Dan is the man as Kiladangan see off Toome
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final
Kiladangan 3-16
Toomevara 0-18
Toomevara 0-18
Report: Michael Dundon at Semple Stadium
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Dan O’Meara (Kiladangan)
SCORERS – Kiladangan: Billy Seymour 0-7 (4 frees); Paul Flynn 0-4; Joe Gallagher 1-2; Dan O’Meara, Willie Connors 1-0 each; Bryan McLoughney 0-2; Sean Hayes 0-1.
Toomevara: Kevin McCarthy 0-7 (3 frees); Jack Delaney 0-5; Jason Ryan 0-2; Kenny Ryan, Paul Ryan, David Young, Joey McLoughney (free) 0-1 each.
Player of the Match: Dan O’Meara (Kiladangan)
SCORERS – Kiladangan: Billy Seymour 0-7 (4 frees); Paul Flynn 0-4; Joe Gallagher 1-2; Dan O’Meara, Willie Connors 1-0 each; Bryan McLoughney 0-2; Sean Hayes 0-1.
Toomevara: Kevin McCarthy 0-7 (3 frees); Jack Delaney 0-5; Jason Ryan 0-2; Kenny Ryan, Paul Ryan, David Young, Joey McLoughney (free) 0-1 each.
It was a trap-to-line win for Kiladangan as they saw off the challenge of Toomevara with a polished performance in this County Senior Hurling Championship quarter on Saturday.
The victory keeps Kiladangan firmly on track for a possible first county title having been twice disappointed in recent years. More importantly, the manner in which it was achieved underlined Kiladangan’s credentials and they need fear no opposition if they can repeat this level of performance.
The only damper was some very slack shooting, in the second half in particular, when they recorded eleven wides, opportunities wasted which could have put the game to bed much earlier and which left Toomevara in with a shout almost to the end.
Toomevara did not have the same quality in their team as their rivals but they were extremely competitive and it was this refusal to throw in the towel that kept them in the hunt for so long. Manager Eoin Brislane could not have asked for more from his charges in terms of effort, but they came up short in other aspects of their game, their defensive work and decision-making letting them down on some occasions. They conceded three goals and it could have been more with all six Kiladangan forwards getting on the scoresheet.
Kiladangan looked the better side from the start but were finding it hard to shake off a persistent Toome. After eight minutes Kiladangan led 0-4 to 0-1 but Toome gradually settled and by the first water break were only 0-4 to 0-5 adrift.
Kiladangan were still on top in the second quarter with Dan O’Meara proving a difficult handful for the Toome defence. They were leading 0-11 to 0-8 as injury time was being played when O’Meara got just reward for his efforts with a goal off a Sean Hayes pass, and an interval advantage of 1-11 to 0-8.
Toome’s difficulties were underlined by two half-time substitutions bringing Paul Ryan and Kenny Ryan into the action. There was more purpose to their intensity now and with Jack Delaney operating in attack and shooting two points, they had the deficit down to a goal after 33 minutes.
However, disaster struck for Toome in the 34th minute when Willie Connors’ line ball from 35 yards ended up in the net, with Dan O’Meara’s presence upsetting the defence. And things got worse six minutes later when Joe Gallagher availed of O’Meara’s net tap-down to blast home Kiladangan’s third goal for a 3-12 to 0-14 lead.
At the water break it was 3-13 to 0-16 in Kiladangan’s favour, not an insurmountable lead by any means, but considerable nonetheless, considering the lack of penetration in the Toome attack.
A big last quarter was required of Toome but a resolute Kiladangan rear-guard was giving them no scope. Kiladangan’s own failures at the other end kept the game in the balance but Toome lost Russell Quirke to a second yellow card after 55 minutes when 0-17 to 3-14 behind and one could not see them making up the leeway.
A Kevin McCarthy point in the 59th minute kept them in the frame but then in injury time they had Josh McCarthy side-lined, also for a second yellow card, and that was that as Billy Seymour added a brace of Kiladangan points to seal a good day for the club.
Kiladangan will take many positives from this performance which has them in a very confident frame of mind facing into the semi-finals. The experience of previous years should benefit them greatly though their failure to convert a higher percentage of chances into scores will concern them and could prove costly against other opposition.
The most influential player was Dan O’Meara who used his height and strength to unsettle the Toome defence. He was the target man when Kiladangan opted for a long-ball approach, winning valuable possession to set up colleagues and also winning many frees. He did not lack for back-up with Paul Flynn, Joe Gallagher, David Sweeney, Declan McGrath, James Quigley, and Billy Seymour all making significant contributions.
It was a disappointing day for Toomevara who are in the process of team building and will surely benefit from this campaign. They have consolidated their standing in the Dan Breen competition but need to strengthen their side with a few more quality players to really press for honours. They have no cause for complaint at the outcome as they had to give best to a superior outfit despite the best efforts of Jack Delaney, their best player, Jason Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, Robbie Quirke, Joey McLoughney, and Josh McCarthy.
TEAMS - Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (6); Darragh Flannery (6), James Quigley (7), Fergal Hayes (6); Declan McGrath (7), David Sweeney (7), Alan Flynn (6); Willie Connors (6), Tadgh Gallagher (6); Sean Hayes (6), Joe Gallagher (7), Billy Seymour (7); Dan O’Meara (9), Paul Flynn (8), Billy McLoughney (6).
Sub: Andy Loughnane (6) for McLoughney (44).
Toomevara: Robert Delaney (6); Liam Ryan (6), Andrew Ryan (6), Jake Ryan (6); Jason Ryan (7), Joey McLoughney (7), Josh McCarthy (7); Jack Delaney (8), Robbie Quirke (7); Willie Coffey (6), Conor O’Meara (6), David Young (6); Russell Quirke (6), Mark McCarthy (6), Kevin McCarthy (7).
Subs: Paul Ryan (6) for M McCarthy (HT); Kenny Ryan (6) for O’Meara (HT); Alan Ryan (6) for Young (44).
Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)