North Tipperary GAA Affairs

By Michael Kennedy PRO

Under 21 'A' Hurling Championship

Borris-Ileigh and Silvermines will contest the North U21 ‘A’ Hurling Final following two very exciting semi-finals on Sunday.

Borris-Ileigh edged out Toomevara 2-17 to 0-22 while extra time was required in Dolla for Silvermines to overcome Ballina, 3-11 to 1-16. See match reports.

Due to Silvermines involvement in the County Junior ‘B’ Hurling final this weekend, the U21 ‘A’ Final will take place on Sunday, December 14th at 1.30pm in Templederry.

Under 21 'B' Hurling Championship

Burgess and Kilruane MacDonaghs qualified for the U21 ‘B’ Hurling North Final following hard earned victories over Kiladangan and Newport respectively at the weekend,

On Saturday in Kilcolman, Burgess had the slimmest of victories over a good Kiladangan side, 1-13 to 0-15.

The first half was a cagey affair with both sides trading points. Kiladangan were more affective in play with four of their six points coming from Ciaran Taplin, James O’Meara and Tom Boland.

In contrast it took 25 minutes for Burgess to open their account from play through Joe O’Dwyer. What they lacked in play was made up however by David Nealon who punished the Kiladangan defence with eight points from frees leaving Burgess with a three-point half time lead – 0-9 to 0-6.

The second half began in similar fashion with frees from both sides before Tom Boland struck a sideline cut which was worth the entrance fee alone to give Kiladangan a spurt of energy and scored four unanswered points to draw level at 0-11 apiece.

The turning point came shortly after when Keith O’Donoghue won a ball in the middle of the field before finding David Nealon who struck past Evan Sherlock in the Kiladangan goal.

Three Noel Gleeson frees brought the game back to one, but two minutes into injury time, Keith O’Donoghue pointed to give Burgess the dangerous two point lead. A 21-yard free for Kiladangan saw Evan Sherlock come up from goal but his effort was blasted over the bar which saw Burgess hold on for victory and continue to the North Final where they aim to defend the title.

Burgess: Oisin Tucker; Liam Grace, Aidan O'Dwyer, Conor Grace; Tomas Ryan, Liam Grace, Diarmaid O'Donoghue; Conor Cooney, Kieran Grace; Jack Sullivan, Michael Ryan, Keith O'Donoghue (0-1); Joe O'Dwyer (0-1), Jack O'Brien, David Nealon (1-11, 0-9f, 0-2 ’65)

Kiladangan: Evan Sherlock (0-2f); Sean Egan, Jack McGrath, Gavin McGrath; Rory Gavin, Diarmaid Fogarty, Ryan Gillick; Dara O'Dwyer, Tom Boland (0-2, 1 s-cut); Chullain McGrath, Ciaran Taplin (0-2), James O'Meara (0-1); Jos Slattery (0-1), Jack Minehan, Noel Gleeson (0-7, 6f). Subs: Scott Garland for Minehan (HT)

Newport visited Cloughjordan on Sunday knowing a win over Kilruane MacDonaghs would set up a rematch of the 2024 final against Burgess.

They started with full intent to lead 0-4 to 0-1 after ten minutes thanks to points by Cillian Collins and Charlie Tobin. Kilruane began to settle with a Michael Cleary point and a Brian O’Meara goal on the quarter hour to bring the teams level. Newport hit back almost instantly, with James Moloney firing past Tom Austin in the Kilruane goal to restore their three-point lead, and followed with a Cillian Collins free.

The final ten minutes of the half saw Kilruane begin to show their strength and wrestled control of the game by hitting 1-5 without response, a second goal from Jack Mulcahy levelled along with three points through Brian O’Meara and Charlie Kennedy put them three in front at the half time break.

The period either side of half time ultimately decided the game as Kilruane began where they left off in the second half with five points in the first ten minutes to push their lead out to seven points.

Newport struggled in the second period to gain any traction in the forward line with Kilruane’s physical presence dominating in defence through Shane Cleary’s leadership from centre back. The final score of the came with thirteen minutes left when Kilruane sub Johnny Naughnane pointed from play to give Kilruane a 2-16 to 1-11 victory.

Newport will be disappointed to have finished the year on a loss in the semi-final but have had a very good campaign up to this. Kilruane go forward to take on Burgess in the final in what will be an anticipated game with both sides littered with quality especially in attack.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Tom Austin; Paul Molloy, Eamon Coonan, Jack Quinlisk; Cian Moyles, Shane Cleary (0-1), Tommy O’Meara; Cathal England, Cillian Healy (0-1); Eoin Carroll, Brian O’Meara (1-3), Michael Cleary (0-8); Charlie Kennedy (0-1), Jack Mulcahy (1-0), Sean Hayes (0-1). Sub used: Johnny Naughnane (0-1).

Newport prominent players - Cillian Collins (0-6), Callum Poole, James Moloney, Charlie Tobin, Lee Ryan, Darragh Meaney, and Conor Mcloughlin.

The North Final is fixed for Sunday, 7th December in Toomevara at 1.30pm, with result on the day.

County Championship

Congratulations to Silvermines who qualified for the County Junior ‘B’ Hurling Final following their 2-19 to 0-12 victory over Carrick Swan on Saturday. They will take on Thurles Sarsfields in the final this Sunday.

Hard Luck to Nenagh Eire Og, who were defeated by Aherlow/Lattin in the County U17 ‘A’ Football semi-final.