Kiladangan left stunned by late Cashel raid

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 3

Cashel King Cormacs 3-23

Kiladangan 3-22

Report: Noel Dundon at Pairc Shilean, Templemore

Seven points in front with five minutes of normal time to play and seemingly coasting to a second victory in this County Senior Hurling Championship clash, Kiladangan somehow managed to lose to a resurgent Cashel King Cormacs at the very death in an absorbing clash on Saturday evening.

At no stage could patrons have contemplated that Cashel would emerge with the win. Kiladangan played with great swagger, style and method, whereas Cashel appeared to be on a squander-fest and would have cursed themselves for hitting 18 wides had the result gone against them. As it turned out, they also conceded 3-22 and still won the game.

And, even at the final whistle, seconds after Cathal Quinn had bagged the match-winning goal, there was controversy, as the scoreboard had recorded a drawn game at 3-22 each. However, most patrons, media, and most importantly, referee Kevin Jordan, had Cashel down as one-point victors.

This win was massive for Cashel and they celebrated rightly. On the flip side, Kiladangan were dejected and they trudged off the field wondering just how they managed to lose the game to Cashel, just as they did to the West men in the league final in June.

Though Cashel had hit 11 wides in the first half, Kiladangan made most of the running. Billy Seymour was on fire and his sixth minute penalty goal after Joe Gallagher was fouled, put them 1-3 to 0-1 in front.

By the 12th minute Seymour had 1-4 to his name and the returning Paul Flynn chipped in for two points from quick puckouts, followed by one from his brother Alan.

Cashel were all over the place and it took them time to figure out the Kiladangan movement. When they did, they started to create scores – Devon Ryan had four, to go along with scores from David McGrath, Ger Browne, Conor O’Dwyer, and Oisin O’Donoghue.

Their shot selection left a lot to be desired as Kiladangan continued to pile on scores through Seymour (2), Bryan McLoughney, and Paul Flynn again to leave them 1-12 to 0-11 in front at the break, and they hit Cashel for two points immediately upon resumption through Conor Byrne and Paul Flynn to extend the lead further still.

Cashel found their range in the second half. Three-in-a-row from Devon Ryan (2) and Ger Browne brought it back to three points, but they were rocked back on their heels when Paul Flynn goaled for Kiladangan in the 37th minute to double the advantage once more.

Cashel showed a lot of resilience and hit back once more with Browne (2), Eoghan Connolly, Oisin O’Donoghue, and Devon Ryan (2) providing six of the seven points scored in that ten minute spell midway through the half.

Then, a Ger Browne goal in the 45th minute was a real shot in the arm, and suddenly with twelve minutes to go, the sides were level and it was all to play for.

Now it was Kiladangan’s turn to respond and they did just that with Paul Flynn and Sean Hayes easing them back in front followed by Willie Connors and Billy Seymour scores.

A Sean Hayes goal in the 55th minute after a long, unchecked run from defence by Tadhg Gallagher, made it a seven-point game and there appeared to be no way back for Cashel.

But, the men from the west didn’t read the script and inspired by Aaron Browne’s fine save from Seymour, they upped the ante for the final push. David McGrath goaled in the 56th minute after an Eoghan Connolly break forward.

It was followed by Denis O’Callaghan and Oisin O’Donoghue points and then a Devon Ryan free. Points from Billy Seymour and Neil Cahalan in the meantime looked really crucial for Kiladangan as their cushion was whittled down to two points deep into injury time.

Cashel launched the ball forward in a last desperate attempt to salvage the game and their efforts paid off when sub Cathal Quinn goaled with an overhead flick much to the delirium of their supporters.

Kiladangan were stumped and defeated in a shocking conclusion to a game that should have been theirs. Considering the standout performances from Billy Seymour who was superb in attack, to Paul Flynn, Willie Connors, Sean Hayes, and Dan O’Meara. It is still very difficult to understand how Kiladangan did not get something from this game.

For Cashel, Ger Browne had a superb second half while Oisin O’Donoghue, Eoghan Connolly, John Cummins, Devon Ryan, and Eoghan Connolly were prominent all the way through – goalkeeper Aaron Browne made a crucial save also which certainly kept Cashel’s slim hopes at the time, alive.

Player of the Match: Billy Seymour (Kiladangan)

Cashel King Cormacs: Aaron Browne (8), Conn Bonner (7), Nathan Ryan (6), Kieran O’Dwyer (6), James Cummins (7), Oisin O’Donoghue (0-3, 8), Conor O’Dwyer (0-2, 8), Eoghan Connolly (0-1f, 7), Ronan Connolly (6), Ross Bonner (0-1, 6), Shane Neville (6), Daniel Moloney (6), David McGrath (1-1, 7), Devon Ryan (0-11, 7f, 8), Ger Browne (1-3, 8).

Subs: Denis O’Callaghan (0-1, 7) for Neville (52); Cathal Quinn (1-0, 7) for R Bonner (55).

Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (7), Darragh Flannery (6), David Sweeney (7), James Quigley (6), Willie Connors (0-2f, 8), Alan Flynn (0-1, 7), Dan O’Meara (7), Dara O’Dwyer (7), Tadgh Gallagher (0-1, 7), Joe Gallagher (6), Paul Flynn (1-5, 8), Darren Moran (6), Bryan McLoughney (0-1, 6), Sean Hayes (1-1, 8), Billy Seymour (1-9, 0-4f, 9).

Subs: Conor Byrne (0-2, 7) for Flannery (17); Darragh Butler (6) for Quigley (HT); Neil Cahalan (0-1, 7) for McLoughney (39); Matthew Cleary (NR) for Butler (58).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).