Setanta cruise to victory in opening round of hurling championship
The title holders started their 2024 championship campaign in brilliant style, overcoming Sean MacCumhaills by 22 points in the opening round
Setanta had most of their county stars back, and it showed, as they produced a big win over their neighbours Sean MacCumhaills at the Cross.
The winners were never troubled and led by 1-14 to 1-4 at the break as Gerard Gilmore top scored for the winners with 1-11 while Lee Henderson hit 1-6 of Sean MacCumhaills’ total.
MacCumhaills got the opening score from a Henderson free, but this was quickly negated by a Gilmore goal from a free which set the pattern for total dominance.
Josh McGee Cronolly, Niall Cleary, and Gilmore pointed, and Henderson goaled from a free for the visitors to leave the score at 1-3 to 1-1.
But that was as good as it got for the visitors as Setanta tacked on points from McBride and McGee Cronolly (0-3) midway through the first half.
Henderson replied with frees, but Dean Harvey, McBride, Ruairí Campbell, Danny Cullen and Gilmore 0-4 completed the scoring.
Setanta’s scoring rate dropped slightly on the restart but not their dominance although MacCummhaills once again opened the scoring with a point from Jamie De Ward.
But goals from Dean Harvey and Cleary, along with points from Campbell, Cleary, Gilmore (0-6) and Danny Cullen sealed an easy win.
MacCumhaills had further points from Henderson and Joel Bradley Walsh, but it was very much Setanta’s night.
Setanta scorers: Gerard Gilmore 1-11, 1-6fs; Niall Cleary 1-2; Dean Harvey 1-1; Josh McGee Cronolly and Ruairi Campbell 0-3 each; Stevie McBride and Danny Cullen 0-2 each. Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Lee Henderson 1-6, 1-5f; Jamie De Ward and Joel Bradley Walsh 0-1 each.
Setanta: Declan Coulter; Ruairi McLaughlin, Conor McGettigan, Mark Callaghan; Ryan Coyle, Steven McBride, Bernard Lafferty; Fionn Farren, Dean Harvey; Niall Cleary, Danny Cullen, Conor Gallen; Josh McGee Cronolly, Gerard Gilmore, Ruairi Campbell. Subs used: Colm Melaugh.
Sean MacCumhaills: Dylan Lafferty; Conor Murphy, Kyle Tourish, Davitt Bradley Flynn; Conor Griffin, John Anthony Chambers, Sean Brady Devenney; Gavin Brown, Chad McSorley; P J Browne, Fintan Griffin, Dean Hannigan; Lee Henderson, Joel Bradley Walsh, Jamie De Ward. Subs used: Riain McBrearty, Aaron McCauley, Anthony Patton, Gavin Dunne, Patrick Bradley.
Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s)