Kiladangan win first county senior hurling title in thrilling fashion
Kiladangan 1-28
Loughmore/Castleiney 3-20 (AET)
By Shane Brophy
Kiladangan won their first Tipperary senior hurling title in as dramatic fashion as possible as Bryan McLoughney’s last gasp goal saw them edge past Loughmore/Castleiney in extra time of a thrilling decider at Semple Stadium.
Moments earlier John McGrath looked to have won with for Loughmore with a 65 and in one last attack, McLoughney ran onto a Joe Gallagher pass before roofing to the net to create history.
Kiladangan got off to the quicker start with Sean Hayes and Dan O’Meara on target before John McGrath opened Loughmore’s account with a free. A minute later Loughmore struck for their first goal as Joseph Nyland’s penetrating run found Ciaran McGrath who did well to pick out Evan Sweeney who pulled first time to the net.
Kiladangan responded well with points from Billy Seymour and Paul Flynn but they weren’t turning their possession into scores shooting ten wides while David Sweeney brought off a fine save to deny Billy Seymour.
The sides were level at the water break, 0-6 to 1-3, when Loughmore stuck for two goals in as many minutes from Tomas McGrath, and then John McGrath, who benefitted from further unselfish play from Ciaran McGrath.
Loughmore were playing second fiddle in terms of possession but Kiladangan fought back to trail by just two at half time, 3-5 to 0-12.
Kiladangan were level by the 36th minute but Loughmore, despite living off scraps kept themselves in the contest with Noel McGrath and Joseph Nyland scores as the sides were level at the second water-break before a frantic final quarter which saw Loughmore defence get on top and with John McGrath finally getting some joy at full forward, they nudged into a two point lead but points from Billy Seymour, Declan McGrath and a sixth from captain Paul Flynn looked to have won the game in added time before Noel McGrath slotted over a wonder point from the wing to send the game to extra time.
With both sides tiring, mental errors were noticeable in extra time with both sides taking poor options but Loughmore edged the first period of extra time 0-3 to 0-2 and in a frantic second period they managed to go two in front but returning Bryan McLoughney proved to the match winner, coming back onto score two points from play before the match winning goal.
Scorers for Kiladangan: Billy Seymour 0-8 (5 frees); Paul Flynn 0-7; Bryan McLoughney 1-2; Sean Hayes 0-4; Alan Flynn 0-3; Dan O’Meara, Declan McGrath, Willie Connors (s-cut), Andy Loughnane 0-1 each.
Scorers for Loughmore/Castleiney: John McGrath 1-10 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65); Noel McGrath 0-5; Evan Sweeney, Tomas McGrath 1-0 each; Joseph Nyland 0-2; Brian McGrath, Liam Treacy, Tommy Maher 0-1 each.
TEAMS - Kiladangan: Barry Hogan; Darragh Flannery, James Quigley, Fergal Hayes; Alan Flynn, David Sweeney, Declan McGrath; Willie Connors, Tadhg Gallagher; Sean Hayes, Joe Gallagher; Dan O’Meara; Paul Flynn, Billy Seymour, Bryan McLoughney. Subs: Andy Loughnane for McLoughney (44); Martin Minehan for O’Meara (56); Bryan McLoughney for Connors (14 ET); Darren Moran for McGrath (15 ET)
Loughmore/Castleiney: David Kennedy; Lorcan Egan, Willie Eviston, Joseph Hennessy; John Ryan, John Meagher, Aidan McGrath; Brian McGrath, Ciaran Connolly; Joseph Nyland, John McGrath, Noel McGrath; Tomas McGrath, Ciaran McGrath, Evan Sweeney.
Subs: Conor McGrath for T McGrath (58); Liam Treacy for Connolly (53); Ciaran Connolly for Ciaran McGrath (HT ET); Tommy Maher for A McGrath (14 ET).
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).