Coffey inspires Newport to League title

GAA: North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Hurling League Final

Newport 1-14

Kiladangan 2-6

Report: Liam Hogan in Dolla

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Stephen Coffey (Newport)

SCORERS - Newport: Stephen Coffey 1-10 (0-5 frees, 0-1’65); Dan Ryan, Brendan Coffey, Odran Floyd, Christopher Doyle 0-1 each.

Kiladangan: Darren Ryan 0-4 (3 frees); Eoin Meagher, Conor Culhane 1-0 each; Bill Cleary, Stephen Mulvihill 0-1 each.

A man of the match performance by Stephen Coffey helped Newport defeat Kiladangan in the North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Hurling League final on Sunday evening.

Coffey scored 1-10 (1-4 from play) in a game which produced some nice hurling, but the result was very much decided before Kiladangan, who had some players involved in the County League Division 4 League final defeat three days previous, brought on some heavy guns and managed to produce a comeback but were thwarted by a very vigilant Michael Flannery in the Newport goal as he produced at least four great saves in the second half.

It was anything but a one-man show as the Newport defence played well with Odran Floyd and Martin Carey very much in command, especially in the first half but were less evident in the second after the arrival of Paul Seymour. Up front, Dan Ryan and Christopher Doyle plus Brendan Coffey were prominent.

Kiladangan never gave up with Johnny McGrath and Stephen Mulvihill flying the flag with Tom McLoughlin, Darren Ryan, Noel Gleeson, and Eoin Meagher having their moments with Liam Hayes doing fine in goal.

Kiladangan’s evening finished on a disappointing note when Bill Cleary received a straight red card in the fourth minute of added time.

The game was four minutes old when Darren Ryan gave Kiladangan the lead with a free. Both defences were keeping tabs on their immediate opponents until Newport full forward Christopher Doyle was fouled which resulted in a penalty and Stephen Doyle gave Liam Hayes no chance.

Coffey added a 65 and with the Newport defence beginning to take command the lead stretched to four after right corner forward Dan Ryan scored in the fourteenth minute.

Two minutes later, Kiladangan replied with a Darren Ryan free, but Newport continued on the front foot as Martin Carey and Odran Floyd were continuously cutting off the Kiladangan supply and allowing the Mulcaire boys score five unanswered points in seven minutes, four from the stick of Stephen Coffey (3 from play), while Brendan Coffey scored the other.

A quick response from Bill Cleary kept Kiladangan in the frame but Newport resumed their forays as Odran Floyd scored from play and with the half coming from to a close, Stephen Coffey added his sixth score from a free to make it Newport 1-9 Kiladangan 0-3 at the break.

Kiladangan introduced Paul Seymour and Paddy Gallagher at half time and Seymour made a difference but not before Newport increased their lead through Christy Doyle, quickly followed by another Stephen Coffey point from play in the 32nd minute.

Three Kiladangan points in a row, two Darren Ryan frees either side of a Stephen Mulvihill score from play showed there was life in Kiladangan, and it was important for Newport to have a keeper with experience of Michael Flannery as the former senior custodian made a good save at the expense of a 65 which Paul Seymour directed wide. Stephen Coffey did likewise from a free in the 42nd minute but made amends three minutes later.

Meanwhile, Kiladangan emptied the subs bench with Ronan Ducie, Seanie Hackett and Conor Culhane entering the play. After Stephen Coffey made it 1-12 to 0-6, Kiladangan received a boost when Culhane made his mark with a well-taken goal in the 52nd minute. Encouraging signs but Newport were back on scoring form with two Stephen Coffey frees giving them an eight point lead with four minutes remaining.

Yet, Kiladangan continued to force the game, but they failed to beat Michael Flannery who produced two very good saves before Eoin Meagher pounced for Kiladangan’s second goal in added time.

Newport were not safe as they might wish they were because a close range free by Paul Seymour was saved again by Flannery in the sixth minute of added time before the long whistle arrived and Newport were Junior ‘B’ League champions for the first time since 2016.

TEAMS - Newport: Michael Flannery (8); Keith Hogan (6), Andrew Hickey (6), Cathal Floyd (6); Aidan Ryan (6), Odran Floyd (7), Martin Carey (7); Mike Quigley (7), Niall Duffy (7); Mike Coffey (7), Brendan Coffey (7), Oisin O’Reilly (6); Dan Ryan (7), Christopher Doyle (7), Stephen Coffey (8).

Subs: Brian O’Sullivan (6) for A Ryan (HT inj); Christy Koyce (6) for O’Reilly (50); Daire Cantillon (6) for Doyle (60).

Kiladangan: Liam Hayes (7); Johnny McGrath (7), Jim Minehan (6), Cian Ryan (6); Ryan Gillick (6), Eanna Gleeson (6), Stephen Mulvihill (7); Eoin Gleeson (6), Tom McLoughlin (6); Bill Cleary (6), Aidan Ryan (6), Darren Ryan (6); Noel Gleeson (6), Eoin Kelly, Eoin Meagher (6).

Subs: Paul Seymour (7) for Eoin Gleeson (HT); Paddy Gallagher (7) for C Ryan (HT); Conor Culhane (7) for N Gleeson (46); Sean Hackett (6) for Kelly (46); Ronan Ducie (6) for Eanna Gleeson (46); Oisin Ryan (6) for Gillick (56); Frank Flannery (NR) for D Ryan (60).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess).