Paddy Carey 0-7, 4 frees, 2 65s; Patrick Dawson 0-2; Jody Ryan 0-1.

Subs: Brendan O’Dwyer for Brian Nolan, Darragh Kennedy for Patrick Dawson, Tom Hickey for Cillian Kennedy, Stevie Carr for Colm Kennedy, Donncha O’Brien for Paddy Carey.

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne/Templetuohy).