Our Piltown hurlers recorded their first win in their first outing of 2017 when they beat Parnells of Dublin in Round 1 of the Leinster Hurling League on the 25th February 2017.
Ronan Ryan opened Piltown’s scoring in the second minute with a great pass from Martin Power. Parnells then went on the attack but Tom Kenny put a stop to that and found Neil Kelly up the line. With a pass across the field, Neil found David Kinsella who raised the white flag in the sixth minute and David’s point was followed very quickly with a great point from John Kenny. Kevin Walsh impressed when he won the Piltown puckout and with a quick turn, sent the ball high over the bar for a wonderful point and his first of the afternoon. Our mid-field pairing of Aaron Gallagher and Martin Power worked tirelessly throughout the afternoon and Martin’s hard work paid off with a great point in the eight minute. Kevin Walsh & Parnell’s half-forward (who scored nine of their points) traded points from converted frees over the next four minutes, scoring two apiece.
A free conceded by Piltown in the fifteenth minute saw Parnells go for goal but it was saved and they had to settle for a point from a converted free in the sixteenth minute. Points from Neil Kelly and Ian Long brought us to the twenty third minute and another converted free from Parnells. In the twenty fourth minute, Martin Power again won the ball and found Darragh Walsh who had made a run up the middle. Darragh sent in a high ball and a lovely flick from Ian Long on the edge of the square saw him find the back of the net. Another converted free from Parnells saw out the first half. HT score Piltown 1-9 Parnells 0-5.
The intensity increased from the start of the second half, resulting in the second half being dominated by scores from converted frees, starting with Kevin Walsh in the thirty fourth minute. Parnell’s half forward again hit the target with a long range point and another point from a converted free. Then began a period wherein Kevin Walsh traded points with Parnells, 5 points from Kevin (four from converted frees) and four from Parnells (two from converted frees) which brought us to the fifty third minute. Parnells then went on the attack and over the course of the next six minutes, scored 1-3, two of which were from converted frees. With minutes to go, Ronan Ryan found Philly Kenny who tapped over a great point and Kevin Walsh closed out the match with a point from a converted free in injury time. FT score Piltown 1-17 Parnells 1-13.
Piltown panel: Conor Friend, Tom Kenny, Seamus Norris, Michael (Mixer) O’Dwyer, Shane Walsh, Darragh Walsh, Aidan Nugent, Martin Power (0-1), Aaron Gallagher, Ian Long (1-1), Kevin Walsh (0-10, 0-8f), Neil Kelly (0-1), John Kenny (0-1), Ronan Ryan (0-1), David Kinsella (0-1).
Subs: Thomas Talbot, Jamie Norris, Thomas Murray, Philly Kenny (0-1), Niall Kinsella.
Ref: Julian O'Dwyer
