Kilruane power their way to County Senior Hurling title

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GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Final Replay

Kilruane MacDonaghs2-20

Kiladangan1-16

Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Willie Cleary 0-11 (10 frees); Cian Darcy 2-2; Sean McAdams 0-2 (1 s-cut); Mark O’Neill, James Cleary, Conor Austin, Aaron Morgan, Kian O’Kelly 0-1 each.

Kiladangan: Bryan McLoughney 0-8 (5 frees, 1 65); Tom O’Meara 1-1; Paul Flynn 0-3; Billy Seymour 0-2 frees; Dan O’Meara, Tadhg Gallagher 0-1 each.

Kilruane MacDonaghs ended a 37 year wait for another County Senior Hurling Championship title as they produced an outstanding second half performance to get the better of Kiladangan in Sunday’s final replay.

The victors trailed by five points at half time but they completely dominated the second half and two goals from Cian Darcy in the 48th and 62nd minutes put the dagger in a disappointing Kiladangan second half display.

This was in contrast to the first half when Kiladangan led 1-9 to 0-7 with the help of a Tom O’Meara goal on seventeen minutes. They could have been further ahead but Barry Hogan had a penalty saved by Paidi Williams.

However, Kilruane found another couple of gears in the second half and early points from Willie Cleary and Sean McAdams gave them momentum they never looked like losing. They levelled on 40 minutes before Cian Darcy put them in front for the first time.

In the 48th minute, Darcy finished off a sweeping move for Kilruane’s first goal for a four point lead which Kiladangan never looked like reeling in and Cian Darcy copper-fastened the win in added time to complete a remarkable turnaround victory.

TEAMS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paidi Williams; Eoin Hogan, Jack Peters, Kieran Cahill, Aaron Morgan, Niall O’Meara, James Cleary; Conor Austin, Mark O’Neill; Willie Cleary, Sean McAdams, Kian O’Kelly; Thomas Cleary, Jerome Cahill, Cian Darcy.

Sub: Seamus Hennessy for Peters (48); Brian O’Meara for Austin (60+1); Jack Peters for McAdams (blood).

Kiladangan: Barry Hogan; Daragh Butler, James Quigley, David Sweeney; Darren Moran, Alan Flynn, Declan McGrath; Tadhg Gallagher, Tom O’Meara; Sean Hayes, Joe Gallagher, Paul Flynn; Bryan McLoughney, Dan O’Meara, Willie Connors.

Subs: Darragh Flannery for Moran (30+1); Billy Seymour for Connors (44); Jack Loughnane for T O’Meara (50); Ruairi Gleeson for Hayes (56); Matthew Cleary for D O’Meara (60).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines)

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