Dicksboro 2-23
Erin’s Own 1-19
Last year’s beat county finalists Dicksboro laid down an early marker in Group A of the St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League on Saturday as they overpowered Erin’s Own in both sides first game of the club season.
It was Erin’s Own who started the brighter of the two teams as Jack Buggy made no mistake from early frees. However, that early two-point lead would be the first and last time that they would lead in an enthralling encounter as points from play from Mark Nolan, Kevin Kenny and Kilkenny stalwart Cillian Buckley moving Dicksboro 0-05 to 0-04 ahead at the end of a hotly contested first quarter.
Erin’s Own sharp-shooter Buggy opened his account from play soon after the 15-minute mark with an expertly taken score but the men wearing maroon replied with Shane Stapleton putting over frees that the Erin’s Own defence disappointingly conceded along with two points from Aidan Nolan.
John Dowd and Conor Delaney got on the scoresheet as the half drew to a close and it looked certain to be a one-point game at the interval with the scoreboard reading Dicksboro 0-12 to 0-11 Erin’s Own on the 34-minute mark. That was not to be, however, as star man Aidan Nolan scored a crucial goal to give Dicksboro a four-point lead at the break.
Points from Kilkenny U20 hurler Jack Buggy and a James Brennan point from play reduced the deficit to a single point again but a youthful looking Erin’s Own side failed to find an equaliser as last year’s county runners-up pulled away the longer the second half went on.
Frees from Nolan gave the town club a 1-16 to 0-14 lead midway through the second half and a second goal from the ‘Boro was too much of a body-blow for Erin’s Own to bounce back from.
Kilkenny midfielder Conor Fogarty pulled a goal back for the northern club and two points from Dowd reduced Dicksboro’s lead to three points with 10 minutes remaining.
Again, Dicksboro sparked into life as soon as the game became a one-score game as Stapleton’s trusty free-taking kept ‘Comer at arm’s length. Two late points from Mark Nolan and Bill Sheehan sealed what was a far from comfortable victory for Dicksboro despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise.
Erin’s Own will be looking for their first victory of the year when they face Graigue Ballycallan next Saturday at 12pm at UPMC Nowlan Park while Dicksboro will be hoping to maintain their early 100% record when they go up against Clara at 2pm on Saturday in Gowran.
