Kiladangan left stunned again by Moycarkey

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Moycarkey/Borris 3-23

Kiladangan 2-22

Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: David Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris)

SCORERS – Moycarkey/Borris: David Costigan 2-4; Kieran Morris 1-5 (0-4 frees); Joe Maher 0-4; Niall Heffernan 0-3; Max Hackett 0-2; Killian Cantwell, Joe Egan, Rory Darmody, Pat Molloy, Rhys Shelly 0-1 each.

Kiladangan: Billy Seymour 0-9 (5 frees, 1 s-cut); Dara O’Dwyer 1-1; Paul Flynn, Tadhg Gallagher 0-3 each; Conor Byrne, Johnny Horan 0-2 each; Alan Flynn 1-0; Sean Hayes, Bill Cleary 0-1 each.

There was a feeling of déjà vu in how Moycarkey/Borris got the better of Kiladangan for the second time in three years in a County Senior Hurling Championship quarter final.

At the same stage in 2024 when Kiladangan were defending champions, an eight point lead on fifty minutes wasn’t enough, and here last Saturday they were six points to the good on 52 minutes and appearing in command again.

Then David Costigan scored the second of his two goals, another blistering finish to the top corner of the net from 21-yards, to add to his first half effort, beginning a purple patch of 1-7 without reply to leave Kiladangan reeling, requiring goals but only managed two late points.

Unlike two years ago when Kiladangan’s collapse a little self-inflicted by taking the foot off the gas, this time it was a combination of running out of gas with a veteran team, not helped by losing no fewer than four players to injury through the course of the game.

Already without full-back James Quigley through injury, the early loss of fellow defender David Sweeney was a key blow, not only for his defensive nous, but it meant taking Dara O’Dwyer out of midfield where he had a storming start, scoring one of the quickest ever goals in the famed history of Semple Stadium after just seven seconds.

O’Dwyer’s athleticism in the middle of the field was missed, although Johnny Horan did well after coming in, scoring two points, but he himself broke down in the middle of the second half, by which time Bryan McLoughney and Sean Hayes had already limped off.

Kiladangan will rue their ill luck for a match-up they were well up for after what happened two years ago, and were full value for a 2-10 to 1-7 half time lead but will rue that it wasn’t greater with eleven first half wides.

Moycarkey/Borris would have had nightmares coming into the game of how their last quarter final went in 2025 when they shipped seven goals to Drom & Inch, the majority from direct ball into the square, and Kiladangan yielded a second goal from that route on eighteen minutes when a raking delivery from Alan Flynn wasn’t dealt with and rolled past a leaded-footed Rhys Shelly and into the net.

Moycarkey badly needed a response and they cancelled it out in the next play with Kieran Morris playing in David Costigan who brilliantly doubled first time past Barry Hogan.

Joe Maher chipped in with good points for the Mid men but they still trailed by six at the break.

With forwards Billy Seymour and Paul Flynn real thorns in the Moycarkey side, and Tadhg Gallagher to the fore in midfield, Kiladangan stretched the lead out to eight points by the 39th minute with an exquisite Billy Seymour sideline cut.

It all seemed to be going one way as Moycarkey/Borris would generate little momentum but three points in quick succession, including two from Max Hackett, signalled the tide was starting to turn, with the Mid men slowly getting to grips in the half-back line.

Points from Horan, Gallagher and a sublime puckout catch and point from the wing from Paul Flynn ensured Kiladangan kept the scoreboard ticking over despite Niall Heffernan and David Costigan doing their level best for the Mid men.

When Dara O’Dwyer burst out with the ball, played a one-two with sub Matthew Cleary before pointing from long range, it felt like one of those inspirational match-turning scores.

However, from the puckout, the diminutive Kieran Morris won possession before playing in David Costigan who again gave Barry Hogan no chance with a shot to the corner of the net.

Paul Flynn won a free from the puckout for a relieving Seymour free but the tide had turned and follow a Morris free, the veteran attacker was alert to a breaking ball in the square to flick to the net, 3-17 to 2-20.

He added a point from play before wind-assisted Rhys Shelly got in on the act as Moycarkey now couldn’t miss with Costigan adding two points from play, along with Heffernan and sub Pat Molloy and on in added time they were now six clear.

Kiladangan forced a couple of late 21-yard frees in search of goals but were forced to settle for points from Bill Cleary and Billy Seymour as their campaign came to a disappointing end while Moycarkey/Borris’ quest for a first title since 1984 remains on track.

TEAMS – Moycarkey/Borris: Rhys Shelly (7); Tom Hayes (6), Kevin Hayes (Capt 7), Peter Melbourne (7); Eoghan Hayes (6), Stephen Walsh (6), Niall Heffernan (7); Killian Cantwell (7), Kevin O’Regan (6); Joe Maher (8), Joe Egan (7), Rory Dermody (6); Max Hackett (6), David Costigan (8), Kieran Morris (7).

Subs: Jack Hayes (6) for Costigan (7-9 blood), for O’Regan (HT); Pat Molloy (7) for Dermody (41); Bill Maher (NR) for Heffernan (60 inj); Bill Flanagan (NR) for Morris (60).

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

Subs: Johnny Horan (7) for Sweeney (7 inj); Tom Boland (6) for McLoughney (21 inj); Matthew Cleary (6) for Hayes (34 inj); Bill Cleary (6) for Horan (48 inj); Stephen Mulvihill (NR) for Moran (60+1).

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels).