Resilient Burgess hold off Killenaule

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 4 Round 1

Burgess 2-22

Killenaule 2-19

Report: Liam Hogan at Kenyon Park, Templederry

If the rest of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship is as exciting as this clash between Burgess and Killenaule was on Friday evening, we’ll be in for a good competition.

New North champions Burgess saw a six point lead after six minutes evaporate in the middle two quarters and trailed by two points with seventeen minutes remaining before pulling out all the stops to defeat last year’s beaten semi-finalists.

Based on this performance, Burgess are on the right track if they are to better their quarter final placing of last year. Their defence had moments of fragility but overall, they did their job with Aidan O’Dwyer, Bryan Quinn and the hardy Daire Hogan leaving minimum chances for goal in front of goalkeeper Ronan Tucker. Johnny Mulqueen was again to the fore at half-back with Keith Nealon and Aidan and Willie Ryan very solid.

Danny Grace and Kieran Ryan had their moments at midfield, but up front Burgess have the real deal in Stephen Kirwan and Stephen Murray. Murray produced another man of the match performance with ten points, six frees plus a sideline ball. Michael Ryan was a live-wire at wing forward before retiring after taking two heavy knocks while Eoin Hogan and substitute Bill O’Flaherty cause many worrying moments for Killenaule.

But it takes two to tango and Killenaule certainly played a huge part in this contest where Paddy Codd, Finn Nolan, Jack Hassett, Ciaran O’Dwyer, Jimmy Feehan, Eoin O’Connell, Killian O’Dwyer Joe O’Dwyer, Tom Stakelum and Paudie Feehan were highly influential. John O’Dwyer scored four points from four touches of the ball as the former Tipp star operated to great effect at centre forward before moving to midfield after half time.

Burgess left the traps like greyhounds and were 1-3 to 0-1 in front after five minutes with the goal coming from Johnny Mulqueen when the unmarked wing back riffled low to the net from close range after an assist from Kirwan.

Tom Stakelum had Killenaule’s first point a minute later but two Eoin Hogan points had Burgess six in front before Paudie O’Dwyer brought Killenaule back in contention with a first-time goal after thirteen minutes, 1-5 to 1-3.

Both teams continued to trade scores with parity reached at 1-7 each after the busy Eoin O’Connell scored in the 22nd minute. Two Murray points had Burgess back in front before Killenaule struck gold in the shape of a brilliant Paudie Feehan goal in the 26th minute. Danny Ryan levelled and thirty seconds later Stephen Kirwan had Burgess’ second goal as the levels of excitement increased.

Approaching half time, Killenaule had time to fight back before superb points by John O’Dwyer and Joe O’Dwyer left the minimum between the teams at half time with Burgess leading 2-10 to 2-9.

The third quarter saw the need for a genius to separate these teams with scores level five more times as Burgess saw white flags from Mulqueen and Kirwan with Donagh Maher adding two and a Murray free. They were well matched by John O’Dwyer, Paudie O’Dwyer, Killian O’Dwyer and the tireless Paudie Feehan with two as scores were level for the ninth time at 2-15 each after minutes.

The race to the finish was frantic as Burgess went three in front through Stephen Murray (2, 1 lineball) and Stephen Kirwan. Paudie O’Dwyer and substitute Thomas Keaveney replied with a point each, but Burgess went back three in front thanks to an eighty-metre free by Murray with Donagh Maher adding a point from play on the hour.

With three minutes of additional time, the excitement levels increased and Killenaule had the margin back to one after centre back Ciaran O’Dwyer pointed a long range free, followed by another Killian O’Dwyer score from play. However, Burgess were always alert and Stephen Kirwan’s excellent score gave his supporters some assurance and when Kieran Grace added another, the deal was done.

Player of the Match: Stephen Murray (Burgess)

Burgess: Ronan Tucker (7); Aidan O’Dwyer (7), Bryan Quinn (7), Daire Hogan (8); Willie Ryan (7), Keith Nealon (7), Johnny Mulqueen (1-1, 8); Danny Ryan (0-2, 7), Kieran Grace (0-1, 7); Michael Ryan (8), Donagh Maher (0-3, 8), Stephen Kirwan (1-4, 8); Stephen Murray (0-10, 6f, 1 s-cut) 8), Eoin Hogan (0-2, 7), Eoin Grace (6).

Subs: Bill O’Flaherty (7) for M Ryan (40 inj); Tony Dunne (6) for E Grace (49).

Killenaule: Joe Ceasar (7); Finn Nolan (7), Paddy Codd (7), Jack Hassett (7); Cian Johnson (6), Ciaran O’Dwyer (0-1f, 7), Jimmy Feehan (7); Eoin O’Connell (0-1, 8), Killian O’Dwyer (0-2, 8); Joe O’Dwyer (0-6, 3f, 7), John O’Dwyer (0-4, 8), Padraig O’Dwyer (1-2, 7); Tom Stakelum (6), Eoin Shaw (6), Paudie Feehan (1-2, 8).

Subs: Luke Ryan (6) for Johnson (HT); Michael Doyle (0-1, 6) for Stakelum (36); Tomas Keaveney (6) for Shaw (49).

Referee: Seamus Devaney (JK Brackens).