O’Meara hat-trick inspires Kilruane to North title

Kilruane MacDonaghs were crowned North Tipperary Under 19 ‘B’ Hurling champions following a convincing victory over a battling Newport side in what proved an entertaining battle for the Nealon trophy on Sunday.

GAA: Ger Gavin North Tipperary Under 19 ‘B’ Hurling Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 3-22

Newport 1-10

Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Tommy O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

SCORERS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Michael Cleary 0-13 (10 frees, 1 65); Tommy O’Meara 3-2; Brian O’Meara 0-4; Cillian Healy 0-2; Michael Hennelly 0-1.

Newport: Cillian Collins 0-8 (4 frees); Shane Flanagan 1-0; Darragh Gavin, Dan Ryan 0-1 each.

Going into the encounter, Kilruane were tagged as marginal favourites following a decisive semi-final victory over Burgess four days previous while Newport overcame Borrisokane in their respective semi-final.

Prior to throw-in a minute’s silence was impeccably observed for Burgess woman and GAA stalwart, Nuala Nealon following her sad and untimely passing over the weekend, and for whom her grandfather Rody had this trophy named after.

While the final scoreline would convey the appearance of a runaway victory for Kilruane, the fact was that Newport displayed bucketloads of endeavour in the opening half but a series of goals early in the second half ultimately led to their undoing.

Kilruane won the toss and elected to play with a swirling breeze, and were first off the mark with a well-struck Michael Cleary free. Newport responded with impressive efforts from Cillian Collins and Darragh Gavin before Michael Cleary flighted over a wind-assisted 65’ on seven minutes.

With both sides deploying a sweeper, Newport edged back in front again thanks to a second Cillian Collins point before a quick brace from Cillian Healy and Brian O’Meara saw MacDonaghs seize the advantage once more.

Newport responded in style on the ten-minute mark though after Shan Flanagan slipped the shackles of Kilruane full-back Cathal England before dispatching a low drive past Tom Austin, 1-3 to 0-4.

Kilruane were quickly back on terms with efforts from Michael Hennelly and Michael Cleary before a booming long-range effort from Newport’s Dan Ryan edged the men from the banks of the Mulcair back in front once again on the quarter-hour. Cillian Collins was causing untold problems for the Kilruane rearguard, and his third point of the half edged Newport into a two-point advantage once again.

The ding-dong nature of what was a hugely absorbing encounter continued unabated with three points on the bounce from Kilruane, with two Michael Cleary frees book-ending a sublime Brian O’Meara point on twenty minutes.

Two further frees from the stick of the accurate Michael Cleary fired Kilruane into a two-point lead before another Cleary free failed to be cleared by the Newport inside back line. The sliotar fell kindly into the path of the inrushing Tommy O’Meara and he first-timed sweetly into the back of the net with four minutes left to the break.

Newport quickly went in search of an immediate response, and but for the excellence of Tom Austin in the Kilruane goal after he denied Brian Tobin from close-range, they could have very well bagged their second goal. Cillian Collins (free) and Tommy O’Meara traded points just before the break, but it was Kilruane who took a comfortable five-point cushion to the dressing room, 1-11 to 1-6.

Newport re-jigged their side at the interval with Kevin Fitzpatrick coming on for Darragh Gavin and within seconds of the re-start, they cut the deficit with a well-struck Cillian Collins free.

Michael Cleary responded for Kilruane before Tom Austin once again denied the raiding Brian Tobin with a superb point blank save. Kilruane quickly settled into their rhythm once more and two points on the bounce from Michael Cleary, the first from play, fired Kilruane into a seven-point lead.

That lead was quickly extended to ten thanks to second Tommy O’Meara goal after he gratefully accepted a sublime Tommy Mulcahy pass and batted the sliotar past the advancing Ryan Shinners in the Newport goal.

O’Meara cemented the player of the match accolade on 45-minutes after he once again seized on a Jack Mulcahy flick and slotted the sliotar into the back of the net to complete a memorable hat-trick.

Further points from Cillian Healy and Brian O’Meara added further to Newport’s woes and at this juncture the toe was well and truly over as a contest. Kilruane continued to dominate the remainder of the second half as they cruised to a comfortable victory over a Newport side who just didn’t have the firepower to take on an in-form Kilruane side.

Impressive for Kilruane were Tom Auston, Brian O'Meara, Michael Cleary, Tommy O'Meara, Eamonn Coonan, Cillian Healy, Cian Moyes, Shane Cleary, and Jack Mulcahy while Cillian Collins, Shane Flanagan and John Lee caught the eye for Newport.

TEAMS - Kilruane MacDonaghs: Tom Austin (Capt, 7); Danny Cahalan (7), Cathal England (7), Cian Hayes (7); Paul Molloy (7), Eamon Coonan (8), Shane Cleary (7); Cian Moyles (7), Tommy Burriss (7); Tommy O’Meara (8), Jack Mulcahy (7), Cillian Healy (7); Michael Hennelly (7), Brian O’Meara (8), Michael Cleary (8).

Subs: Andrew Hayes (6) for Burriss (55); John Hannon (NR) for Healy (56); Cormac Kennedy (NR) for Cahalan (58); Johnny Naughnane (NR) for O’Meara (59).

Newport: Ryan Shinners (7), Keith Hogan (6), Damien O’Brien (6), James Tobin (6); Cathal Hannan (7), John Lee (Capt, 7), Tom Allen (7); David Whelton (7), Daragh Meaney (7); Darragh Gavin (6), Brian Tobin (7), Shane Flanagan (7); Dan Ryan (7), Cillian Collins (8), Calum Poole (7).

Subs: Kevin Fitzpatrick (7) for Gavin (HT); James Maloney (6) for Tobin (43); Adam Power (6) for Meaney (43); Jack McCarthy (6) for Poole (47); Eoin Flynn (NR) for Ryan (54).

Referee: Alan Graham (Roscrea).