Kiladangan defeat Nenagh in County Senior Hurling semi-final

Kiladangan 3-12

Nenagh Eire Og 1-15

 

By Shane Brophy

 

Two goals in the final quarter inspired Kiladangan to a come from behind victory over Nenagh Eire Og in the County Senior Hurling Championship semi-final at Semple Stadium.

 

Kiladangan were trailing by four points on 49 minutes when Paul Flynn got onto a Dan O’Meara run and pass with the key score coming four minutes later when Sean Hayes shot spilled through the fingers of Nenagh keeper Michael McNamara and into the net.

 

From there, Kiladangan defended manfully with Jake Morris coming closest to a relieving goal but Barry Hogan was alert to the snap shot.

 

This was one Nenagh will feel they left behind as they were in control for long spells, starting well and led 0-5 to 0-1 inside the first quarter with Michael Heffernan to the fore.

 

Kiladangan found a little rhythm to cut the gap to one before Joe Gallagher scored a cracking goal on 21 minutes to put them 1-4 to 0-5 in front. Nenagh were back level when Jack Morris goaled on 28 minutes, after Tommy Heffernan had been denied twice by Fergal Hayes and Alan Flynn, with Nenagh pushing on for a 1-11 to 1-7 half time lead.

 

Kiladangan brought greater intensity to the second half with Paul Flynn a thorn at centre forward. However, they were still four behind when Flynn goaled. He added a point before sub Sean Hayes scored the third goal which put them in command and they were almost in for a fourth goal but Michael McNamara saved superbly on two occasions from Andy Loughnane and O’Meara.

 

Nenagh pushed Jake Morris back into the full forward line and he pointed before almost getting the goal his side needed but Kiladangan held on for a three point win.

 

SCORERS – Kiladangan: Willie Connors 0-6 (4 frees, 2 65s); Paul Flynn 1-3; Joe Gallagher 1-0; Tadhg Gallagher 0-2; Billy Seymour 0-1 s-cut.

Nenagh Eire Og: Michael Heffernan 0-7 (4 frees, 1 65); Jake Morris 1-2; Paddy Murphy 0-3; Philip Hickey 0-2; Tommy Heffernan 0-1.

 

TEAMS – Kiladangan: Barry Hogan; David Sweeney, James Quigley, Fergal Hayes; Darren Moran, Alan Flynn, Declan McGrath; Jack Loughnane, Johnny Horan; Willie Connors, Joe Gallagher, Dan O’Meara; Tadhg Gallagher, Billy Seymour, Paul Flynn. Subs: Sean Hayes for Horan (HT); Andy Loughnane for Seymour (48); Martin Minehan for J Loughnane (59).

Nenagh Eire Og: Michael McNamara; Conor McCarthy, Hugh Maloney, Conor Ryan; Adam Gratton, Barry Heffernan, Daire Quinn; Killian Gleeson, Conor Hennessy; James Mackey, Tommy Heffernan, Paddy Murphy; Michael Heffernan, Philip Hickey, Jake Morris. Subs: Andrew Coffey for Hennessy (33); Adam Healy for T Heffernan (44); Seanie Geaney for Mackey (56).

Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla Kickhams)