Kiladangan rediscover sparkto reach another senior final

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Kiladangan 1-21

Drom & Inch 1-17

Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: David Sweeney (Kiladangan)

SCORERS – Kiladangan: Bryan McLoughney 0-9 (5 frees, 1 65); Sean Hayes, Joe Gallagher 0-3 each; Dan O’Meara 1-0; Alan Flynn (frees), Paul Flynn 0-2 each; Billy Seymour, Willie Connors 0-1 each.

Drom & Inch: Seamus Callanan 1-9 (0-6 frees, 0-1 65); Tommy Nolan 0-4; David Collins 0-3; Johnny Ryan 0-1.

These are heady days for Kiladangan. A fourth county senior hurling final appearance since 2016 is upcoming after they produced their best performance of the campaign to get the better of Drom & Inch in Sunday’s semi-final.

Sub Dan O’Meara’s goal with the final touch of the game sealed their progression to another final after withstanding a late Drom & Inch fightback which almost forced extra time, but Kiladangan were full value for their win.

This was despite starting sluggishly once more, falling 0-4 to 0-1 behind after ten minutes as Drom made the early going in the wet conditions, with Seamus Callanan and Tommy Nolan to the fore.

However, once Kiladangan got to the pace of the game they grabbed control, and by half time, they led 0-14 to 0-10. This performance was more akin to what we have seen from Kiladangan in recent years, more energy to their play going forward, and way more intensity in the tackle, as they harassed Drom & Inch players on the ball throughout.

Despite Callanan, Nolan, David Collins and Johnny Ryan have strong games for Drom, Kiladangan managed to negate the service into them somewhat, particularly by shutting down the supply. Fintan Purcell and Podge Campion were two of Drom’s leading performers on route to the semi-finals, but they were not allowed impact the game by Kiladangan who turned the tables on them, particularly by moving Joe Gallagher to the wing on Purcell who wasn’t able to get forward, with Gallagher chipping in with three points from play, while Sean Hayes at centre forward really put Campion on the back foot, scoring three points from play as he returned to form.

Kiladangan paid Drom the ultimate compliment by attacking their source, along with county under 20 captain John Campion who was also quiet at midfield, but Tadhg Gallagher and Tom O’Meara weren’t to the fore either, but their job was to work and prevent the Drom suppliers from getting on the ball.

On the other side, the supply of the ball into the Kiladangan forwards was a lot quicker, and that all six starting forwards got on the scoresheet is evidence of this. With Hayes and Gallagher to the fore, Paul Flynn started on the wing but was a threat in the second half at full forward. Billy Seymour and Willie Connors continue to improve with each game after missing chunks of the campaign, while Bryan McLoughney continues to keep the scoreboard ticking over from frees, and from play. Plus, Kiladangan have a bench with Dan O’Meara returning to prominence with his goal, and only the crossbar denied him a second in his impactful fifteen minutes on the pitch.

Defensively, their half back was strong with the ultra-reliable Alan Flynn along with Declan McGrath and Darren Moran, and they had to be with their full back line under massive pressure as all bar one of Drom’s total from play came from their inside line, however, David Sweeney was immense, particularly in the second half, providing an assurance and level of calm that permeates throughout the side.

It was a disappointing way for Drom & Inch to end their quest for a second county title, but they’ll admit they didn’t quite do enough. They may ponder why for a deep squad with three teams in county knockout stage games at the weekend, Tony Cahill was the only player sprung from the bench, and he made an impact in winning ball after coming on and contributed to at least one score. However, despite they are a team moving in the right direction and this disappointment can inspire them going forward.

For Kiladangan, it’s a third county final in four years upcoming and they’ll feel that after Covid spoiled their historic success in 2020 and didn’t get to test themselves in Munster, there is a sense of fulfilment to be completed on Sunday week.

TEAMS - Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (6); John O’Meara (6), James Quigley (6), David Sweeney (8); Darren Moran (7), Alan Flynn (7), Declan McGrath (7); Tadhg Gallagher (6), Tom O’Meara (6); Joe Gallagher (8), Sean Hayes (8), Paul Flynn (7); Bryan McLoughney (7), Billy Seymour (6), Willie Connors (7).

Subs: Dan O’Meara (7) for Seymour (50); Fergal Hayes (NR) for T O’Meara (56); Ruairi Gleeson (NR) for McLoughney (60+2).

Drom & Inch: Eoin Collins (6); Stevie Nolan (6), Liam Ryan (6), Michael Campion (6); Fintan Purcell (6), Podge Campion (6), Kevin Hassett (7); John Campion (6), Robbie Long (6); Lorcan Campion (6), Johnny Ryan (7), Jamie Moloney (6); Seamus Callanan (8), David Collins (7), Tommy Nolan (8).

Sub: Tony Cahill (7) for Long (52).

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels)