Knockbridge inflict heavy defeat in opening round

Beaten finalist in 2023 the hurlers of Naomh Moninne produced an inauspicious performance to open this year's Senior Championship campaign with a heavy defeat at the hands of Knockbridge in this opening round match played at Dowdallshill last Thursday night.

Moninne were the better team in the opening half, however eight wides proved costly as they trailed by the minimum at the break. 

Few would have predicted what ensued in the second half as Knockbridge hit them for six, goals that is, to put themselves in a good position to qualify for this year's final.

A victory against champions St Fechins in Dowdallshill this Thursday night (7.30pm) would guarantee that place, however victory for the holders would see things going down to the last round match a week later.

The experienced Shane Fennell fired over the opening point for the village outfit early on, before a foul on Conor Murphy saw Darren Geoghegan knock over an equalising point from a 20 metre free on four minutes. 

A terrific point from the left wing by Dylan Carey was added to by another from play by Murphy set up by Sam Phelan as the black and amber outfit extended their advantage. 

Knockbridge were back on level terms by the quarter hour thanks to a point from David Kettle and a long range free from Fennell. 

Keeper Mark Wallace denied Sam Phelan an opening goal with a low save but Moninne were back in front when the hard working Aaron McGuinness Smith found the target from the right wing.

Geoghegan doubled his sides lead again from a free in the middle of the field but once again Knockbridge tied up matters on 23 minutes with a brace from the sticks of full forward Ricky McKeown and Fennell. 

A minute later McKeown netted from close range as the Moninne defence failed to clear. Darren Geoghegan and James Costello then exchanged points and in the time that remained to the break two further Geoghegan pointed frees had his side trailing by 1-6 to 0-8 at half time. 

The momentum quickly turned in Knockbridge's favour as they pounced for two quick fire goals at the start of the second half. 

After a Shane Fennell free came back off the right hand post it was David Kettle who reacted quickest to net from close range. In their very next attack Stephen Hoey soloed in from the right wing before firing past keeper Donal Connolly. 

Moninne responded with points from a Geoghegan free and a good point from Conor Murphy as they remained just five in arrears 0-10 to 3-6 with a quarter hour remaining. 

That's as good as it got for John Murphy's side as to their horror they conceded four further goals over the next 12 minutes. 

First up James Costello set up Ricky McKeown for goal number four on 46 minutes. Centre half Sean Flynn then found the top left hand corner from distance with a goal that would have graced Croke Park.

A point from a free from Shane Fennell, their only point of the second half, extended their lead to eleven points.

McKeown grabbed his third goal of this encounter on 54 minutes and it was not long before goal number seven arrived as Gareth Hall fired home from close range. 

To summarise Knockbridge scored 14 scores to Moninne's 12 scores but still won by 16 points.

KNOCKBRIDGE: Mark Wallace; Andrew Smith, Ronan Byrne, Daire McKiernan; Ben Goss Kieran, Conor Quigley, Andrew McCrave; Stephen Kettle, James Costello (0-1); Stephen Hoey (1-0), Sean Flynn (1-0), Gareth Hall (1-0); David Kettle (1-1), Ricky McKeown (3-1), Shane Fennell (0-4).

Subs: Aidan O Brien for S Hoey (37), Robbie Wallace for J Costello (49), Michael Keane for S Fennell (56), Ronan Mulholland for D Mc Kiernan (60).

NAOMH MONINNE: Donal Connolly; Cathal Azzorpardi, Darren O Hanrahan, Conor Whyte; Sean Magill, Aaron McGuinness Smith (0-1), James Murphy; Mark Gahan, Darren Geoghegan (0-8); Andrew Mackin, Dylan Carey (0-1), Tadhg Dowdall; Connor Murphy (0-2), Stephen Ryan, Sam Phelan.

Subs: David Yore for S Ryan (37), Eoin Murphy for T Dowdall (52), Paul Challoner for C Azzopardi (54), James Byrne for S Phelan (60).

WIDES: Knockbridge 8 (4 in first half); Naomh Moninne 12 (8 in first half).

REFEREE: Derek Ryan (Sean O Mahoney's).