Kiladangan’s poise fends off Toomevara challenge

GAA: Hibernian Inn North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Kiladangan 2-20

Toomevara 2-16

Report: Shane Brophy in Nenagh

Kiladangan once again showed the poise of a championship calibre team as they came with a late scoring burst to see off Toomevara in a high-quality North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on Saturday evening.

When super-sub Adam Hall landed his third point from play on 56 minutes to put his side in front for the first time in the match, Toomevara were in position to end their poor recent run against Kiladangan, but the defending champions aren’t that for nothing and responded with a burst of 1-2 to see them into a fourth North final in a row, chasing a three in a row of titles.

At the start of the campaign, with the players they were missing including Willie Connors, Darragh Flannery, Declan McGrath and Billy Seymour, even the optimistic of Kiladangan supporters would have felt their hold of the North title was under threat but they have proven the depth of their panel is strong and when those players return in the coming weeks, they will have a great chance of regaining the county title.

But for the short-term, it is about retaining the Frank McGrath Cup, and if there is an aspect of concern for their management from the two games in the championship so far, it is allowing teams back into games, firstly giving up a ten-point second half lead to Kilruane, and against Toomevara they were seven points up just before half time. However, Toomevara goalkeeper Rory Brislane blasting a 21-yard free to the net right on half time was what the game needed as it brought the margin back to four-points (1-11 to 1-7) and gave the greyhounds an injection of confidence they needed after being outplayed in the second quarter.

Despite the extra time exertions against Kilruane six days previous, Kiladangan were fast out of the blocks with Bryan McLoughney denied a goal after just fourteen seconds. McLoughney was superb on the evening, particularly in a centre forward role in the first half where he drifted into pockets of space to great effect, with four of his nine points coming from play.

He had his sides first two points before Alan Ryan opened Toomevara’s account, he himself Toome’s most threatening forward with 1-2, before the arrival with Adam Hall, with quarter final man of the match Jack Delaney very quiet in the game. Toome’s chances of a rare win over Kiladangan weren’t helped by Mark McCarthy and Willie Coffey out through injury but they were boosted by the return of Jason Ryan and the availability of David Young whose red card against Borris-Ileigh was rescinded on appeal.

Indeed, Young had the first goal chance of the game on fifteen minutes, set up by Alan Ryan but sent his shot inches wide. However, Darren Delaney followed up with a point as the sides were level at six points apiece before Kiladangan made their first big move late in the half with Sean Hayes firing an angled shot to the net, after a surging run by Tom O’Meara opened up the Toomevara defence.

Points from Joe Gallagher, McLoughney and Paul Flynn had the Kiladangan lead out to seven points but right on half time, Alan Ryan was pulled down outside the square. Toome had nothing to lose at this stage in bringing Rory Brislane up to take the free and his powerful shot shook the net to reduce the margin to four at the break.

It was the score the game needed and Toome took that momentum into the second half and within four minutes they were level with a Kevin McCarthy free followed by an Alan Ryan goal as he ran onto a fine delivery by Joey McLoughney before turning his man and batting past the advancing Barry Hogan. Game on!

From there on it was a terrific contest with the sides level on no fewer than seven occasions, six of which saw Kiladangan get their noses in front, but each time Toomevara responded with sub Adam Hall most notable with three points. However, Kiladangan’s bench had impact too with David Sweeney getting a 53rd minute point, as did Fergal Hayes in the 59th minute to put his side back in front after Toomevara had got their noses ahead, only to be cancelled out by a Bryan McLoughney free.

Extra time was a distinct possibility but deep into added time, but Sean Hayes ended the possibility of that, as he ran onto another Tom O’Meara assist and gave Rory Brislane no chance to bring his tally on the evening to 2-2 and seal Kiladangan’s place in a tenth North senior final since 2006.

Player of the Match: Bryan McLoughney (Kiladangan)

Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (6); Darragh Butler (6), James Quigley (7), John O’Meara (7); Jack Loughnane (0-1, 6), Alan Flynn (0-1f, 8), Darren Moran (7); Tadgh Gallagher (0-2, 8), Tom O’Meara (7); Joe Gallagher (0-1, 7), Bryan McLoughney (0-9, 5f) 9), Sean Hayes (2-2, 8); Dan O’Meara (6), Paul Flynn (0-2, 8), Matthew Cleary (6).

Subs: David Sweeney (0-1, 7) for Loughnane (46); Conor Byrne (6) for D O’Meara (46); Fergal Hayes (0-1, 7) for Cleary (52).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane (1-0f, 7); Jake Ryan (7), Andrew Ryan (7), Josh McCarthy (8); Jason Ryan (0-1 s-cut, 7), Robbie Quirke (7), Colm Canning (6); Jack Ryan (0-1, 7), Joey McLoughney (0-2, 7); Darren Delaney (0-1, 6), Jack Delaney (6), Conor O’Meara (0-1, 6); David Young (6), Kevin McCarthy (0-5, 4f) 7), Alan Ryan (1-2, 8).

Subs: Adam Hall (0-3, 8) for D Delaney (38); Russell Quirke (6) for Canning (40); Sean Flaherty (6) for O’Meara (50).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh)