Kiladangan hit top form to see off Toome
GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Kiladangan 2-30
Toomevara 2-21
Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Billy Seymour (Kiladangan).
SCORERS – Kiladangan: Billy Seymour 0-14 (8 frees); Paul Flynn 1-3; Bryan McLoughney 1-2; Tadhg Gallagher 0-3; Sean Hayes, Dan O’Meara 0-2 each; Alan Flynn, Declan McGrath, Darragh Egan (free), Conor Byrne 0-1 each.
Toomevara: Darragh McCarthy 0-11 (6 frees, 1 65); Mark McCarthy 2-1 (0-1 s-cut); Kevin McCarthy 0-3; Joey McLoughney, Jack Delaney 0-2 each; Josh McCarthy, Robbie Quirke 0-1 each.
Kiladangan progressed to a fifth County Senior Hurling final since 2016 after they produced a stunning performance to see off Toomevara in an absorbing semi-final on Sunday.
The final margin doesn’t tell the full story of a hugely entertaining game as Kiladangan only pulled away late on, despite finishing with fourteen men after goalkeeper Barry Hogan was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 42nd minute when Toomevara were just five points adrift. However, the 2020 champions were outstanding to the finish, aided by sub-keeper and current selector Darragh Egan who pulled off an outstanding save from Darragh McCarthy in the 55th minute which would have brought the arrears back to two. He also landed a long range free for good measure.
Kiladangan outscored their rivals 0-10 to 1-3 after the red card with Billy Seymour to the fore, top-scoring with fourteen points, six from play. It continued his superb campaign, not only in the scoring department, but his ball-winning ability was superb particularly in the second half, when every Kiladangan player stepped up a notch when they fell a man short.
Right from the off, Kiladangan were fired up and from there to the end they never relented in what was their most complete performance in some time, added to the fact they only shot three wides in the whole game.
They were back to using the ball effectively, with their backs having plenty of options to send the ball into the attack where their movement had the Toome backs under pressure right from the off, with Dan O’Meara and Bryan McLoughney as sharp as they have been in the campaign while Paul Flynn, back closer to the goal, was a real menace. Sean Flynn turned in another strong performance and while Andy Loughnane was the only forward not to get on the scoresheet, he was effective getting on the ball.
They were aided in their scoring feat by some passive Toomevara pressure, particularly in the first half, where the likes of Alan Flynn, Joe Gallagher and Declan McGrath were given too much time on the ball to pick out their passes.
In fairness to Toomevara, they upped the workrate in the second half, but they couldn’t slow down Kiladangan’s ability to get good shots away, even with an extra man. With the Kiladangan forwards in such hot form, Toome needed to match them, but they would have needed a near perfect performance.
Kevin McCarthy, Mark McCarthy, and Jack Delaney had their moments while rising star Darragh McCarthy was superb, scoring eleven points, four from play. He had the Kiladangan full-back line in fits in the first half to such an extent the eighteen-year-old had three different markers in the opening half, two of which ended up on yellow cards. This was despite Kiladangan trying to test his mentality, but he stood up to it.
He was contained somewhat in the second half with just one late point from play and Toome will wonder what might have been had he goaled in the 55th minute when Darragh Egan pulled off a point-blank save. Indeed, Toome could argue play should have been called back still for a penalty after Shane Nolan looked to have been fouled.
Still, there was no doubting the merit of Kiladangan’s win as they took command right from the start and led 1-15 to 0-12 at half time with their goal coming from Paul Flynn in the fourth minute.
When Bryan McLoughney goaled early in the second half, Kiladangan were ten to the good, but Toome hit back almost immediately with the first of two second half goals from Mark McCarthy, but they were unable to take advantage of the extra man as Kiladangan get back to the final twelve months after last year’s heartbreak, and they look driven not to leave Thurles on Sunday week empty-handed.
TEAMS - Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (6); David Sweeney (6), James Quigley (6), John O’Meara (6); Fergal Hayes (6), Alan Flynn (8), Joe Gallagher (7); Tadhg Gallagher (8), Declan McGrath (7); Sean Hayes (8), Billy Seymour (9), Andy Loughnane (7); Bryan McLoughney (7), Dan O’Meara (7), Paul Flynn (8).
Subs: Darragh Egan (8) for McLoughney (43); Willie Connors (7) for F Hayes (46); Conor Byrne (7) for Loughnane (51); Johnny Horan (6) for Quigley (55); Eoghan Sharkey (NR) for D O’Meara (60+3).
Toomevara: Rory Brislane (6); Seamus O’Farrell (6), Andrew Ryan (7); Liam Ryan (7); Joey McLoughney (7), Josh McCarthy (6), Jack Ryan (7); Robbie Quirke (7), Darren Delaney (6); Colm Canning (6), Kevin McCarthy (8), Mark McCarthy (7); Darragh McCarthy (9), Jack Delaney (7), Adam Hall (6).
Subs: Shane Nolan (6) for Hall (33); Jack Ryan (6) for D Delaney (46); Sean Flaherty (6) for Canning (47); Kenny Ryan (6) for Quirke (53); David Nolan (6) for O’Farrell (55).
Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels).