Former Kilkenny hurling all-star Brian McEvoy displayed his talent for the round ball as he scored a hat-trick of first-half goals for county senior football champions James Stephens. They easily defeated Cashel (Longford ) in the Leinster intermediate club football championship in Larchfield last Sunday afternoon.
Virtually lining out with the same team that lost the county senior hurling final to Ballyhale Shamrocks, the Village have recorded two notable victories in the Leinster championship.
Inspired by David McCormack they recorded an impressive victory away to Wicklow intermediate football champions Carnew, and full of confidence after that splendid victory they carried that momentum into the next round.
The match originally scheduled for Nowlan Park was switched to James Stephens club grounds in Larchfield, and buoyed on by the home supporters the Village took control from the outset in awful conditions.
McEvoy opened his account in the 10th minute before a fisted effort in the 20th minute extended their dominance.
He completed his hat-trick in the 25th minute after being set up by Joe Mernagh, as the Longford men couldn’t deal with the horrendous weather elements.
The Village remained in control during the second half, and inspired by the excellence of Jackie Tyrrell along with Tomas Keogh, Niall McQuillan, James Moran and Eoin Larkin, the Village were full value for their 9 point victory.
They have home advantage in the semi-final against St Ultans of Meath on Sunday week.
It was a victorious weekend for Kilkenny football as southern men Mooncoin recorded a 1-7 to 0-4 victory over Shroid Shlashers in round one the junior provincial club football championship.
Tullogher-Rosbercon continued their pursuit of provincial glory as they comfortably defeated Kyle of Laois in the quarter-final of the Leinster junior club championship.
Played in horrendous weather conditions that made the surface impossible to play hurling, a Walter Walsh goal sent the Kilkenny junior champions 1-3 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.
They added six unanswered points during the second-half as a resolute defence led by the inspiring Pat Hartley restricted the threat of Kyle.
Erin’s Own should advance to a provincial final on Sunday week without little difficulty against Wexford intermediate champions Blackwater who wouldn’t provide the same threat as Carlow senior hurling champions Naomh Brid. While Shamrocks should progress with little fuss to a Leinster senior final showdown against Birr or their Wexford counterparts St Martins.
They face Westmeath champions Raharney who snatched a last minute goal against Mullinavat in the first round of the 2006 Leinster intermediate hurling championship.
However, the Westmeath champions will be out of their depth here.
It was a busy weekend of club hurling in Kilkenny with under-21 games taking place both North and South at Roinn A & B.
The Northern under-21 hurling semi-final between city rivals O’Loughlin Gaels and Dicksboro was postponed due to the bereavement of Denis Phillipott.
Philipott who had been suffering with terminal illness was a Cork man by birth.
He worked as a teacher at St Kierans College and was also a selector of the Kilkenny All-Ireland minor team in 1988.
He subsequently became involved in the Young Irelands (Gowran ) management team under John Brennan as they successfully won the 2002 senior county final.
Most recently he was a selector on the Dicksboro minor team that lost the county decider to Erin’s Own (Castlecomer ) and his passing will be badly missed in hurling circles.
The Castlecomer club are enjoying an unforgettable year and they’re motoring well at the under-21 grade as well.
They defeated a strongly fancied Danesfort 3-6 to 0-8 in slippery underfoot conditions in Clara.
Erin’s Own will now face Clara in the semi-final, which will be delayed because of the Intermediates Leinster campaign.
The Northern “B” under-21 semi-final saw Lisdowney and Emeralds abandoned at half-time due to an un-playable surface in Ballyraggett.
That game has being re-fixed for this Sunday at 2pm again in Ballyraggett.
Down south, Ballyhale Shamrocks and Piltown produced a rip-roaring contest and inspired by TJ Reid, the Shamrocks men squeezed through by the skin of their teeth as they won an enthralling battle 3-9 to 1-14.
Shamrocks who dominated the under-21 county grade up until last year will face Rower-Inistioge in the southern decider.
Carrickshock and Mullinavat will contest the Roinn B southern decider scheduled for Mooncoin on Sunday.
Mullinavat defeated Mooncoin 0-8 to 0-5 in a low scoring game spoiled by the horrendous weather, while Carrickshock had little difficulty in defeating Glenmore 2-8 to 0-8 in Carrigeen on Sunday.
Rower-Inistioge won a bruising Roinn B county minor decider as first-half goals from James Cassin sent them to a 2-8 to 0-8 victory over Young Irelands (Gowran ).
