Kilruane MacDonaghs celebrate North Final win with their young fans. Photograph: Bridget Delaney

Kilruane end 28 year with for North Senior Hurling title

Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-19

Kiladangan 0-12

 

A return to a traditional approach proved to correct formula for Kilruane MacDonagh's whose 28 year wait for a North Tipperary Senior Hurling title finally came to an end last Sunday.

For a club that had been divisional champion eighteen times, 28 years is a long time and that craving hunger is what proved to be the determining factor in this 118th North Tipperary Senior Hurling Final.

Kiladangan went into it as worthy favourites, chasing a fourth title in six years, and while it was a North title to battle for, they were never going to have the same level of hunger Kilruane were going to have to give that extra bit of effort which is how it proved.

While there is no doubting that Kiladangan never hit the levels they were required to win on the day, virtually the entire reason for that is that they weren't let such was the ravenous workrate of every outfield member of the Kilruane team. They virtually suffocated Kiladangan from first minute to last, which they had to disrupt their near neighbours who like to find and play in space.

But none of that was afforded to them, firstly the tone set by the Kilruane forwards who were as important in a defensive sense as the nineteen points they put up on the scoreboard as Kiladangan's backs were never allowed time and space to pick out their men.

 

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