Slick Templederry much too good for Kilruane

Templederry produced one of their best senior championship performances as they outplayed Kilruane MacDonaghs in this quarter final of the North Tipp Senior Hurling Championship last Thursday.

GAA: The Hibernian North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Templederry Kenyons 2-26

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-19

Report: Liam Hogan at Dolla

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sean Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)

SCORERS – Templederry Kenyons: Colm Murray 0-12 (8 frees, 1’65); Sean Ryan 2-3; Gearoid Ryan, Eanna Murray 0-3 each; Thomas Stapleton, Paidi Ryan 0-2 each; Pio Kennedy 0-1.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Kian O’Kelly (4 frees), Cian Darcy 0-5 each; Seamus Hennessy 1-2; Jerome Cahill, Kieran Cahill 0-2 each; Eoin Hogan, James Williams, Craig Morgan (free) 0-1 each.

It was a convincing win for the experienced men in green who picked off some splendid long range points. Kilruane tried hard to stay with them but they lost the contest in the second quarter when they were outscored 1-7 to 0-4. They could have stayed in touch had Kian O’Kelly not missed an almost certain goal before half time. Templederry survived allowing them to maintain their 1-11 to 0-8 half time lead.

A Seamus Hennessy goal after the break rekindled Kilruane’s hopes but Templederry were in inspirational form as Christy Coughlan, Adrian Ryan and Thomas Stapleton kept the supply lines moving for Gearoid Ryan, Com Murray, Eanna Murray, and Sean Ryan to get the vital scores to secure a great win.

Sean Ryan was inspired and earned the man of the match award scoring 2-3, a major return on an experienced full backline of Jack Peters, Craig Morgan and James Cleary as Niall O’Meara and Eoin Hogan were required to come to Kilruane’s rescue from time to time.

As well as Ryan’s performance, Colm Murray was excelled from placed balls while the experienced Thomas Stapleton, who scored two long range points at a crucial stage in the first half, not forgetting the cool-headed Eanna Murray whose excellent aerial ability helped set up the move that led to his team’s key second goal.

Kilruane could have no complaints. There never got into their stride. Hitting ten wides in the first half (as opposed to four for Templederry) curbed their search for more scores. Their sharp shooting free-taker Willie Cleary was absent due to getting married last Friday, as was the injured Aaron Morgan, but Cian Darcy had a good day operating on the forty that also had the evergreen Seamus Hennessy and Jerome Cahill to the fore. Both players, however, appeared to have run out of steam in the second half with Cahill moving to the edge of the small square.

Little separated the sides in the opening quarter with Colm Murray’s third placed ball making scores level for the third time at 0-4 each. Kilruane might have led but had registered four wides.

Play continued in a free-flowing encounter with Templederry, led by Adrian Ryan at centre back, producing effective clearances and the latest long delivery reached Sean Ryan on the edge of the square before the Tipp forward fired low to the Kilruane net. The goal sparked the game into life.

Kilruane responded with quick points through Jerome Cahill and Cian Darcy with the later involving Cahill and O’Kelly in the lead-up. The tempo increased and the next ten minutes were filled with some fantastic long range points beginning with a Tom Stapleton effort in the 20th minute. Seamus Hennessy replied before another from Stapleton and Paidi Ryan had Templederry in front by two with five minutes to go to the break.

There was more from the inspired Kenyons as Pio Kennedy increased their lead. Jerome Cahill replied with a point after a nice solo run, but two Colm Murray frees had Templederry five clear.

At the other end, the Templederry defence was torn open as Kian O’Kelly bore down on goal, but his attempt came back off the upright and Templederry cleared the danger before another Murray free haad them six points in front at half time.

Sean Ryan’s lengthy score moved Templederry seven clear, but Kilruane responded in style when Seamus Hennessy blasted to the net after Jerome Cahill set him up from close range. Eoin Hogan added a point as Kilruane looked as if they could produce a comeback.

However, Colm Murray’s free eased Templederry’s worries but two points by Cian Darcy and Kieran Cahill kept Kilruane close with 37 minutes gone. The game was set for a grandstand finish, but more fine Templederry play in the middle third was turned into an inspired attack as Eanna Murray batted a high ball into the path of Pio Kennedy who quickly moved the ball to Sean Ryan on the edge of the large square before the full forward blasted to the net. Paidi Ryan’s point from the wing increased Templederry’s lead to six as a big gap opened up.

Two Kian O’Kelly scores however, kept Kilruane within range as the game went score for score. Sean Ryan’s score from play before Kian O’Kelly and Colm Murray traded frees. Seconds later, Gearoid Ryan got in on the act with a long range score.

James Williams replied but two Colm Murray frees, and another Sean Ryan point had Templederry in a more commanding position, 2-20 to 1-15, with ten minutes remaining.

The score for score sequence continued as another brace by Kilruane through Darcy and O’Kelly (free) had the deficit cut to six, but Colm Murray hit back with a free to which Cian Darcy picked off his fourth score.

From there, both Murray and O’Kelly swapped frees, the latter being Kilruane’s the last score after 56 minutes. In the remaining period, Templederry hurled on as if there was no tomorrow as they struck four unanswered points including two Colm Murray frees as well as points from Gearoid Ryan and Eanna Murray to steer the Kenyons home for a great win to reach the last four for the first time since 2015 and a semi-final with Kiladangan.

TEAMS – Templederry Kenyons: Tim McCutcheon (6); Padraig Hogan (7), Christy Coughlan (7), Dale Donnelly (7); Darragh Carey (7), Adrian Ryan (8), Thomas Stapleton (8); Pio Kennedy (7), Liam McCutcheon (7); Colm Murray (8), Michael Hayes (6), Gearoid Ryan (8); Michael Ryan (6), Sean Ryan (8), Eanna Murray (8).

Subs: Paidi Ryan (7) for M Ryan (21 inj); Padraig O’Leary (6) for Hayes (44).

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paidi Williams (7); Jack Peters (6), Craig Morgan (6), James Cleary (6); Cian Moyles (6), Niall O’Meara (7), Eoin Hogan (7); Conor Austin (6), Jerome Cahill (7); Seamus Hennessy (7), Kieran Cahill (6), James Williams (6); Conor Cleary (6), Kian O’Kelly (7), Cian Darcy (7).

Sub: Cathal England (6) for Austin (11 inj).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).