Kiladangan edge Toomevara in North Senior Hurling semi-final thriller

GAA: The Hibernian Inn North Tipp Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

Kiladangan 3-21

Toomevara 2-21

Report: Liam Hogan at Kenyon Park, Templederry

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Alan Flynn (Kiladangan)

SCORERS - Kiladangan: Conor Byrne 0-6 (3 frees, 1’65); Paul Flynn 2-0; Willie Connors 0-4 (1 frees); Dan O’Meara 1-1; Alan Flynn, Billy Seymour 0-3 each; Dara O’Dwyer 0-2; Darragh Butler, Neil Cahalan 0-1 each.

Toomevara: Darragh McCarthy 0-6 (5 frees); Barry O’Connell 1-2; Jack Delaney, Kevin McCarthy 0-4; Jake Hackett 1-1; Conor O’Farrell 0-2; Robbie Quirke, Austin Duff 0-1 each.

It will take some game to be better this one as holders Kiladangan had to come from behind to earn a place in the North Senior Hurling final for the fifth year in a row following a thrilling win over Toomevara on Wednesday evening.

Kiladangan needed every ounce of experience to dig this one out as the introduction of Joe Gallagher, Sean Hayes and Fergal Hayes helped seal the win.

But it takes two to tango and indeed it was a pity there had to be a loser. Wind assisted Toomevara were the better team in the first half. After scores were level three times in the opening five minutes, Toomevara wasted no time in taking the game to the champions with Barry O’Connell forcing Barry Hogan to save in the second minute. Two minutes later, O’Connell wouldn’t be denied a second time when slack marking gave him the chance to prod low to the net for a 1-3 to 0-3 lead.

The Limerick native was a constant threat in the half and scored 1-2 while Jack Delaney, Kevin McCarthy, and Jake Hackett picked off nice scores as Toome kept led 1-7 to 0-7 after seventeen minutes.

Kiladangan had men on a mission also as Willie Connors, Billy Seymour, Darragh Butler and Neil Cahalan scored the champions seven points from play before Paul Flynn weaved past three defenders to steer home a goal.

The scores per minute continued and Toome went two clear after Robbie Quirke scored a from distance before Kiladangan took the lead as the bounce from Dan O’Meara’s low shot deceived Toomevara goalkeeper Darragh Hayes.

Hayes made up for the error with two fine saves before half time but in the meantime his team soon regained the lead when the speedy Jake Hackett came in from the left to rattle the net.

From there, Toome went on a scoring binge starting with Darragh McCarthy’s first point from a placed ball in the 25th minute before points by Jack Delaney (2), Conor O’Farrell, and McCarthy (free) left the challengers six in front before Alan Flynn became the ninth Kiladangan player to score as the teams went to the dressing room with Toome leading 2-14 to 2-9.

With a Conor Byrne (free) Kiladangan had the deficit reduced before Darragh McCarthy made it 2-16 to 2-11 in the 38th minute. From there the game took a dramatic twist in the guise of 1-2 from the champions starting with a goal by Paul Flynn –who disposed Darragh Hayes on the edge of the square – quickly followed by a point each through Alan Flynn and Dan O’Meara.

Darragh McCarthy edged Toome in front with a free before Willie Connors levelled as Conor Byrne gave Kiladangan the lead, 3-15 to 2-17, with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Kiladangan were gaining ground, possession wise, as their backline gave little away as Joe Gallagher, Alan Flynn, James Quigley, and Willie Seymour won the ground battles and their lead increased through Alan Flynn and Byrne from a 65.

Crucial responses by Conor O’Farrell and Kevin McCarthy left the minimum between the teams again. The score for score nature continued as Willie Connors long range had it out to two but Darragh McCarthy’s free had it back to one before Conor Byrne (free) Austin Duff traded scores and a minute remaining.

The game was on a knife-edge and a minute into added time Kiladangan took charge as Willie Connors ninety-metre free was followed by a score from play from Billy Seymour pushed the gap out to three.

With a litany of clearances by a very alert Andrew Ryan at full back, Toome kept coming from more and Darragh McCarthy’s low free was stopped and the ball skipped out to Conor O’Meara but his first-time rebound drifted wide of goal and with it went Toomevara’s last chance of forcing extra time.

TEAMS - Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (8); John O’Meara (6), James Quigley (7), David Sweeney (7); Willie Connors (7), Alan Flynn (8), Daragh Butler (7); Tadgh Gallagher (7), Dara O’Dwyer (7); Conor Byrne (7), Dan O’Meara (7), Paul Flynn (7); Conor Culhane (6), Billy Seymour (6), Neil Cahalan (6).

Subs: Joe Gallagher (7) for J O’Meara (HT); Sean Hayes (6) for Culhane (HT); Bryan McLoughney (6) for Cahalan (50); Fergal Hayes (7) for O’Dwyer (50).

Toomevara: Darragh Hayes (7); Cathal Frend (7), Andrew Ryan (7), Jake Ryan (7); Colm Canning (7), Liam Ryan (7), Joshua Powell (7); Josh McCarthy (7), Conor O’Farrell (7); Darren Delaney (6), Kevin McCarthy (7), Jake Hackett (7); Jack Delaney (7), Barry O’Connell (8), Daragh McCarthy (7).

Subs: Austin Duff (7) for Hackett (47); Jack Ryan (7) for Jake Ryan (50); Conor O’Meara (6) for D Delaney (52); Mark McCarthy (6) for O’Connell (54); Paul Ryan (6) for J McCarthy (57).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).