Kiladangan outgunned by experienced Clonoulty

GAA: FBD Insurance County Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship Final

Clonoulty/Rossmore 3-15

Kiladangan 1-12

Report: Liam Hogan in Newport

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: John Devane (Clonoulty/Rossmore)

SCORERS – Clonoulty/Rossmore: John Devane 1-9 (0-7 frees); Martin Ryan, Cathal Ryan 1-0 each; Oisin Fryday, Nicky Kearns 0-2 each; Padraic Coen, Anthony Kearney (free) 0-1 each.

Kiladangan: Darren Ryan 0-6 (5 frees); Eoin Gleeson 1-1; Pauric Kelly, Paddy Coen, Bill Cleary, Tommy Connors, Tom McLoughlin (free) 0-1 each

Kiladangan’s bid to win their second County Junior ‘B’ Hurling title failed to materialise when they lost to a more balanced Clonoulty/Rossmore side in a well contested final played on Sunday afternoon.

Despite a bright opening ten minutes it was the concession of two goals either side of the first water break that essentially decided the match, a gap that Kiladangan were unable to bridge despite never failing to give the good fight as they aimed to win their first county title in the grade since 2006.

Clonoulty/Rossmore were the stronger all-round side and their second goal in the 17th minute put them 2-4 to 0-3 in front, a lead that increased to ten by half time.

Yes, the customary Kiladangan fightback materialised in the second half with four unanswered points bringing them within six of the leaders but Clonoulty, thanks to John Devane’s accuracy always stayed in control. Eoin Gleeson’s goal in the 53rd minute cut the margin to seven, but Devane’s wonder goal in injury time put the issue beyond doubt.

In what was Clonoulty’s first final appearance in the grade, they can thank former county star John Devane who turned back the clock with a man of the match performance as the 39-year-old scored 1-9 and was involved in much more besides. He was instrumental in creating the first score when handpassing to a supporting Oisin Fryday who scored before Devane doubled the lead with a close range free.

Darren Ryan got Kiladangan under way with a free in the fourth minute before adding a second three minutes later. With both sides having a share of attacking ideas it was Paddy Coen (goalkeeper in 2006) that gave Kiladangan the lead in the tenth minute before Devane had the sides level.

In the thirteenth minute, Anthony Kearney moved Clonoulty in front with a long range free, the start of a dominant period for the West champions and two minutes later Martin Ryan linked up with Devane before the midfielder worked his way past the Kiladangan defence to score a goal at the first water break.

Two minutes after the resumption came goal number two when corner forward Cathal Ryan won a lengthy clearance from Kearney before firing low to the net.

The lead increased to nine after two pointed frees by Devane before Pauric Kelly (substitute in the 2006 victory) replied with a point from play in the 24th minute before Kiladangan introduced the evergreen Dan Hackett, two minutes later.

Martin Sadlier’s puckouts were lengthy and of benefit to the West champions and Oisin Fryday made profit with a good point. Bill Cleary replied with a great score on the wing, but two more Devane points quickly followed by one from play by substitute Padraig Coen, made the half time scoreline read 2-9 to 0-5.

Helped by the breeze for the second half, Kiladangan moved up a gear by scoring four points in as many minutes with Darren Ryan scoring two frees either side of an Eoin Gleeson score from play before Ryan added another free. Six points looked manageable for the North champions, but Clonoulty were having none of it as John Devane increased his team’s lead with two pointed frees.

The second water break came in the 45th minute and when play resumed Devane stretched the lead to nine with another long range free before Nicky Kearns and another Devane free strengthened the West champions grip on the game.

However, they had to contend with a Kiladangan side that refused to give in and following Darren Ryan’s free a well-taken Eoin Gleeson goal in the 53rd minute left the North champs seven in arrears.

There was more from Kiladangan, and Dan Hackett’s shot from the end-line hit the butt of the upright and somehow rebounded out of danger.

Both sides attacked with purpose but both defences held firm before eight barren minutes ended when the ever-present Tommy Connors broke the deadlock to leave the half dozen between the sides.

As play continued the Clonoulty defence were living dangerously for a period and Conor Sheahan looked sure of goal but was denied by goalkeeper Martin Sadlier. Within seconds Clonoulty were on the attack and Nicky Kearns had the lead increased to seven. Seconds later another Clonoulty attack split the Kiladangan defence before John Devane carved open the Kiladangan defence and kicked the bouncing ball over the head of the advancing Eoin O’Brien to score his team’s third goal, a goal that which would do justice to Ronaldo.

The West-men were well out of reach by then as the game came to an end seconds after Tom McLoughlin’s consolation score from a free.

This was Clonoulty’s third team, managed by former club and county great Declan Ryan, and they had plenty of talent with past senior hurlers using their vast experience to turn the game in their favour including Martin Sadlier, Andrew Quirke, Anthony Kearney, Kevin Horan, Kevin Maher, and John Devane putting their best foot forward. Elsewhere, Oisin Fryday, Nicky Kearns, Darren Corcoran and Dylan Kennedy did a lot of good work.

Kiladangan, who had six under 21 players involved, including John McGrath and Bill Cleary, who never gave up the ghost while Tommy Connors, Eanna Gleeson, Tom McLoughlin and Darren Ryan used their various degrees of experience to stem the tide. Overall team manager Eamon Kelly, who was the winning manager back in 2006, must have been pleased overall.

TEAMS – Clonoulty/Rossmore: Martin Sadlier (8); Anthony Maher (7), Andrew Quirke (8), Adam Fryday (6); Anthony Kearney (7), Dylan Kennedy (7), Kevin Horan (7); Martin Ryan (7), Darren Corcoran (7); Kevin Carroll (7), Oisin Fryday (7), Kevin Maher (7); Nicky Kearns (7), John Devane (8), Cathal Ryan (6).

Subs: Padraic Coen (7) for Carroll (27 inj); Nicky Mockler (6) for K Maher (46); Aaron Kennedy (6) for C Ryan (46); Andrew Slattery (6) for Corcoran (54); Declan O’Dwyer (NR) for Kearney (60+3).

Kiladangan: Eoin O’Brien (6); John McGrath (7), Jim Minehan (6), Michael Quigley (6); Eanna Gleeson (7), Tommy Connors (7), Cian Ryan (7); Tom McLoughlin (7), Neil Cahalan (6); Paddy Coen (6), Eoin Gleeson (7), Darren Ryan (7); Bill Cleary (7), Pauric Kelly (6), Aidan Ryan (6).

Subs: Dan Hackett (7) for A Ryan (26); Conor Sheahan (7) for Cahalan (43); Oisin Ryan (7) for Quigley (51); Eoin McGrath (NR) for Cleary (58); Mark Gleeson (NR) for Eoin Gleeson (58).

Referee: John Butler (Upperchurch/Drombane)