Kiladangan looking to go one step further twelve months on in Junior 'A' Hurling decider against Holycross/Ballycahill

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship Final Preview

By Liam Hogan

HOLYCROSS/BALLYCAHILL

V

KILADANGAN

Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh

Saturday, 25th October

Throw-in @ 3.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle)

There are a certain number of coincidences surrounding next Saturday’s County Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship final between North champions Kiladangan and Mid king-pins Holycross/Ballycahill.

Take Holycross/Ballycahill. Winners of four Junior ‘A’ titles in 1941, 1974, 1986 & 2010, their most recent was in the same year Tipperary won Liam MacCarthy. Tipperary won the All-Ireland final again in 2016 and guess what we have another parallel as Kiladangan were champions when they defeated Ballybacon/Grange in the decider, two late points by Eoin Meagher sealing the win in extra time.

The 2016 win for Kiladangan was their second ever having won their first in 1971 when they defeated Boherlahan-Dualla.

Next Saturday, 2016 hero Meagher will play in goals and is one of four players involved that day including Shane Seymour who continues to play at full back while Paddy Gallagher is one of the subs while Eanna Gleeson is on the management team.

Defeated in last years final by Moyle Rovers, Kiladangan are unbeaten in their quest for honours in 2025, starting off with five wins and a draw in the group stage of the North Championship. They defeated Kilruane MacDonaghs by nineteen points in the semi-final before accounting for Nenagh Eire Og in the decider 1-17 to 2-10 in Cloughjordan last month.

Turning to the county championship, Kiladangan defeated Cahir 0-21 to 0-15 in the quarter final before accounting for Moycarkey/Borris in the semi-final 1-17 to 1-12 in Moneygall.

Kiladangan have a team with plenty of experience. Eoin Meagher’s position in goals is one of the most inspiring decisions made by the team. He is cool and a great shot-stopper, and has well seasoned defenders in front of him in Shane Seymour and Matthew Cleary part of a very close marking defence.

Both Johnny Horan and Johnny McGrath will man the midfield with experience while there is the same in the attack, including captain Darren Moran and needs no introduction having played so many times for his senior team in the company of sharp-shooters Shane Gleeson and Eoghan Sharkey, as well as the younger players like James O’Meara and DJ McGrath.

Ruairi Gleeson might well be called from the bench as happened in the recent semi-final victory over Moycarkey.

Moycarkey/Borris were runners-up to Holycross/Ballycahill in the Mid final, 1-18 to 1-15. They went goal hungry as they secured a 5-26 to 2-16 win over Cashel King Cormacs in the quarter final.

In taking on Nenagh Eire Og in the semi-final they had to overcome a slow start before finishing on top in the second half to win 1-16 to 1-15 last Saturday.

Holycross/Ballycahill have a fine team of free-flowing hurlers, and are not shy when going for long range scores as evidenced by players like Mikey Joe Doyle, Tony Leahy and Tony Maher. Their full forward line of Jamie Woods, Jack Dwan, and Audie Lohan have potential to score goals while the management are not shy when it comes to calling to the bench with Ben Hennessy and Stevie Flanagan can show.

Their defence has conceded little by way of goals in recent games and Conor & Eddie O’Gorman can man the spine of their defence with care in the company of Daire Ryan and Jack Lahart on the respective wing back positions.