Close action with Piltown captain Brian Murphy and Dunmore's Richie McCallen.
Piltown 1; Dunmore 0
This game played in Ozier Park on Thursday last was expected to be a tight affair because Piltown had battled it out with Dunmore all season for the Division 2 League title, a crown they eventually won a few weeks ago.
It did indeed prove to be very close and following the 90 minutes of play it was Piltown who went back home to South Kilkenny to celebrate a memorable season.
The game saw three red cards and nine yellow cards but this was not a bad tempered contest in any sort of shape or form.
Goalkeeper Paul Murphy enjoyed a very good game in goal for Dunmore and saved well from Neil Kelly who had been set up by Andy McCarthy after 6 minutes. However, a minute later he had no chance as Piltown scored what proved to be the only goal of the game. Richie McCarthy raced onto a long ball from Shane Ahern and he found the net with an excellent left-footed affort.
Dunmore did go close to equalising on 19 minutes when JJ Hutchinson played in Paddy Grant but he did not get power into his effort and the Piltown defender Jim Power comfortably cleared off the line.
Richie McCarthy thought he had scored again after 23 minutes but his effort came back off the woodwork. Damie Taylor made the Piltown goalkeeper Shane Ahern work on 55 minutes, while at the other end Paul Murphy produced a great save from Tommy Fleming on 64 minutes and he did the same 6 minutes later from Andy McCarthy.
Paddy Grant had a chance to level the game on 77 minutes but he blazed wide. Richie McCarthy brought a flying save from the overworked Paul Murphy in the dying minutes.
JJ Hutchinson was sent off after 24 minutes for Dunmore, something that made their already hard task even tougher. Piltown had defender Kevin White red-carded after the 90 minutes were up and Robin Croke received his second yellow deep into injury time.
Piltown: Shane Ahern, Paul O’Shea, Jim Power, Paul Maher, Neil Kelly, Tommy Fleming, Brian Murphy, David Kelly, Richie McCarthy, Andy McCarthy. Sub: Evan Grace for Fleming (72 mins).
Dunmore: Paul Murphy, Darren Taylor, Tony Corcoran, David Horgan, Robin Croke, Ronan McDonagh, Robbie Power, Niall Corcoran, Paddy Grant, Damien Taylor, JJ Hutchinson. Subs: Michael Corcoran for Power (58 mins), Brian Walsh for Niall Corcoran (82 mins).
Ref: Mark Corcoran.
