Resilient Kilsheelan dethrone Loughmore

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 1-14

Loughmore/Castleiney 2-9

Report: Michael Dundon at Leahy Park, Cashel

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jamie Roche (Kilsheelan/Kilcash)

SCORERS – Kilsheelan/Kilcash: Jamie Roche 1-7 (0-6 frees); Tommy O’Connor, Mark Stokes, Michael Freaney (2pt) 0-2 each; Senan Butler 0-1.

Loughmore/Castleiney: Ciaran Connolly, Liam Treacy (2 frees) 0-3 each; Tomas McGrath, Willie Eviston 1-0 each; Noel McGrath, Philip O’Connell, Ed Connolly 0-1 each.

Just when it seemed they had enough done, champions Loughmore/Castleiney faltered in injury time to a resilient Kilsheelan-Kilcash who are in line for a third county senior football title following a pulsating semi-final on Saturday.

Loughmore/Castleiney were most people’s fancy to advance to the decider but on a day when a lot of things went wrong for them, they lost their way in those tense closing minutes, and were left to rue some slack shooting, ten wides in all, which cost them their title.

A further price may yet be paid as they prepare to face Nenagh Eire Og on Sunday next, defending their senior hurling crown, as injuries sustained leaves them facing an anxious week. Liam McGrath, a doubtful starter, left the game injured after 21 minutes and John McGrath followed suit after 37 minutes.

Their availability for the hurling final will be a hot topic this week, however, on the plus side, Noel McGrath, who did not start, came on and got through forty-plus minutes with no apparent discomfort.

Kilsheelan got the start all outsiders would love with a Jamie Roche goal after three minutes when a Loughmore kick-out went astray but in typical Loughmore fashion, they did not panic and after Ciaran Connolly had kicked two points they levelled when Willie Eviston, on a rampaging mission up field, was in the right place to slot home a John McGrath delivery, 1-2 each.

It was a cagey, possession driven contest at this stage but on half-time Loughmore/Castleiney’s Tomas McGrath netted following good work by Willie Eviston and Tommy Maher, giving the defending champions an interval advantage of 2-4 to 1-4.

Early second half points from Mark Stokes and Jamie Roche reflected Kilsheelan’s increase in intensity but Loughmore-Castleiney matched them all the way.

Kilsheelan lost Senan Butler to a black card early in the half and were denied a likely goal when Shane Hennessy bravely stopped a Jamie Roche effort after 45 minutes.

It looked as though the champions would get over the line as they reached the hour mark with two points to spare (2-9 to 1-10) but then, Kilsheelan, who had been gaining in momentum right through the last quarter, moved to another level in injury time.

Jamie Roche pointed a free and was marginally wide with another effort before Michael Freaney landed a glorious two pointer to send them ahead in the 63rd minute.

And it did not stop there! Kilsheelan won possession from the kick-out and Senan Butler, not long back in the action after his black card, sent over a sweet point to double their advantage.

Time was against Loughmore/Castleiney and referee Derek O’Mahoney’s final whistle signalled the start of celebrations in the Kilsheelan-Kilcash camp.

Kilsheelan-Kilcash have been in the shadow of south rivals Clonmel Commercials and Moyle Rovers in recent years but this could be their year to take centre stage. Their second half performance will certainly give them encouragement as they moved the ball with greater pace and purpose and were far less inhibited in front of goal. More of the same will be required in the final. Confidence should be greatly boosted by this lowering of the champions’ colours.

In Jamie Roche they had big threat up front, his 1-1 from play vital, and capped by a further six points from frees. Daire Brennan was the leader in defence with goalkeeper Evan Comerford rock-solid all through, and Billy O’Connor, Tommy O’Connor, Mark Stokes, and Michael Freaney also making significant contributions to the win.

A disappointing day for Loughmore/Castleiney was made all the worse by the injuries as taxing campaigns on both fronts appear to be talking their toll. They will feel that with a full squad they would have come through here not to mention the chances they spurned. That’s for another day; the focus now is on the hurling final on Sunday.

On a day when many of their lads did not reach their best, Ciaran Connolly had a fine outing, kicking three points from play. Willie Evison, Brian McGrath, Lorcan Egan, Ed Meagher and goalie Shane Hennessy also did their bit.

TEAMS – Kilsheelan/Kilcash: Evan Comerford (6); Kian Quinn (6), Eoin Kehoe (7), Jason Madigan (6); Emmet Butler (6), Daire Brennan (7), Billy O’Connor (7); Mark Stokes (7), Billy Murphy (6); Tommy O’Connor (7), Michael Freaney (6), Shane Garland (6); Senan Butler (7), Jamie Roche (9), Barry Kehoe (6).

Subs: Liam Freaney (6) for Garland (44); Ru Kelly (6) for Murphy (50); Mikey McGuire (6) for B Kehoe (52).

Loughmore/Castleiney: Shane Hennessy (7); Lorcan Egan (7), Willie Eviston (7), Eoin O’Connell (6); John Ryan (6), Ed Meagher (7), Tommy Maher (6); Tomas McGrath (6), Liam Treacy (6); Ciaran Connolly (7), Brian McGrath (7), Eamon Connolly (6); Liam McGrath (6), John McGrath (6), Philip O’Connell (6).

Subs: Noel McGrath (6) for L McGrath (21 inj); Ciaran McGrath (6) for J McGrath (37 inj); Darragh McCahey (6) for T McGrath (50); Conor Ryan (6) for P O’Connell (50).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan).