Goal-hungry Kiladangan get back to County Final

CAMOGIE: FBD Insurance Tipperary Junior 'A' Championship Semi-Final

Kiladangan 4-12

Moyle Rovers 0-11

Report: Liam Hogan

at the Camogie Grounds, The Ragg

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sinead Meagher (Kiladangan).

SCORERS - Kiladangan: Sinead Meagher 1-7 (0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘45); Jane Seymour, Isabelle Kingston 1-2 each; Ava Seymour 1-1.

Moyle Rovers: Emma Kiely 0-8 (7 frees); Hazel Brennan 0-2; Saoirse Butler 0-1.

Kiladangan overcame a slow start to secure a place in the County Junior ‘A’ Camogie Championship final for the second year in a row with a workmanlike win over a gallant Moyle Rovers side on Saturday afternoon.

Two goals in either half were key with the first two helping them to a 2-5 to 0-6 halftime lead. The opening minutes of the second half were pretty even in terms of possession but it all changed with Kiladangan securing their third goal in the 48th minute and with a three goal lead there was no looking back.

The thirteen point win does little justice to the performance of Moyle Rovers. In a tough and well fought contest, the goals were the real difference with Kiladangan’s experienced players in Sinead Meagher, Jane Seymour and Theresa Collins making sure of victory.

Meagher finished top scorer with 1-7 (1-2 from play) and had much more besides as she continues to inspire all those around her. Jane Seymour scored 1-2 from the corner as did young Isabelle Kingston who also had a hand in Meagher’s goal.

Further back, the Kiladangan defence got over a shaky opening eight minutes with the reliable Jane Minehan at full back led a rock solid defence with able lieutenants in Paul Kelly, Eimear Meagher, Roisin Connolly, Aoibheann Ryan and Laoise Ryan in front of a very reliable goalkeeper in Aoife Gleeson.

Moyle Rovers started brightly and played with abandon with Aoibhe Browne, Ava Wall and Sarah Luttrell doing well in the backline in front of goalkeeper in Erin O’Donnell. Midfielders Eavann Duffy and Eavann Duffy did very well while Hazel Brennan at eleven made many runs as she and her forwards forced the Kiladangan defence into the concession of frees which saw Emma Kiely so accurate. Full forward Eabha Dolan looked promising but her loss through injury in the fifth minute was a set-back to Rovers plans.

The opening minutes saw Moyle Rovers take the game by storm as full forward Eabha Dolan and Hazel Brennan created opportunities, turned into scores through Emma Kiely’s three frees which helped them into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes.

However, Dolan went off injured and the next eight minutes belonged to Kiladangan who scored four unanswered points through Isabelle Kingston, plus two by Sinead Meagher plus Jane Seymour who gave them the lead in the 19th minute.

Two minutes later came the first goal when indecision in the Moyle Rovers defence allowed Isabelle Kingston quickly transfer the ball to a supporting Sinead Meagher who gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Moyle Rovers responded through another Kiely free but Kiladangan’s killer instinct surfaced again and goal number two arrived in the 30th minute as Isabelle Kingston took it on herself to test the Rovers backline by rounding her marker and blasting past to the net.

Despite the setback, Moyle Rovers came forward again with a Hazel Brennan point leaving them trailing by five points at half time.

Early second half points by Jane Seymour and Isabelle Kingston increased Kiladangan’s lead to seven by the 37th minute.

More Moyle Rovers pressure kept Aoife Gleeson alert as she dealt with a litany of high deliveries before Hazel Brennan scored her second point in the 46th minute followed by another Kiely free.

Accuracy by both free takers continued with Sinead Meagher’s long range free was matched by another from Emma Kiely. Then in the 50th minute, the third goal came when Jane Seymour’s attempt for a point from the left wing deceived the Rovers keeper and the ball finished up in the net.

Sinead Meagher followed up with a brilliant point but two Kiely frees reduced the deficit. Further Kiladangan pressure saw the Rovers keeper Erin O’Donnell deny Ava Seymour with the resulting 65 converted by Meagher leaving the dying seconds to Ava Seymour as she scored Kiladangan fourth goal at a second attempt deep into added time and get Kiladangan back to the final against Gortnahoe/Glengoole, twelve months after losing the decider to Brian Borus.

TEAMS - Kiladangan: Aoife Gleeson (7); Paula Kelly (7), Jane Minehan (8), Eimear Meagher (7); Roisin Connolly (7), Aoibheann Ryan (7), Laoise Ryan (7); Theresa Collins (8), Emma Gavin (6); Muireann Sheehan (6), Medbh Ryan (6), Sadhbh Fogarty (6); Isabelle Kingston (7), Sinead Meagher (8), Jane Seymour (7).

Subs: Ava Seymour (7) for Kingston (47 inj); Caoimhe Noonan (6) for Gavin (48); Eire Ryan (6) for M Ryan (53); Lilly Brennan (NR) for J Seymour (60); Niamh Kelly (NR) for Sheahan (60+2).

Moyle Rovers: Erin O’Donnell (7); Aoife Bond (6), Aoibhe Browne (7), Michelle Cronin (6); Ava Wall (7), Sarah Luttrell (6), Roisin McGrath (7); Ellie Franklin (7), Eavann Duffy (8); Saoirse Butler (6), Hazel Brennan (7), Emer Brennan (6); Emma Kiely (7), Eabha Dolan (NR), Georgia Kerton (6).

Subs: Ava Collins (6) for Dolan (5 inj); Abbie Hassett (6) for Collins (53 inj); Ciara Slattery (NR) for Kerton (60+2), Aoife Brennan (NR) for Cronin (60+3).

Referee: PJ Nolan (Drom & Inch).