Kilruane outclassed by slick Moycarkey

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 4 Round 2

Moycarkey/Borris 4-20

Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-24

Report: Liam Hogan at Kenyon Park, Templederry

There is no simple way of putting it other than Kilruane MacDonaghs were simply outclassed by Moycarkey/Borris in this round two County Senior Hurling Championship clash on Sunday evening.

Kilruane showed some improvement in the second half when they outscored the Mid side 0-16 to 1-10 but the damage was done in the opening period when the Moycarkey forward line were lightening fast in their hurling and were deserving 3-9 to 0-10 leaders at half time.

Hopes of a Kilruane recovery received short shift as Moycarkey had their fourth goal through Jack Hayes and a ten-point lead was the cushion for Moycarkey to hold on to although Kilruane did get within five of the leaders thanks to an unerring display of free taking by Willie Cleary.

When it came to free-taking, then Moycarkey-Borris had their own leader in the experienced Kieran Morris who finished with 2-9 (0-7 free) and earned the man of the match award.

Moycarkey, who played without the suspended Bill Flanagan, had the upperhand in almost every position, and Morris had Kilruane goalkeeper Paudi Williams picking the ball out of the net as early as the seventh minute, 1-2 to 0-3.

Using the long, direct ball to Kian O’Kelly, Kilruane fought back to level as Craig Morgan, Jerome Cahill, and O’Kelly scored before Eoin Hogan moved them 0-7 to 1-3 in front by the 13th minute.

However, Moycarkey added 1-3 without reply with Morriss second goal in the 14th minute.

After Michael Cleary replaced the injured Jerome Cahill, the young star had just a minute to wait before he picked off his first score before another Moycarkey raid saw Joe Maher score his side’s third goal after a great run by Max Hackett.

Hackett then scored himself, but Michael Cleary replied. Another Morris free followed before Shane Cleary stepped up to score his second leaving Hackett with the final score before the break as Moycarkey led by nine.

The younger players were certainly making their mark in the Kilruane attack as Shane Cleary scored within eleven seconds of the restart. The response from Moycarkey was quick and fierce as Jack Hayes scored a great goal with a drop shot through a crowded goal which Paidi Williams didn’t see until the ball was past him.

After Kyle Shelly picked off his second point in the 39th minute to make it 4-11 to 0-14 one felt it was only a matter of how big the winning margin would be.

However, Kilruane began to emerge from their slumber and scored four unanswered points in five minutes through Willie Cleary (2 frees and a 65) plus a point from play by Niall O’Meara.

A brilliant Kieran Morris point from the left wing sent a message that Moycarkey were aware of what was happening. Willie Cleary and Morris traded frees before Shane Cleary and Cian Darcy had back to back points for MacDonaghs leaving the magpies four in arrears with eleven minutes to go.

However, there was more pain for Kilruane as a Kieran Morris free was the start of a three point run with Joe Maher scoring twice. Two more Willie Cleary frees brought Kilruane within five, but they needed a goal, however, the threat was never there and after another Morris free, Kian O’Kelly came close to finding the net, but his first time ground shot blazed wide of goal.

There were five minutes of added time signalled, and six points were traded equally with Kieran Morris scoring once from a free with Jack Maher and Kieran Cummins from play while Kilruane reduced the margin of defeat which could be important in terms of score difference with Willie Cleary scoring from a free while Niall O’Meara and Cian Darcy did the rest. Too little too late!

Player of the Match: Kieran Morris (Moycarkey/Borris).

Moycarkey/Borris: Rhys Shelly (0-1f, 6); Kevin Hayes (7), Eoghan Hayes (8), Tom Ryan (7); Tom Hayes (7), Kieran Cummins (0-1, 7), Rory Darmody (7); Kyle Shelly (0-2, 7), Jack Fallon (0-2, 7); Killian Cantwell (7), Joe Egan (7), Max Hackett (0-2, 7); Joe Maher (1-2, 8); Kieran Morris (2-9, 0-7f, 8), Jack Hayes (1-1, 7).

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paudi Williams (7); Eoin Hogan (0-1, 6), James Cleary (7), Jack Peters (6); Aaron Morgan (7), Niall O’Meara (0-2, 7), Kieran Cahill (6); Conor Austin (6), Craig Morgan (0-1, 7); Shane Cleary (0-3, 8), Jerome Cahill (0-1, 6), Mark O’Neill (6); Willie Cleary (0-9f, 7), Kian O’Kelly (0-3, 7), Cian Darcy (0-2 (6).

Subs: Michael Cleary (0-2, 8) for Cahill (24 inj); Darragh Peters (6) for Hogan (HT); Cormac Doheny for W Cleary (37-39 blood). Cormac Doheny (6) for O’Neill (46).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams).