5 star Morgan powers Kilruane to North success
North Tipperary Under 21 'B' Football Final
Kilruane MacDonaghs 6-13
Ballina 0-9
By Liam Hogan in Puckane
For a final that drew much attention in the build-up, it was fitting that the performance of Craig Morgan overshadowed all else as he scored 5-1 to see Kilruane MacDonaghs win their fourth North Tipperary Under 21 'B' Football title when they overwhelmed Ballina in the decider last Thursday night.
Morgan operated at right corner forward and he dismantled Ballina with a scintillating display on an inside forward line that scored 5-10 with Cian Darcy scoring 0-9 while Kian O’Kelly played a key role also.
And while Morgan’s performance will provide a talking point for many a day, it was the pre-match discussion as to whether the teams could play seventeen year olds or not that threatened to overshadow his night.
The previous Wednesday night, the Tipperary County Board was advised on a ruling following a meeting of Central Council the previous Saturday, February 23rd and confirmed by Munster Council, that from February 27th a player must be aged 17 (or over) on 1st January 2019 to play in this years 2019 Under 21 Championships in football and hurling.
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MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Craig Moran (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
SCORERS – Kilruane: Craid Morgan 5-1; Cian Darcy 0-9 (6 frees); Matthew Spain 1-1; Mark O’Neill, Luke Dervan 0-1 each.
Ballina: Conor Burke, George Kealy (2 frees) 0-3 each; Corey Ryan 0-2; Jack O’Mahoney 0-1 45.
TEAMS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Kevin Shinners (7); Kevin Oakley (7), Sean McAdams (7), Cormac Mannion (7); Mark O’Neill (7), Jerome Cahill (7), Martin Grace (7); Luke O’Kelly (7), Conor Lillis (7); Matthew Spain (8), Luke Dervan (7), Owen Usman (7); Craig Morgan (9), Cian Darcy (8), Kian O’Kelly (7).
Subs: Luke Morkan (7) for Usman (48); Mathew Moyles (6) for McAdams (52); Eoin England (NR) for K O'Kelly (57); Sean Quinlan (NR) for Darcy (57); Louis Kennedy (NR) for Spain (58).
Ballina: Thomas McGrath (6); Dara King (6), Michael Grace (6), Robbie Breen (6); Conor Power (7), James Hanley (6), Josh Egan (7); Eoghan Power (7), George Kealy; Matthew Power (7), Jack O’Mahoney (6), Conor Burke (7); James Prentice (6), Corey Ryan (7), Sam Loughran (6).
Subs: David Slevin (6) for King (39); David Grace (6) for Loughran (39); Finn Looney (6) for Prentice (48); Seamus Power (6) for M Power (51); Luke Kennedy (6) for Breen (55).
Referees: Pat O’Mahoney (Kiladangan)