Golden bridge 30-year gap for second Intermediate Hurling title

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Golden Kilfeacle 3-19

Knockavilla-D Kickhams 2-21

Report: John O’Shea at Leahy Park, Cashel

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle)

SCORERS - Golden Kilfeacle: Jack Leamy 1-9 (0-5 frees, 0-1 ’65); Sam Hall 1-1; Ben Currivan 0-3; Andy Byrnes 1-0; Seanie O’Halloran 0-2; Eoin Marnane, Ciaran Byrne, Eanna Ormond, Josh Keane 0-1 each.

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams: Stephen Browne 0-11 (8 frees, 1 ‘65); Elliott Thompson 2-1; Adam Daly 0-3; Micheál Gleeson, Shane Buckley (1 s-cut) 0-2 each; Eoin Horgan (free), Paudie Slattery 0-1 each.

Golden Kilfeacle bridged a thirty year gap when they captured the County Intermediate Hurling Championship for the second time in their history, with a hard fought one point victory over neighbours Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams on Saturday afternoon.

Played before a big crowd, this West Tipp derby was more than just a game, with the two near neighbours battling it out for the pride of the parish and bragging rights also at stake. The winners would also move up a grade to the Premier Intermediate, while the losers would have to do it all over again next season.

The large crowd were treated to a fiercely contested game from the outset, with both teams battling as if their lives depended on the outcome, and played in a manly fashion devoid of any type on rancour.

Going into the game many people had the Fontenoys clear favourites to take home the Michael Maher Cup, but from the start the Black & Amber showed that they were not there just to make up the numbers.

Kickhams had the benefit of a strong wind in the first half but it was Golden who attacked from the throw-in and Sam Hall split the posts after just twelve seconds. Jack Leamy doubled their advantage following an interchange with Gavin Dalton, ninety seconds later.

Kickhams were quickly to the pitch of the game and played their best hurling over the next twenty minutes, outscoring the Fontenoys 0-11 to 0-4. Shane Buckley opened their account after two minutes before Stephen Browne brought the sides level when he converted a placed ball after four.

Eoin Marnane eased Golden in front, having been set up by Ben Currivan, but Kickhams pushed on, scoring five of the next six points. Stephen Browne hit three on the bounce in a five minute period, two frees and a 65, before Elliott Thompson doubled the scores after some lacklustre defending.

Jack Leamy pulled one back from a placed ball but this was quickly cancelled out by Adam Daly. Josh Keane was coming more into the game and his run at the defence, after gaining possession from a puck-out, set up Seanie O’Halloran for a minor to cut the deficit to three.

Paudie Slattery and Josh Keane cancelled each other out from play, before Kickhams landed two minors from set-pieces. Shane Buckley put over a sideline cut from the Stand side before goalkeeper Eoin Horgan landed a long range free from inside his own 45.

Kickhams now led 0-11 to 0-6 with eight minutes remaining to the break, but Golden finished the half with a flurry. Ben Currivan pulled one back before Josh Keane set up Jack Leamy to leave three between the sides.

Leamy then converted a free before his floated sideline cut from the side found Sam Hall who beat Eoin Horgan from close range to go back in the lead by the minimum.

Jack Leamy hit his fifth from a placed ball, before Kickhams hit two bad wides in the run up to the break. Stephen Browne, after being put through by Cormac Carr, reduced the deficit to the minimum in added time, to leave the half time score, Golden 1-10 Kickhams 0-12.

Kickhams started the livelier after the restart with Micheál Gleeson bringing the sides level inside the opening minute, before Davy Butler split open the Golden defence but his goal-bound shot was well saved by Jack Currivan, but referee John Dooley brought back the play for a free, which Stephen Browne converted.

Two placed balls had Golden back in front by the 35th minute. A move by Kickhams out of defence found Stephen Browne in midfield who fed the in-running Shane Buckley, who cut open the Golden defence before laying off to Elliott Thompson, who beat Jack Currivan for a Kickhams goal.

Two points in reply by Ciaran Byrne and Seanie O’Halloran had the Suir-siders on level terms by the 41st minute.

The game turned in Golden’s favour with two goals in a three minute spell at the beginning of the final quarter. Josh Keane found Jack Leamy, who rounded his marker before rifling to the roof of the net from a narrow angle, and then Andy Byrnes finished a move started around midfield by Seanie O’Halloran, who shook off two defenders before laying off to Eanna Ormond who in turn found Josh Keane.

This well-worked team goal gave Golden a three point cushion, but again Kickhams refused to wilt, with Stephen Browne hitting three minors on the bounce, two from frees.

Golden appeared to have the cup within their grasp when they went five up with two minutes of normal time remaining, but not for the first time, Kickhams hit back with a goal from Elliott Thompson and a free from Stephen Browne in added time, to reduce the deficit to the minimum.

Kickhams had one last chance of bringing the game to a replay, but a long range attempt by Adam Daly, under pressure, drifted wide before the long whistle sounded, much to the delight of a large Golden Kilfeacle following.

TEAMS - Golden Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan (6); Aidan O’Connell (6), Shane O’Connell (7), Ciaran Byrne (7); Eoin Marnane (7), Niall Heffernan (7), Cian O’Connell (6), Gavin Dalton (6), Seanie O’Halloran (7); Ben Currivan (8), Jack Leamy (Capt 8), Josh Keane (8), Eanna Ormond (7), Padraig Dalton (6), Sam Hall (7).

Subs: Andy Byrnes (7) for P Dalton (38), Cian Lonergan (6) for G Dalton (50), Jack Bergin (6) for Hall (58), Jack Lonergan (NR) for C O’Connell (59).

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams: Eoin Horgan (6); Eddie Daly (6), Bill Creamer (7), Mike McCormack (7); Conor Farrell (6), Lorcan Carr (6), Jamie Duncan (7); Paudie Slattery (7), Adam Daly (8); Stephen Browne (8), Shane Buckley (7), Micheál Gleeson (7); Cormac Carr (6), Davy Butler (7), Elliott Thompson (8).

Subs: Ben Ryan (6) for Butler (48 inj), Shane Farrell (6) for C Carr (55),

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels).