O'Dwyer double blast inches Kiladangan past Drom

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 2

Kiladangan 2-23

Drom & Inch 1-23

Report: James Hayden in Dolla

A Dara O’Dwyer goal-den double midway through the second half ended Drom & Inch's participation in the County Senior Hurling Championship as Kiladangan edged a thrilling encounter on Saturday evening.

O’Dwyer struck twice inside the space of two minutes as Kiladangan secured their passage to the knockout stages, producing two clinical finishes at a crucial juncture of an enthralling ‘do-or-die’ encounter.

Following a re-jigging of his side after their dramatic last-gasp defeat to Cashel King Cormacs, Kiladangan manager Dan Hackett deployed the experienced Joe Gallagher at full-back while Darragh Flannery and David Sweeney were also given specific man-marking assignments in the corners.

The game began at a frantic pace, with the scores coming thick and fast during an opening quarter. Paul Flynn, Sean Hayes, Billy Seymour (free), and Alan Flynn were all on target for Kiladangan inside the opening seven minutes, but Drom matched their opponents with Cormac Fitzpatrick, David Collins and two from Maidhc Fitzpatrick keeping Matthew Buckley’s charges in touch.

Kiladangan almost breached the Drom defence in the eighth minute when Paul Flynn sent Billy Seymour through on goal, but Eoin Collins stood tall.

Seamus Callanan edged Drom ahead before the former Tipperary captain struck for a goal less than a minute later. A surging run from Lorcan Campion opened up the Kiladangan defence before his deft pass released the inrushing Callanan, who unleashed a thundering first-time pull that rattled the back of the net. Callanan added a free from distance as Drom powered into a 1-6 to 0-4 lead.

Kiladangan’s response, however, was more than impressive. They rattled off five unanswered points to wipe out Drom’s advantage by the 19th minute, with Tadhg Gallagher, Paul Flynn (2), Seymour (free), and Bryan McLoughney all finding the target.

Callanan restored Drom’s lead with a free, but two more from the outstanding Flynn, followed by another from Gallagher, put Kiladangan back in front.

Maidhc Fitzpatrick’s third point brought the sides level before Kiladangan suffered a setback when Darren Moran was forced to retire with a hamstring injury.

Drom came agonisingly close to another goal on the stroke of half time when Cormac Fitzpatrick’s effort was deflected narrowly wide into the side-netting. Callanan made no mistake from the 65, ensuring the sides went into the interval deadlocked, 1-10 to 0-13.

Despite firing three wides in succession after the restart, Kiladangan moved back in front when Willie Connors struck a fine point. Substitute Tom Boland and Cormac Fitzpatrick exchanged points in the 36th minute before Drom carved out another goal chance as the talismanic Callanan broke through the Kiladangan defence and unleashed a low pile-driver which skipped off the firm sod, however, Barry Hogan, was equal to the challenge, producing an excellent diving save.

Drom responded positively with John Campion and Callanan firing successive points to put the men in green & white two clear. Kiladangan, though, had an answer of their own as Bryan McLoughney produced a sublime over-the-shoulder effort in the 42nd minute.

Drom pushed three clear around the 45-minute mark following two more Callanan frees and appeared to be edging towards victory.

Then came the turning point. A searching delivery from Willie Connors exposed a gap in the Drom & Inch inside defence and Dara O’Dwyer reacted quickest, pouncing on the loose ball before rattling it past Eoin Collins to bring Kiladangan level.

Drom had barely recovered when they were hit by another hammer blow. Less than two minutes later, another high delivery once again caused uncertainty inside the Drom defence and O’Dwyer was on hand to repeat the dose.

The introduction of Johnny Horan also proved particularly significant for Kiladangan. Horan produced two majestic points from play as the North men stretched their advantage to four with three minutes of normal time remaining.

Drom threw everything at Kiladangan in the closing stages. Maidhc Fitzpatrick reduced the deficit to two in added time but the ‘Dangan remained composed and Paul Flynn copper-fastened the victory with his sixth point deep into injury time.

Drom were afforded one final opportunity when Seamus Callanan broke through on goal, but former county colleague Willie Connors put his body on the line to bravely block the low drive.

For Drom & Inch, it was a cruel conclusion to their championship campaign after competing so strongly for long periods. For Kiladangan, however, the victory represented a significant step forward following their disappointing 2025 campaign. Their ability to withstand Drom’s pressure, combined with the clinical intervention of O’Dwyer when it mattered most, ultimately proved the difference as the 2023 county champions kept their championship ambitions alive.

Player of the Match: Dara O'Dwyer (Kiladangan).

Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (Capt, 7); Darragh Flannery (7), Joe Gallagher (7) David Sweeney (7); Willie Connors (0-1, 8), Alan Flynn (0-1, 8), Dan O’Meara (7); Dara O’Dwyer (2-0, 8), Tadgh Gallagher (0-2, 7); Darren Moran (6), Sean Hayes (0-1, 6), Conor Byrne (7); Bryan McLoughney (0-2, 7), Paul Flynn (0-6, 8), Billy Seymour (0-7, 6f, 1 ‘65) 7).

Subs: Tom Boland (0-1, 7) for Moran (26 inj); Johnny Horan (0-2, 7) for Hayes (45 inj); Neil Cahalan (NR) for McLoughney (60).

Drom & Inch: Eoin Collins (7); Eoghan Kennedy (7), Kevin Hassett (7), Conor Gleeson (7); Michael Purcell (7), Podge Campion (Capt, 8), Fintan Purcell (7); John Campion (0-3, 7), Tony Cahill (6); John Ryan (6), Seamus Callanan (1-10 (0-6f, 0-2 65’s) 8), Lorcan Campion (7); Cormac Fitzpatrick (0-3, 7), Maidhc Fitzpatrick (0-5, 8), David Collins (0-2, 7).

Subs: Johnny Ryan (6) for Cahill (40); Michael Purcell (NR) for Ryan (58).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).