Kiladangan seconds back in the winning groove

GAA: North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling League Final

Kiladangan 2-11

Toomevara 1-10

Report: Liam Hogan in Portroe

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jack McGrath (Kiladangan)

SCORERS – Kiladangan: Shane Gleeson 0-9 (8 frees); Conor Culhane, Eoghan Meagher 1-0 each; Darragh Butler, Aidan Ryan 0-1 each.

Toomevara: Shane Nolan 0-5 (4 frees, 1’65); Tim Flaherty 1-1; Michael Brislane 0-3; Colm Canning 0-1 free.

Kiladangan’s bid to rejoin the intermediate ranks is on the right track based on their North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling League final win over Toomevara on Friday evening.

Goals in each half determined that the better side won by four, a margin that could have been a lot greater but for the winners shooting fourteen wides, nine in the second half.

In a well-contested, scrappy but sporting game, there was one misdemeanour when Kiladangan had Darren Ryan red carded very late in the game.

It was a game also where the free-takers dominated with Shane Gleeson scoring eight from nine with Shane Nolan in chase with the Toome sharpshooter converting four frees and a 65.

Toomevara full forward Michael Brislane was their biggest threat, especially in the first half but his influence waned as the game developed as the Kiladangan defence got to grips with what the greyhounds had to offer.

In fact, four of the six starting forwards by Toomevara had to be replaced by hours end with the Kiladangan defence well organised as Stephen Mulvihill, Martin Minehan and Gavin McGrath were a stumbling block in front their reliable goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly. Further afield, Ronan Ducie and Darragh Ryan worked hard while wing back Jack McGrath was the pick of the lot and just about edged it in terms of man of the match.

Conor Byrne was not far away especially his first half performance while the Kiladangan front line never set the place on fire with John O’Meara showing best except for a few mis-directed shots at goal which increased the wides tally. Shane Gleeson tried hard from play and was unerring from placed balls. It wasn’t for the want of trying by Dan O’Meara, Conor Culhane, Eoghan Meagher and Aidan Ryan.

Except for the occasional lapse in concentration which saw Kiladangan score two goals the Toomevara back-line of Ciaran Grace, Darragh Spillane and Cathal Frend defended their space well as did the half backline of Niall O’Farrell and Colm Canning where Cathal Kennedy worked tirelessly on both wing back positions. Shane Nolan, Michael Brislane and Tim Flaherty caught the eye up front.

Warm sunny conditions were ideal for a game of hurling and Kiladangan helped by the slight breeze made good ground in opening a four point lead through three frees by Shane Gleeson with Darragh Butler posting a point from play.

Michael Brislane had Toomevara’s opening score in the eighth minute and two minutes later he pounced on a short puckout by Ciaran Kelly before offloading for Tim Flaherty to goal.

Both sides created chances but were shy of the goalposts before Kiladangan’s pressure created a goal for Conor Culhane in the thirteenth minute when he was at the end of a good move involving Eoghan Meagher and Dan O’Meara.

A Shane Gleeson free followed by an Aidan Ryan score from play increased Kiladangan’s lead to five. Meanwhile, Shane Nolan had two frees just off target as Toome tried to keep in touch before Michael Brislane and Colm Canning’s eighty metre free left the Greyhounds three adrift at half time.

Toome started the second half with quick scores to narrow the gap, the first by Michael Brislane followed by a Shane Nolan free. Both teams went forward in search of more scores, but nothing happened until the 37th minute when a long range free by Shane Gleeson had Kiladangan two in front.

A minute later, Eoghan Meagher showed years of experience by slipping past the Toomevara cover, unmarked on the edge of the square before turning Conor Byrne’s well struck line-ball to the net, 2-7 to 1-5.

Tim Flaherty provided Toome’s first point from play in the 40th minute, only for Shane Gleeson pointed free had Kiladangan five clear before Toome came within three after two more Shane Nolan scores.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, it was all to play for but neither side could manage a score, but John O’Meara forced Toome keeper Cormac Hogan come off his line in the 53rd minute. Toome were then penalised for a free which Gleeson converted. Toomevara replied with two Shane Nolan frees to leave two between the teams with four minutes remaining.

Kiladangan then lost Darren Ryan to a red card but held on with two Shane Gleeson frees sealing the win.

TEAMS - Kiladangan: Ciaran Kelly (7); Stephen Mulvihill (7), Martin Minehan (7), Gavin McGrath (7); Darragh Ryan (7), Ronan Ducie (7), Jack McGrath (8); Darragh Butler (6), Conor Byrne (7); Dan O’Meara (6), Shane Gleeson (7), John O’Meara (6); Conor Culhane (6), Eoghan Meagher (Capt 6), Aidan Ryan (6).

Subs: Colin McGrath (7) for A Ryan (HT); Darren Ryan (6) for Mulvihill (46 inj).

Toomevara: Cormac Hogan (7); Ciaran Grace (7), Darragh Spillane (Capt 7), Cathal Frend (7); Cathal Kennedy (7), Colm Canning (7), Niall O’Farrell (7); Cian Ryan (6), Jack Doran (7); Colin Hall (6), Shane Nolan (7), Robert Delaney (6); James Maher (6), Michal Brislane (7), Tim Flaherty (6),

Subs: Conor Delaney (6) for C Ryan (HT); Eoin Grace (6) for Hall (HT); David Nolan (6) for R Delaney (40); Conor O’Meara (6) for Maher (46); David Young (6) for Flaherty (50).

Referee: Mark Gennery (Portroe).