Tuesday 14th August 2007 Round 2 Munster Hurling
League Ballyclough
Kilmoyley 2-9
Ballyduff Upper 0-13
The poor weather conditions did little to help Kilmoyley in this second round Munster league tie in Ballyclogh near Mallow, in a repeat of the 2006 Munster league final played earlier this year. Many players were late getting to the game due to the poor driving conditions and it was evident from the start that they were not focused on the task at hand as the Waterford side quickly got into their stride. The Kilmoyley players struggled to gain posession and when they did, it was often lost to their opponents who tried to play a short posession game. Thankfully for Kilmoyley the very wet conditions didn't suit such a type of game and the Kilmoyley defence to their credit showed great discipline by conceding no frees. 'Keeper Brendan Harris also made a couple of good interventions to deny Ballyduff a couple of goals. At the other end of the field the Kilmoyley forwards struggled and always seemed to be second to every ball. Only Shane Brick seemed to be making any impact although Joe Murnane and Paul McCarthy did try hard. It took ten minutes for the first score to be registered, as Shane Brick slotted over from close in. The sides were level shortly after and Kilmoyley then found themselves in arrears as the Ballyduff midfield pair piled on the pressure. The impressively large band of travelling Kilmoyley supporters must have wondered what brought them ninety minutes down the road to Mallow to watch such a poor performance from their team, and wonder what was in store two weeks ahead against Kerry's Ballyduff. Luckily for Kilmoyley, they were only three points in arrears at half time and surely there was better to come. Surely.
On the resumption James McCarthy and Billy Brick were introduced as subs, and the latter had an immediate effect as he pointed directly from the throw in after some good work by Eoin Sheehy. Kilmoyley had shown more promise in the first ten seconds than they had in the previous thirty minutes and the players responded with a wholehearted, determined performance for the remainder of the game. Paul McCarthy and Eoin Sheehy came into their own and they provided great backup to their defence as well as creating opportunities for their own forwards. Colin Harris and Tom Murnane were solid too in defence as was the full back line, limiting their opponents' scoring opportunities through tenacious play. Up front, Shane Brick was the only scoring forward although the others kept trying.
Edward Fitzgerald was introduced for Maurice Murnane at wing forward and the rest of the forward line was re-shuffled to shake things up. With quarter of the game remaining Joe Murnane won a free which Shane Brick struck home a bullet to the roof of the net to bring Kilmoyley back into the game. Five minutes later Murnane himself finished to the net "Mullumphy style" after good build up play from Eoin Sheehy to edge Kilmoyley two points ahead.
It was edge of the seat stuff at this stage with a few minutes to go as the Waterford side piled on the pressure. They were offered two handy frees both of which were converted to level the game. At this stage Padraig O'Sullivan was introduced for injured Joe Murnane and he too had an immediate effect slotting over a beauty of a point to give Kilmoyley the lead once more. but Ballyduff's pressure was relenting and it looked as if they would get in for an equalising score. But corner back Ian Brick latched onto a loose ball, soloed up the field and pointed from distance to give Kilmoyley a two point cushion. shortly after the referee blew the fulltime whistle much to the relief of the Kilmoyley team and supporters.
It was certainly a very good build up game for Kilmoyley but a repeat of the first half performance in the championship would result in a certain quick exit. However, if Kilmoyley can continue to play as they did in the second half they will be in with a great chance.
Thursday 26th July 2007 Round 1 Munster Hurling
League Lerrig
Kilmoyley 2-21
Garryspillane 3-10
Kilmoyley went into this encounter as underdogs, but thanks to a much improved second half display they overturned the odds and in the end won fairly comfortably. A strong breeze swept into the dressingroom corner of the field which tended to keep most of the play to that side of the field. Once again the sod at Lerrig was in perfect condition and it made for a lively encounter. As is normally the case, Kilmoyley struggled for momentum in the early stages and were perhaps waiting for their opponents to impose themselves on the game. A number of Kilmoyley passes and pickups went astray early on and the local crowd were vocal in their disapproval from the stand. But once Shane Brick slotted over the first score from a free, Kilmoyley settled and indeed added a goal by Billy Brick (who had earlier been nominated as captain for the County Championship). Kilmoyley conceded a number of soft frees at the other end to allow the visitors open their scoring through TJ Ryan and at this stage it was tit for tat between Shane Brick and TJ Ryan, with the Limerick man edging it with his sides first 1-5 from frees (the goal came from a harsh penalty). But following the penalty Kilmoyley came more into the game once more, and while our fullforward line were for long times starved of any decent posession, they certainly made the most of what they got. Some nice combination play from the forwards led to Kilmoyley's second goal, a peach from Shane Brick. But at the other end Garryspillane waltzed in for their second goal to narrow the gap within a few minutes and TJ Ryan got their only point from play shortly after to level the game. But two late points from Micheal Regan, who had come out the field gave Kilmoyley a 1-8 to 1-6 halftime lead.
Anthony Daly's half time speech certainly had an impact on the home side as Kilmoyley scored three points from play in as many minutes to stretch their lead. Kilmoyley won every breaking ball around midfield and allowed the Limerick men little time or space on the ball on their posession. Points from Shane Brick, Maurice and Joe Murnane and a great team effort from Micheal Regan gave Kilmoyley a comfortable lead going into the final quarter. Garryspillane's only score at this stage was a pointed '65. Kilmoyley were relentless in their pressure up front with some excellent passing and movenment in the forward line. Pat Flaherty, Paul McCarthy and Billy Brick added more points for the winners before the Kilmoyley mentors made a few changes for the final ten minutes. This allowed Garryspillane back into the game and for a brief period were completely on top scoring 1-2 in the final few minutes. But it was a significant win for Kilmoyley who were playing with a full panel for the first time in the year, and while there was plenty of reason to be optimistic for the upcoming county championship, Ballyduff will no doubt prove to be as tough an opponent.
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Kilmoyley Team
Brendan Harris, Sean Griffin, Padraig Regan, Ian Brick, Sean Fitzgerald, Tom Murnane, Colin Harris, Maurice Murnane, Eoin Sheehy, Paul McCarthy, Joe Murnane , Shane Brick, Sean Maunsell, Patrick Flaherty, Micheal Regan.
subs Billy Brick(25)for P Flaherty, James McCarthy(25) for S Maunsell, Edward Fitzgerald (45) for M Murnane, Padraig O'Sullivan (50) for J Murnane (inj).
Kilmoyley Team
Brendan Harris, Sean Griffin, Padraig Regan, Ian Brick, James McCarthy, Tom Murnane, Colin Harris, Maurice Murnane, Eoin Sheehy, Paul McCarthy, Patrick Flaherty, Shane Brick, Micheal Regan, Billy Brick, Joe Murnane.
subs Sean Maunsell (45)for P McCarthy, James Godley (50) for C Harris, Seanie Murnane (50) for I Brick .
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