Late Kiladangan goal kills off Roscrea revival

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 3

Kiladangan 2-23

Roscrea 0-21

Report: Éanna Mackey at MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan

2023 county champions Kiladangan survived a spirited second half fightback from Roscrea to battle their way to an eight victory in the opening round of Group 3 of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday evening.

The Puckane men looked to be cruising after a dominant first-half display, making full use of a gale-force breeze to establish a commanding 1-18 to 0-9 interval lead, with Billy Seymour in outstanding scoring form, with the sharpshooter ending the game with a personal tally of 0-9.

However, Roscrea produced a superb response after the restart. Playing with the elements at their backs, they slashed the deficit to just three points by the end of normal time before Kiladangan found another gear in stoppage time, finishing with an unanswered 1-2 to secure a deserved victory.

The opening exchanges were evenly contested, with the sides locked at three points apiece after five minutes. Leigh Loughnane struck twice alongside a point from Jack Lee for Roscrea, while Sean Hayes, Billy Seymour and Tadhg Gallagher replied for Kiladangan.

With the strong wind proving a significant advantage, Kiladangan soon began to take control and seemed happy to shoot on sight from distance.

Seymour, Bryan McLoughney and Dara O'Dwyer all found the target to open daylight between the sides, although Shane Fletcher and Luke Cashin kept Roscrea in touch from placed balls.

Further scores from Alan Flynn, Gallagher and Seymour stretched the advantage before the game's first decisive moment arrived on the quarter-hour mark.

Seymour split the Roscrea defence with a perfectly weighted pass for McLoughney, who finished clinically to the net and extended Kiladangan's lead to 1-9 to 0-6.

Kiladangan dominated the remainder of the half, outscoring their opponents 0-9 to 0-3. Seymour continued to dictate proceedings with four more points, while Willie Connors, Hayes, Gallagher and O'Dwyer also raised white flags.

Roscrea remained reliant on the accuracy of Luke Cashin, who added two frees, while Evan Fitzpatrick chipped in with a point, but they still trailed 1-18 to 0-9 at the break.

The momentum shifted dramatically after the restart. Playing with the benefit of the breeze, Roscrea hit five unanswered points through Shane Fletcher, Darragh Tynan, Evan Fitzpatrick and two booming efforts from Alan Tynan to breathe fresh life into the contest.

Darren Moran finally ended Kiladangan's lengthy scoring drought in the 41st minute, but Roscrea continued to pile on the pressure. Fletcher and two more Cashin frees narrowed the gap further before Seymour and McLoughney briefly steadied Kiladangan with important scores to leave it 1-21 to 0-17 entering the closing stages.

Roscrea, however, refused to go away. Four unanswered points, including three from the outstanding Cashin, reduced the deficit to three points at 1-21 to 0-21 as normal time expired, setting up a grand-stand finish.

A lengthy stoppage for a head injury to Kiladangan’s Conor Byrne, however, appeared to halt the Roscrea momentum at a crucial stage. Kiladangan regrouped impressively and produced one final burst.

Seymour landed two invaluable points before Sean Hayes sealed victory with a decisive goal deep into stoppage time, ensuring Kiladangan began their championship campaign with an invaluable two points despite Roscrea's courageous second-half fightback.

Player of the Match: Billy Seymour (Kiladangan)

Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (Capt 8); Darragh Flannery (7), David Sweeney (8), Johnny Horan (8); Darren Moran (0-1, 8), Alan Flynn (0-1, 8), Dan O’Meara (7); Dara O’Dwyer (0-2, 8), Tadgh Gallagher (0-3, 8); Willie Connors (0-1, 8), Sean Hayes (1-4, 9), Conor Byrne (7), Bryan McLoughney (1-2, 9), Joe Gallagher (7), Billy Seymour (0-9, 4f, 9).

Subs: Paul Flynn (6) for Horan (45), Tom Boland (NR) for McLoughney (59), Neil Cahalan (NR) for Byrne (59 inj)

Roscrea: Enda Moloney (6); Conor Booth (7), Michael Campion (6), Aidan Booth (7); Darragh Tynan (Capt 0-1, 7), Conor Phelan (7), Conor Sheedy (6), Alan Tynan (0-2, 8), Dan Ryan (6), Leigh Loughnane (0-2, 7), Evan Fitzpatrick (0-2, 7), Luke Cashin (0-9, 4f, 9), Shane Fletcher (0-4f, 8), Conor Dooley, Jack Lee (0-1, 7).

Subs: Glenn Loughnane (7) for Phelan (37), Sam Dooley (6) for Lee (43).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines).