There were two big games in Kilkenny on Saturday.
James Stephens took on Erin’s Own in Ballyragget in the county senior quarter-final with a spot in a semi-final against Ballyhale Shamrocks the prize. Meanwhile, Glenmore were up against last year’s beaten finalists Graigue Ballycallan in the intermediate quarter final in Ballyhale.
Erin’s Own 0-14 James Stephens 0-14
Erin’s Own flew out of the blocks in Ballyragget and by half-time they held a three point, 0-8 0-5 lead over the Village. The Castlecomer side were unfancied outsiders coming into this one. Only a last gasp Conor Fogarty free saved them from a spot in the relegation final but their subsequent victory over Carrickshock in a replay obviously gave them some confidence.
And they picked up from where they left off in the second half. They scored the first two points after the interval to race into a double score, 0-10 0-5 lead with 35 minutes on the clock.
There was always going to be a kick in the 1/4 shots though and they sprung to life soon after. 34-year-old Kilkenny legend Eoin Larkin began the revival with a point from play and with David Walton tacking on the frees, there was a game in Ballyragget.
A point from Kilkenny senior Luke Scanlon brought it back to a one point game with five minutes left but Erin’s Own stretched their legs again.
Full time Senior Championship Quarter Final Erin’s Own 0-14 James Stephens 0-14
Draw at full time. Close, exciting match from start to finish.
Well done to all the boys.
Replay next weekend. 👍🏻@KilkennyCLG @StCanicesCU pic.twitter.com/GulKPJT6jO— Erins Own (@ErinsOwnGaa) October 6, 2018
That man Eoin Larkin clawed the favourites back into it with a late leveller and only for a last gasp Comer free going wide, the Village would have been finished.
They’ll have to do it all again in the replay next weekend.
Graigue/Ballycallan 2-21 Glenmore 0-16
Meanwhile, Graigue Ballycallan – a part of SportsJOE’s eight team accumulator this weekend – defeated Glenmore 2-21 to 0-16 in the Kilkenny Intermediate quarter-final.
Aided by the breeze in the first half, underdogs Glenmore got off to a good start with Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy pointing twice in the first 15 minutes of the game. He was lining out in the half forward line and one of his points came from play and one was from a free.
Graigue/Ballycallan were quick to respond, however with former county minor Sean Ryan scoring the only goal of that first half. The youngster’s goal was followed up by a point from play from a man on the opposite end of his hurling career with club and Kilkenny legend Eddie Brennan showing age is just a number just days after his 40th birthday.
The fact that Graigue Ballycallan took a one point lead into the break, despite playing against the elements, was telling. They would go onto dominate the game in the second half with Ryan, his brother the Kilkenny senior Billy and the St Kieran’s College star Jesse Roberts turning it on in the second half, with Eddie Brennan raising a second white flag to seal the deal.
