Spirited Kiladangan go down fighting

County Senior Hurling - Seamus O Riain Cup Quarter Final

Killenaule 1-21

Kiladangan 0-18

Report: Liam Hogan in Templederry

Kiladangan’s bid to reach the last four of the Seamus O Riain Cup came up just short against a wasteful Killenaule side on Saturday afternoon.

A nice-sized attendance witnessed a Kiladangan side that refused to let go against a Killenaule team in a hurry to get back to dine with the top table and judging by their display they have all the armoury to do just that.

The South champions were always in charge and could have won by more but for the number of wides which reached double figures by the end of the hour. Seven points was their biggest lead when they led 1-16 to 0-12 after forty minutes should have been enough to see them survive but Kiladangan refused to yield easily as they reduced the margin to four on no less than five times during the second half.

A quick fire opening three minutes saw the teams twice level before Ciaran O’Dwyer’s free gave Killenaule the lead in the fourth minute and that lead stretched to three by the ninth after two Michael Doyle scores made it 0-6 to 0-3.

The score for score trend continued with Kiladangan first cutting the gap to two when Shane Gleeson posted a free in the eleventh minute. Killenaule rallied again but Darragh Egan made a smart save.

When Kiladangan set foot in the other half of the field they cut the margin to the minimum when Ciaran Kelly bisected the posts with a splendid sideline ball. But Killenaule kept their noses in front as the influential Ciaran O’Dwyer put them two in front 0-7 to 0-5 at the first waterbreak.

As play resumed an excellent Paddy Gallagher point cut the margin to the minimum once more as the score for score continued with Ciaran O’Dwyer and Ciaran Kelly swapping scores.

Lengthy puckouts by both keepers were a key feature of the game and Jonathon Gleeson’s next clearance led to the only goal of the game in the 24th minute when Kieran Bergin delivered a low shot to the net after taking an assist from Ciaran O’Dwyer who completed a thirty metre run in the lead up. O’Dwyer was indeed inspiring for Killenaule and his brilliant point from the left wing helped them to a six point lead approaching half time before Johnny Horan was on hand to reduce the margin in time for the interval which saw Killenaule leading 1-11 to 0-9.

The opening six minutes of the second half produced six scores, evenly distributed, with Kiladangan’s Eoin Kelly grabbing the pick of them from the wing. However, three points in as many minutes from Ciaran O’Dwyer and two from Michael Doyle had Killenaule 1-16 to 0-12 clear and as a result they were looking comfortable with twenty minutes remaining.

However, three Shane Gleeson scores, the third from play brought Kiladangan back into the frame before the teams exited for the last waterbreak. But Killenaule’s extra firepower was critical and every time their grip on the game was threatened, they responded by picking off the vital scores and a free by Ciaran O’Dwyer followed by a Michael Doyle score from play had Killenaule six clear.

Kiladangan refused to yield and Shane Gleeson’s free had his side five in arrears but Tom Stakelum availed of a defensive error in the Kiladangan half. However, Kiladangan were not ready to give in and with Darragh Egan’s extra-long puckouts providing huge assistance they hit back once more with two Shane Gleeson frees leaving them four in arrears with five minutes to go.

Jonathon Gleeson made a good save to deny Johnny Horan but Killenaule’s more potent attack prevailed with Eoin Shaw finding the target before a superb sideline ball by Ciaran O’Dwyer bisected the posts which put the robins were safely through to a place in the semi-finals against South rivals St Mary’s.

They will take beating if Joe O’Dwyer, Killian O’Dwyer, Ciaran O’Dwyer and Michael Doyle continue with the same performances.

Player of the Match: Ciaran O’Dwyer (Killenaule)

Killenaule: Jonathon Gleeson (7); Jack Hassett (7), Paddy Codd (7), Killian O’Dwyer (8); Jimmy Feehan (7), Joe ‘O’Dwyer (8), Liam Meagher (7); Tom Stakelum (0-2, 7), Eoin O’Connell (7); Ciaran O’Dwyer (0-9, 4f, 1 s-cut) 8), Kieran Bergin (1-1, 7), Mark Stakelum (7); Eoin Shaw (0-2, 7), John O’Dwyer (0-2, 7), Michael Doyle (0-5, 8).

Sub: Darragh Fitzgerald (NR) for M Stakelum (57).

Kiladangan: Darragh Egan (7); Paddy Gallagher (0-1, 6), Martin Minehan (6), Darragh Butler (7); Conor Culhane (5), Ruairi Gleeson (7), Ronan Ducie (7); John O’Meara (7), Darragh Ryan (7); Johnny Horan (0-3, 7), Eoin Kelly (0-1, 7), Matthew Cleary (0-1, 6); Eoghan Sharkey (6), Ciaran Kelly (0-2, 1 s-cut) 6), Shane Gleeson (0-10, 9f) 6).

Subs: D J McGrath (6) for Culhane (25); Eoin Meagher (6) for Sharkey (HT); Conor Byrne (6) for J O’Meara (48); Shane Seymour (NR) for E Kelly (57).

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels).