Kiladangan edge Toome in extra time Junior ‘A’ final thriller

Kiladangan captured only their third ever North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ hurling crown following an enthralling final with Toomevara on Friday evening.

GAA: The Watch Centre North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship Final

Kiladangan 3-23

Toomevara 2-22

(After Extra Time)

Report: James Hayden at Bishop Quinlan Park Borrisoleigh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Matthew Cleary (Kiladangan)

SCORERS – Kiladangan: Eoin Meagher 1-7 (0-6 frees); Matthew Cleary 1-4; Neil Cahalan 0-5 (4 frees, 1 65); Eoin Kelly 1-0; Bill Cleary, DJ McGrath 0-2 each; Gavin McGrath, Eoghan Sharkey, Daragh Butler, Johnny Horan 0-1 each.

Toomevara: Robert Brislane 0-6 (4 frees, 1 s-cut); Sean Flaherty 0-4; Jack Doran 1-1; Michael Brislane 0-3; Paul Ryan 1-0; Conor Delaney, Tim Flaherty (frees) 0-2 each; Niall O’Farrell, Eoin Grace, Paddy Grace, Cian Ryan 0-1 each.

Extra-time was ultimately required to separate the sides following a decider that ebbed and flowed throughout with Toomevara coming from four points down to send the tie to extra-time.

Kiladangan went out all guns blazing in a bid to add to their recent North Junior ‘A’ League success over the same opposition, and capture their first title at this grade since 2016, their first coming as far back as 1944. Toomevara have been dominant in the Junior ‘A’ ranks in recent years and were hoping to claim their sixth title in eight years.

From the get-go this game had it all, penalty saves, point-blank saves, deft touches for goals, sublime points from range and throw in a well-floated sideline cut or two and you had a recipe for a thrilling contest.

Kiladangan were quickest out of the blocks and raced into a two-point lead with efforts from Eoin Meagher and DJ McGrath before Paul Ryan’s deft fifth minute flick past the advancing Ciaran Kelly in the Kiladangan goal handed Toome’ the lead for the first and only time in normal time.

Paddy Grace quickly added a sweet point from play for the Greyhounds before Kiladangan seized control and rattled off 1-3 without reply to fire Joe Keane’s charges into a 1-6 to 1-1 lead by the eleventh minute with the points from DJ McGrath, Matthew Cleary, and Eoin Meagher (free) while Eoin Kelly netted with aplomb in the ninth minute.

Toomevara’s response was immediate and a noticeable tightening up of marking in midfield brought the men in green & gold to within two points by the twenty minute mark thanks to a brace of Robert Delaney frees, coupled with fantastic points from Conor Delaney and Sean Flaherty.

Toomevara, who were also out in the under 19 county semi-final on Sunday, were endeavouring to protect their players but were forced to introduce Jack Doran in the 22nd minute in a bid to add more impetus to their midfield and by the 29th minute further points from Michael Brislane and Sean Flaherty brought Toome’ to within a point. Eoin Meagher (free) and Michael Delaney exchanged points on the cusp of half-time before Bill Cleary was yellow carded for an off the ball incident with Jack Doran deep in injury-time. Kiladangan took a slender 1-9 to 1-8 lead to the dressing room at the break and introduced Daragh Butler for Bill Cleary at the interval.

Toome’ were first to strike following the resumption thanks to sublime Robert Delaney sideline cut, but Kiladangan hit back with a well-taken Matthew Cleary goal. Cleary was on fire in the third quarter for the ‘Dangan with two further points but Toome’ held in there with a sweet Sean Flaherty point.

Both inside back lines were outstanding throughout with Cathal Kennedy a tower of strength at full-back for Toome’ while Kiladangan captain Shane Seymour was hugely impressive until he was forced off with injury on the forty minute mark.

With the light fading, the floodlights illuminated the Borrisoleigh pitch from the 46th minute onwards but it also served to brighten up Toomevara’s attack. Niall O’Farrell landed a booming effort from range before Bob Delaney fired over a long-range free on 50 minutes. Kiladangan kept pace though with Eoin Meagher arrowing over a close-range free after the elusive Dan O’Meara was fouled before Eoghan Sharkey knifed over a well-struck effort from close-range.

Toomevara raided once more though, and referee Peter Carroll had no hesitation in awarding a 52nd minute penalty after he adjudged Kiladangan corner-back Jack McGrath to have restricted Michael Brislane as the sliotar dropped out of the sky from a long-range Robert Delaney free. Up stepped Delaney for the penalty but his low effort was excellently saved by Ciaran Kelly in the Kiladangan goal.

Undeterred, Toome’ kept coming and dominated the closing stages with Eoin Grace setting up Cian Ryan for a 57th minute point before Ciaran Kelly was once more forced to pull off a cracking save after he dived low to his left to deny Paul Ryan.

Three points on the bounce from Rpbert Delaney, Eoin Grace and Conor Delaney brought Toomevara level right on full-time and with just one minute and 40 seconds allowed for injury-time Peter Carroll’s shrill blast of the final whistle sent the tie to extra-time.

The first period of extra-time was dominated by the ‘Greyhounds’ and they rattled off two points with both Jack Doran and Sean Flaherty on target. The ‘Dangan responded with success points from placed balls from the accurate Neil Cahalan, the second a 65’ after Cormac Hogan in the Toomevara goal pulled off a fine save from the well-angled Dan O’Meara shot.

Further points from Daragh Butler and Cahalan (free) edged Kiladangan into a two-point lead but once more Toome’ dug deep and although Eoin Grace’s searing effort went to the left of the post, play was hauled back for a close-range free which Robert Delaney duly converted to ensure his side trailed by just the minimum at the change of ends, 2-17 to 1-19.

From the re-start, Johnny Horan and Michael Brislane traded points as did Neil Cahalan and Tim Flaherty from frees before Kiladangan seized the initiative with booming long-range efforts from both Bill Cleary and Gavin McGrath before Eoin Meagher (free) put four between the sides.

Toome’ responded with a Tim Flaherty free but with just a minute remaining Kiladangan’s Eoin Meagher netted with aplomb to put the 'Dangan well and truly in the driving seat. Toomevara retorted with a cracking Jack Doran goal to leave three between the sides before a late Eoin Meagher free provided Kiladangan with the insurance point and with it the North Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship title.

TEAMS – Kiladangan: Ciaran Kelly (8), Gavin McGrath (7), Shane Seymour (Capt 8), Jack McGrath (7); Darragh Ryan (7), Martin Minehan (8), Ronan Ducie (7); Dan O’Meara (7), Neil Cahalan (7); Bill Cleary (7), Matthew Cleary (8), DJ McGrath (7), Eoghan Sharkey (7); Eoin Kelly (8), Eoin Meagher (8).

Subs: Daragh Butler (7) for B Cleary (HT); Johnny Horan (7) for Seymour (40 inj); Aidan Ryan (6) for Sharkey (55); Bill Cleary for A Ryan (ET); Eoghan Sharkey for Ducie (ET); Ryan Gillick (NR) for E Kelly (ET).

Toomevara: Cormac Hogan (7); Ciaran Grace (7), Cathal Kennedy (8), Cathal Frend (8); Colin Hall (6), Darragh Spillane (Capt, 7), Niall O’Farrell (7); Dan Farrell (7), Conor Delaney (7); Eoin Grace (7), Robert Delaney (8), Seán Flaherty (8); Paddy Grace (7), Michael Brislane (8), Paul Ryan (7).

Subs: Jack Doran (7) for Hall (22); Cian Ryan (7) for P Grace (46); Paddy Grace for Spillane (ET inj); Tim Flaherty (7) for R Delaney (HT); J. Gleeson (NR) for E Grace (ET).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).