Dicksboro 4-15
James Stephens 4-10

Trevor Spillane reports from Nowlan Park

A FINE SCORING performance saw Dicksboro blast their way to the Kilkenny senior hurling title.

The Boro got the better of their city rivals James Stephens in a high-scoring thriller at Nowlan Park. They roared into action, taking a decisive lead when Bill Sheehan netted a third-minute goal.

James Stephens fought back. Some good points from Mikey Drennan helped get them going, before Luke Scanlon’s 12th-minute strike left the sides all square nearing the end of the first quarter (1-4 to 1-4).

Dicksboro charged back. Oisin Gough fired home a great goal on 14 minutes, sparking a run that led to points from Shane Stapleton (free), Thomas Kenny, Martin Gaffney and Bill Sheehan. They surged even further ahead, Gough netting his second goal on 20 minutes, a score which helped Dicksboro move well clear (3-10 to 1-4).

James Stephens weren’t finished and made a late rally before half-time. David Walton flicked the sliotar to the net in the 23rd minute, before Tadhg Dwyer sent the green flag flying three minutes later. That late burst helped cut Dicksboro’s lead back to six points by half-time (3-11 to 3-5).

The second half wasn’t as high-scoring, but Dicksboro did enough to keep that gap between the sides. The sides swapped goals in quick succession, Martin Gaffney blasting to the Village net on 42 minutes before Matthew Ruth did the same at the other end, but the day belonged to Dicksboro.

SCORERS: Dicksboro – Oisin Gough (2-0); Bill Sheehan (1-3); Martin Gaffney (1-1); Shane Stapleton (0-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65); Ollie Walsh (0-2); Robbie Fitzpatrick, Thomas Kenny, Aidan Nolan, Paul O’Flynn (0-1 each). James Stephens - David Walton (1-5, 0-5 frees); Tadhg Dwyer, Luke Scanlon, Matthew Ruth (1-1 each); Mikey Drennan (0-2 each).

Dicksboro

1. Darragh Holohan
2. Conor Doheny
3. Evan Cody
4. Michael Fagan

5. Thomas Kenny
6. Cillian Buckley
7. Aidan Nolan

8. Ollie Walsh (capt)
9. Robbie Fitzpatrick

11. Eoin Gough
12. Shane Stapleton
21. Robbie Murphy

13. Martin Gaffney
10. Oisin Gough
15. Bill Sheehan

Subs: 20. Stephen Farrell for O. Gough, 46 mins
19. Kevin Kenny for Murphy, 52 mins
24. Paul O’Flynn for Gaffney, 58 mins
23. Eddie O’Donoghue for O. Gough, 60 mins

James Stephens

1. Derrick Brennan
5. Niall Delaney
3. Donnacha Cody
4. Tomas Keogh

2. David Hennessy
6. Jackie Tyrrell
7. Shane Donohoe

8. Conor Browne
9. Eoin Larkin

11. Niall Mullins
12. Matthew Ruth
13. Mikey Drennan

15. Tadhg Dwyer
10. Luke Scanlon
14. David Walton

Subs: 22. Jack McGrath for Hennessy, 31 mins
25. Matthew McWey for Drennan, 48 mins

Referee: Michael O’Sullivan (Ballyhale)

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