Kiladangan power past Toomevara

GAA: Hibernian Inn North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Kiladangan 3-24

Toomevara 0-17

Report: James Hayden in Cloughjordan

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sean Hayes (Kiladangan)

SCORERS - Kiladangan: Sean Hayes 2-4; Billy Seymour 0-6 frees; Dan O’Meara 1-2; Joe Gallagher, Willie Connors, Bryan McLoughney 0-3 each; Tadhg Gallagher 0-2; Tom O’Meara 0-1.

Toomevara: Mark McCarthy 0-8 (3 frees, 1 s-cut); Darren Delaney 0-3; David Young 0-2; Jack Delaney, Paul Ryan, Jake Ryan, Josh McCarthy 0-1 each.

A depleted Kiladangan powered past a tame Toomevara challenge to book their berth in the North Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals following a decidedly one-sided clash on Wednesday.

The reigning county champions dismantled Toomevara’s challenge in under a half hour with a man of the match performance from Sean Hayes propelling Bran Lawlor’s charges to a devastating sixteen-point victory. Hayes shot 2-4 as Kiladangan out-thought, outfought and out-hurled a Toomevara side left with a lot to ponder such was the manner of the defeat.

Throw in the fact that Kiladangan were without the services of the Flynn brothers, Alan & Paul, and also full back James Quigley, and the nature of Toomevara’s capitulation takes on a more worrying guise for Eoin Brislane and his backroom team.

Many expected this quarter final to be the tie of the round but even in the opening exchanges the signs were ominous. Kiladangan’s attack proved more than a handful for Toome's rearguard and within five minutes they led 0-4 to 0-2 with Willie Connors, Billy Seymour (2 frees) and Tom O’Meara on target. Sean Hayes struck for his first goal on six minutes with Tadhg Gallagher, Seymour and Joe Gallagher all linking up to present Hayes with an opportunity to rattle the net.

Tadhg Gallagher added his side’s sixth point on ten minutes before efforts from Paul Ryan and Mark McCarthy narrowed the gap to five. Sean Hayes responded with a sublime effort from close-range but Mark McCarthy responded by floating over a beautifully struck side-line cut on fifteen minutes.

Dan O’Meara chipped in with a long-ranger to ensure Kiladangan held a commanding 1-8 to 0-5 at the water-break but worryingly for Toomevara was the fact that they were unable to curtail Kiladangan’s free-running style and but for the alert exploits of Robert Delaney in goal they could have found themselves further behind.

The ‘Greyhounds’ upped their tempo following the water-break but the gulf in class was all too obvious. Joe Gallagher and Billy Seymour (free) were on target before Mark McCarthy arrowed over a 24th minute effort from close to the end-line. Kiladangan responded with a trio of points, two from Sean Hayes and the third a sweet effort from midfielder Willie Connors for a 1-13 to 0-6 lead.

Dan O’Meara netted on in the second minute of added time following impressive approach play from Decky McGrath to leave Toomevara in serious bother. Mark McCarthy responded with a well-taken point and indeed was very unlucky to see a goal-bound effort ricocheted off the butt of the upright. David Young added two points to narrow the gap before the interval but with Toomevara trailing 2-13 to 0-9 they faced a serious uphill battle in the second half.

Toome’ started brightly with Jason Ryan on target but the wind was quickly whipped out of their sails after Sean Hayes tore through the heart of the Toome’s defence for Kiladangan’s third goal on 32 minutes. Bryan McLoughney added a quick-fire point to put Kiladangan thirteen points clear and even at this very early juncture it was all over.

Kiladangan led 3-18 to 0-12 mid-way through the half but were dealt a blow on 45 minutes when Decky McGrath was red-carded for a late slap down with the hurl. However, it mattered little as Kiladangan adjusted and despite the numerical disadvantage still managed to outscore Toome’ in the closing quarter, 0-6 to 0-5.

Kiladangan led 3-19 to 0-0-12 at the second water-break and as the game petered out, three points from Darren Delaney coupled with efforts from Mark & Josh McCarthy served to increase Toome’s tally while efforts from Joe Gallagher, Dan O’Meara, Bryan McLoughney, and Willie Connors served to amass one of the highest ever tallies registered against a Toomevara senior side in a North Tipperary senior hurling championship.

No doubt Toomevara will re-group for the county championship but there is a lot to ponder for Eoin Brislane and the Toomevara management in the wake of such a demoralising defeat. Kiladangan on the other hand are already showing signs that they will be a huge force to be reckoned with again this year in both the north and county championships.

TEAMS - Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (7); Darragh Flannery (7), David Sweeney (7), Fergal Hayes (8); Jack Loughnane (7), Decky McGrath (7), Darren Moran (7); Willie Connors (8), Tadhg Gallagher (8); Sean Hayes (9), Joe Gallagher (8), Dan O’Meara (8); Bryan McLoughney (7), Billy Seymour (7), Tom O’Meara (7).

Toomevara: Robert Delaney (7), Conor O’Farrell (7), Andrew Ryan (7), Jake Ryan (7); Colm Canning (7), Liam Ryan (7), Jason Ryan (7); Robbie Quirke (6), Josh McCarthy (7); William Coffey (6), Darren Delaney (7), Paul Ryan (6); Mark McCarthy (7), David Young (7), Jack Delaney (7).

Subs: Alan Ryan (6) for P Ryan (37); Shane Nolan (6) for Quirke (39); Conor O’Meara (6) for Coffey (45).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines).