Timely goals crucial for Kevin Lynch's in Lavey

Kevin Lynch's HC 2-17 ... Lavey 0-14

Goals either side of half time paved the way for a comfortable opening round victory in Leadon Timber Frame Hurling Championship Group A for Kevin Lynch’s on Friday evening in Lavey.

With the sides locked at eight points apiece on the stroke of the interval, the visitors struck a crucial goal through Stevie O’Neill and then on the resumption Richie Mullan converted a penalty ensuring there was no way back for the hosts. It was a deserved victory built on a solid defensive display from John Mullan, Shea Millar and Conor Kelly rock solid, particularly in the opening half, as they faced into a stiff wind.

The Kevin Lynch’s defence easily coping with Lavey’s long deliveries into the forward lines. Meanwhile at the other end, the Lynch’s spread the sliotar around much better and with passes into space they gave their forward line much better scoring opportunities.

This was a crucial game for both sides in a group that also contains the reigning champions Slaughtneil who are expected to top the group. With the top two advancing the senior semi-finals, this result means that Kevin Lynch’s have taken a huge step towards already gaining one of those spots with Na Magha the other side in the group.

Lavey, who lost out in the junior final last year, hit the opening score of the championship and that honour went to corner back Rory Scullion after three minutes. The equaliser came soon after through Tom Brady after Lavey had been awarded a free but due to retaliation the ball was thrown in and Kevin Lynch’s profited.

Two from the lively Ryan Farren had Lavey back in front but with the excellent Darragh McGilligan hitting a brace and one from Niall McGonigle the visitors had hit the front for the first time. Lavey continuously went long with their puck outs but John Mullan was superb cleaning these up and with it, his side opened up a 0-6 to 0-4 advantage.

However, four in-a-row, three from Fintan Bradley frees, saw the hosts turn the game in their favour. Bradley was wide with two frees, unable to extend that advantage, and instead the visitors finished the half strongly. They levelled before turning possession over 30m from the Lavey goal as Richie Mullan played in O’Neill and despite the best efforts of Eoin Mulholland, who was quick off his line, the net rippled and Kevin Lynch’s led at the break 1-8 to 0-8.

Bradley converted a free on the resumption but another error in defence at the other end saw the ball turned over and when Richie Mullan turned John McGurk, the Lavey man had no option but to pull him down. Mullan stepped up to clinically fire the penalty low and hard into the corner of the net.

From this moment Keven Lynch’s were comfortable and kept Lavey at arm’s length. The hosts could not string a score back-to-back, while the visitors were always capable of tagging on an important point and keeping the scoreboard ticking. McGilligan added another two to his name as he finished with four in all by the finish.

Sean Kelly in the Kevin Lynch’s goal was also capable of sending his puck outs long to find the roving Richie Mullan or Niall McGonigle, the latter sending over a fine score after gathering a Kelly puck-out.

IN PICTURES: Comfortable opening round victory for Kevin Lynch’s

Oran McElhinney also came from corner back to fire a beauty while substitute Padraig O’Kane got his name on the score sheet as well. At the other end, Lavey were relying on Bradley free’s but when they could not get back to back scores, they never looked like making any inroads into the deficit. They never troubled Kelly in the goal either and overall will be disappointed with their display, looking to bounce back in their next outing in Owenbeg against NaMagha on Sunday week.

Teams & Scorers

Kevin Lynch HC: R Mullan 1-3 (1-0p, 0-2f), D McGilligan 0-4, S O’Neill 1-1 (0-1sl) N McGonigle 0-3, T Brady 0-2, O McElhinney, S Millar, M Craig and P O’Kane 0-1 each.

Lavey: F Bradley 0-7 (f), R McGill 0-2, R Scullion, R Mulholland and C Melaugh 0-1 each.

Kevin Lynch HC: Sean Kelly; Oran McElhinney, John Mullan, Eoin McKeever; Shea Millar, Conor Kelly, Niall Ferris; Darragh McGilligan, Corey Reilly; Thomas Brady, Conor Gaile, Stevie O’Neill; Richie Mullan, Mark Craig, Niall McGonigle.
Subs: Paddy Kelly for Gaile (42), Padraig Harran for O’Neill (50), Padraig O’Kane for Craig (52), Niall McNicholl for McGilligan (58).

Lavey: Eoin Mulholland; Rory Scullion, Aidan Toner, John McGurk; Aimon Duffin, Eoin Scullion, Brendan Laverty; Ryan McGill, Tiarnan Melaugh; Ryan Mulholland, Fintan Bradley, Ryan Farran; Jack Convery, Connor Melaugh, Liam Murphy.
Subs: Lorcan McDonnell for Convery (50).

Referee: Tarlach Conway

Player of the Match - John Mullan give an exhibition in defence for the Lynch’s. He was superb from start to finish and just simply controlled all around, making it look simple. He dealt comfortably with the high long deliveries and linked up well with his keeper Sean Kelly. He was well supported by Shea Millar, Daragh McGilligan and Richie Mullan.

Turning Point - The moments either side of the break. Although, even with the sides level approaching half-time, Kevin Lynch’s looked in a better place having played against the wind. The opening goal was crucial and timing even more so on the stroke of half-time and then to come out and add a second on the resumption put the game to bed.

Score of the Game - It came down to the points from Oran McElhinney and Shea Millar and in the end the latter’s effort that split the posts. He did his defensive duties excellently all evening and drove forward to fire a super point to wrap up a great win for his side.