Holycross come of age in beating Kiladangan

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 2

Holycross/Ballycahill 4-19

Kiladangan 2-18

Report: Stephen Barry at Pairc Shilean, Templemore

Photos: Odhran Ducie

Holycross/Ballycahill endorsed their Dan Breen Cup credentials by claiming a second major scalp in an entertaining seven-point victory over Kiladangan in this round 2 clash of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday evening.

Having previously disposed of Toomevara, they continue to make waves even without the presence of All-Ireland-winning linchpin Bryan O'Mara. The club captain did tog out this week and took part in the warm-up as he works his way back to fitness.

However, under 20 champion Jim Ryan returned to anchor the team from centre-back, where he played a stormer, backed up by Cathal O'Reilly and Cathal Barrett.

That said, Kiladangan, led by Seán Hayes, could've taken them for more than the two goals they managed.

Mikey Nally (2-0), Darragh Woods (1-6), and Tiarnan Ryan (1-2) did the most scoreboard damage, but Joe Caesar and Robbie Ryan were heavily involved in their best attacking play.

The timing of their scoring flurries, closing out either half with 2-2 and 1-2 bursts, was the winning of the game.

Three times in the opening 21 minutes, Jim Ryan blocked Billy Seymour shots. The first set the tone from the throw-in, and his pass to the wide-open Tiarnan Ryan was the launchpad for a goal chance. However, Woods' bouncer seemed to divert off a divot and wide.

Cathal O'Reilly was engaged in an entertaining match-up with Sean Hayes. The forward did some early damage, but so too did the minor graduate, scoring two fine points inside twelve minutes.

A pair of technical fouls by Joe Gallagher allowed Darragh Woods to get into his free-taking routine before Conor Byrne and Seymour levelled.

In the seventh minute, Holycross bagged the first goal from a booming Ewan Bourke clearance. Mikey Nally drifted behind his marker, grabbed the sliotar, and kicked past Barry Hogan.

Woods backed it up with an outstanding over-the-shoulder point from under the stand, but Kiladangan were level a minute later.

Neil Cahalan kept his composure to pick a brilliant pass to Dan O'Meara, who unleashed a rocket into the far corner; 1-4 apiece.

Points from O'Reilly, Tadhg Gould, and Woods cancelled out that goal, but Kiladangan struck for a second within four minutes. Again, it owed to sharp passing and smart running; Conor Byrne played a clever one-two with Cahalan before lofting the sliotar into Sean Hayes's path who produced another lethal finish that made it 1-7 to 2-4.

It could've been three goals in seven minutes only for Ewan Bourke to produce a top-drawer save from Paul Flynn. Further blocks by Jim Ryan, O'Reilly, and Caesar underlined Holycross's resilient defending. Caesar and Woods pointed in another positive response to the green flag.

Kiladangan edged ahead with Hayes instigating a run of three consecutive points but Holycross closed the half the stronger.

From Barrett's clearance, Tiarnan Ryan was again the ball-winner to release Caesar who drew the last man for Nally's side-stepping finish for his second goal.

It took just ninety seconds for the next green flag as Robbie Ryan escaped his marker and turned down the simple point to feed Joe Caesar. The midfielder's venomous hit was saved by Barry Hogan, but Darragh Woods was on hand to tidy up.

David Fogarty and Robbie Ryan tacked on points for a 3-12 to 2-8 half-time lead.

Kiladangan reassigned Joe Gallagher and Billy Seymour to the full-forward line, but the process of hauling themselves back within striking distance was a slow one.

Conor Byrne had three of their first four points (2 frees), but Holycross found inspirational responses through Robbie Ryan and Cathal Barrett.

Alan Flynn, Paul Flynn, and Willie Connors opened their accounts. Then, Woods and Dara O'Dwyer whizzed goal chances wide at either end.

But it wasn't until Seymour's 50th-minute point that Kiladangan clawed within one score.

Paul Flynn and Byrne had it back to two points before Holycross found their insurance policy. Jimmie Lahart's shot was saved, but creator Tiarnan Ryan followed in to scuttle the sliotar home.

Eoin Craddock and Woods tagged on the final points. Meanwhile, Bourke saved from Hayes and Joe Gallagher drove wide as Holycross/Ballycahill continued on their upward curve.

Player of the Match: Jim Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill)

Holycross/Ballycahill: Ewan Bourke (7); Evan Morris (6), Cathal Barrett (0-1, 7), Cathal O'Reilly (0-2, 8); Jack Ryan (7), Jim Ryan (8), Liam Doyle (7); Joe Caesar (0-1, 7), Tadhg Gould (0-1, 6); Tiarnan Ryan (1-2, 7), Eoin Craddock (0-1, 6), David Fogarty (0-2, 7); Robbie Ryan (0-2, 7), Mikey Nally (2-0, 7), Darragh Woods (1-6, 0-4f, 7).

Subs: Paraic Russell (0-1, 7) for Fogarty (48); Jimmie Lahart (6) for Nally (54); James Doyle (NR) for Jim Ryan (58); Luke O'Mara (NR) for R Ryan (60).

Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (6); Daragh Flannery (6), James Quigley (6), David Sweeney (6); Willie Connors (0-1, 7), Alan Flynn (0-1, 7), Joe Gallagher (0-1, 6); Tadhg Gallagher (0-1, 6), Dara O'Dwyer (6); Dan O'Meara (1-1, 7), Billy Seymour (0-2, 6), Paul Flynn (0-2, 6); Seán Hayes (1-2, 7), Conor Byrne (0-7, 5f, 7), Neil Cahalan (6).

Subs: Daragh Butler (6) for Cahalan (49); Bryan McLoughney (6) for Flannery (51 inj).

Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams).