Goals again the currency for Kilruane in the U21 semi-final

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling Semi-Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 4-10

Fethard 1-14

Report: Liam Hogan at Fethard Town Park

Goals win games and Kilruane MacDonaghs needed every one of the four they scored to survive a big scare against a very strong Fethard side in a thrilling County Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling semi-final on Saturday.

Played in a cold, biting breeze, accompanied by spitting rain, which made handling the ball troublesome, Kilruane looked to be in bother at half time as they led 1-7 to 0-7 after playing with the elements.

While shooting eight wides in those thirty minutes, they would also admit that Fethard’s attacking plays came unstuck at times when clear-cut opportunities in front of goal were not availed of players looking to make one pass too many instead shooting for the target.

Danny Barry opened the scoring for Fethard after three minutes before Charlie Kennedy equalised seconds later. Further pressure by Fethard should have produced more while at the other end their puckout strategy proved indecisive and Kilruane took advantage with Michael Cleary and Cian Healy moving MacDonaghs two clear by the eighth minute.

However, Fethard recovered lost ground with a Danny Barry free quickly followed by a Gavin Neville score from out the field before Mark Neville and another Barry free had Fethard two in front. The right corner forward was a real thorn in the side of the Kilruane defence.

Kilruane hit back with Eoin Carroll’s response bringing the margin back to the minimum but with the North champions playing just four up front with the Fethard defence often first to the ball and that policy was paying off in the form of more scores for the South champions with Danny Barry adding a free on 21 minutes.

It was end-to-end, and one minute later, Kilruane were back in business when Tommy O’Meara raced on to a ball and beat Conor Treacy with a low shot to the net to level.

Charlie Kennedy had Kilruane in front four minutes later and that lead increased to three in the closing minutes of the half as Michael Cleary added a 65 (after a great save by Conor Treacy, his second good save) before Kennedy scored his third point to see Kilruane 1-7 to 0-7 in front at the changeover.

Kilruane began the second half, in the same manner they ended the first, as Michael Cleary pointed after twenty seconds before Cian Moyles took an assist from Charlie Kennedy before blasting past Conor Treacy for their second goal.

Two Danny Barry points (second from a free) either side of a John Lacey score had the deficit at four by the 38th minute. It was the perfect response but Fethard’s ability to defend came under strain at times and in the 40th minute they had conceded goal number three when Eoin Carroll scored after a move involving Michael Cleary and Jack Mulcahy following a clearance by Eamonn Coonan.

Fethard managed a quick response through John Lacey but the hard working Jack Mulcahy responded before Fethard hit back with three unanswered points starting with the ever present Jack Quinlan scoring a long range free with Mark Neville and Matt Coen bringing Fethard’s tally by the inside forward line to six from play but more importantly cutting the deficit to four.

But Kilruane should not have feared as their ability to prize open the Fethard defence raised its head once more when Tommy O’Meara prized home a goal after a well placed cross by Charlie Kennedy from the right on 52 minutes.

However, Fethard were not giving up and after a great goal by Danny Barry in the 53rd minute had the margin was back to six.

There was no panic in the Kilruane camp and three minutes later Charlie Kennedy won a free and Michael Cleary did the rest.

As the clock wound down, Fethard pressed but their efforts proved in vain as the Kilruane defence, led by Shane Cleary, Paul Molloy, Cian Moyles, Brian O’Meara and Tommy O’Meara was unbreakable, and the North champions were satisfied in the knowledge they were through to the final against Drom & Inch on St Stephen’s Day in Templederry at 1.30pm.

Player of the Match: Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Tom Austin (7); Cormac Kennedy (7), Eamon Coonan (7), Paul Molloy (7); Cian Moyles (1-1, 7), Shane Cleary (8), Ross Austin (6); Cathal England (6), Charlie Kennedy (0-3, 8); Eoin Carroll (Capt, 1-1, 7), Brian O’Meara (7), Michael Cleary (0-4, 1f, 1 ’45, 7); Tommy O’Meara (2-0, 8), Jack Mulcahy (0-1, 7), Sean Hayes (6).

Subs: Johnny Naughnane (6) for Hayes (HT); Fiachradh Ahearne Woods (6) for Carroll (53); Jack Quinlisk (NR) for England (60+1).

Fethard: Conor Treacy (7); Michael Phelan (7), Darragh Spillane, (7) Rory O’Mahony (7); Charlie Walsh (7), Jack Quinlan (0-1f, 8), Noah O’Flynn (6); Gavin Neville (0-1, 7), Jack Davey (6); John Lacey (0-2, 7), Conor Neville (Capt 7), Liam Kiely (6); Danny Barry (1-7, 0-4f, 8), Matt Coen (0-1, 6), Mark Neville (0-2, 7).

Sub: Oisin Ryan (6) for Davey (46).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).