Kiladangan to honour 2005 heroes at new facilities opening

Easter Monday March 28th, 2005 is a day Kiladangan GAA club will never forget, and this Saturday evening the heroes of that day who won the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship title will officially open the clubs new Ball-Wall and Astro-Turf facility at the clubs grounds in Puckane.

By Liam Hogan

Entering the final minutes of that game at Semple Stadium, Kiladangan trailed by three points as Kilkenny’s Carrickshock had looked to have the title within their reach. Then Kiladangan lost their talisman Dan Hackett to a broken ankle. He had just moved from his customary centre back position to the attack, like he did in their semi-final win over St Thomas’ of Galway.

Eamonn Kelly was the manager of the Kiladangan team, and he takes up the story.

“When Dan went down, with his leg badly broken, he lay in agony. I had to think for two seconds between looking after him medically and having to make a positional change as well,” he recalls.

“There was a seven minute delay. I wondered if the game was all worth it.

“What happened next was unbelievable. Kiladangan scored 2-1. I don’t think Dan was off the field when we scored the first goal. I remember clasping his hand and saying we will do this for you.”

North & County glory

It all started in 2004 in the North Championship with a first round victory over Knockshegowna, losing to Burgess in round two before a third round victory over Silvermines to progress to the quarter-final.

Ballina were the opponents and Kiladangan won by two points. A replay and extra time was required in a never to be forgotten semi-final win over Burgess. Kiladangan defeated Borrisokane in the North final in a close encounter. After the county quarter final win over St Mary’s, the Kiladangan lads needed a great second half performance to get over Moycarkey/Borris in the semi-final.

October 30th, 2024 was another historic day as Kiladangan defeated a disappointing Moyne-Templetuohy side in the County final. The victory bridged a gap of 33 years since Paddy Kelly led the side to county honours in 1971.

Kiladangan would represent Tipperary in the Munster Intermediate Championship and defeated Cork champions St. Catherine’s in the quarter-final in Nenagh. The Cork team was backboned by big names such as Denis Walsh and Cathal Casey and were strong and like all Tipp versus Cork games, it didn’t disappoint.

“A number of games stand out for me,” said selector Roger Gleeson.

“The game against Burgess and St. Catherine’s of Cork.

“Against Burgess we had two and a half hours hurling. We needed a replay, and it was typical of all games between Burgess and Kiladangan. It was a great game any many people acknowledge it even to this day.

“The game against St Catherine’s was another tough one and the All-Ireland semi-final against St. Thomas of Galway was equally tough.”

Playing with the breeze in the first half, Kiladangan just managed to have a slender lead 0-10 to 0-9 over the Cork side at halftime. In the second half, Kiladangan played their best hurling; Sean Maher was outstanding at wing forward and goals by Brian Kelly in the 44th minute and Enda Nolan eight minutes later made sure of a seven point win.

Kiladangan faced Smith O’Brien’s of Killaloe in the semi-final at Nenagh. They led all the way against a determined Clare side. On 53 minutes, a Liam Karl Flannery won a high ball before crossing to Darragh Egan who blasted to the net from close range as Kiladangan won by nine.

On December 12th, Kiladangan travelled to the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick for the Munster final against Limerick champions Dromin Athlacca.

This well-contested game was made difficult because of the cold and misty conditions. Dromin Athlacca led 1-2 to 0-4 at half time with full forward Donal Scully the goal scorer.

Kiladangan stepped up a gear in the second half and six minutes after the break a Conor Hayes goal helped them to win by six points.

The All-Ireland semi-final against St Thomas’ of Galway was played in Birr on February 13th, 2025.

Richie Murray led the stronger Galway side and posed a big threat. Kiladangan were hit by injuries with Darragh Egan unable to start although he came on late in the first half as his side took a 0-6 to 0-4 half-time lead despite playing with the breeze.

Alarm bells wrang as St Thomas’ came level at 0-7 each with ten minutes remaining. There was little by way of stylish hurling. It was down to the fitter side and Kiladangan finished the better with Egan pointing two frees and Tommy Connors adding a point from play before Dan Hackett, now operating at full forward, scored a goal to seal the 1-10 to 0-7 win.

The Final

The season of Lent was used to prepare for the final. Home support was immense as Liam Kelly, the club chairperson at the time reveals.

“On Good Friday, three days before the game, Eamon Kelly asked me to address the team in our dressing room.

“I had a speech prepared but before I went into the dressing room a local pensioner gave me his two-week pension money. As a result, I had to change my prepared speech. I told the players what had happened, and they were blown away. The donation had a profound effect on the players to see such support.”

The final against Carrickshock was a typical Tipperary versus Kilkenny affair. The opening half was a ding-dong affair in which there was never more than two points separating the teams. Carrickshock led 1-6 to 0-8 at half time, the goal coming from Kilkenny star Richie Power.

The second half was just as tight with Kiladangan taking the lead, 0-12 to 1-8, with fifteen minutes remaining before Carrickshock scored four unanswered points to leave Kiladangan in trouble. Carrickshock saw finish line approaching but a shoulder injury to another Kilkenny star John Tennyson meant a reshuffle to their defence. Then the serious leg injury to Dan Hackett held up the game. He was replaced by Conor Hayes who had been substituted earlier in the game. It was a masterstroke as Hayes turned provider for Darragh Egan to score an injury time goal before the tables were turned for Egan to set up Hayes to score the match winning goal as Kiladangan emerged 2-13 to 1-13 winners.

Winning captain Ger Slattery received the cup on the steps of Ardan O Riain.

“I could see my father and all the people who were involved in the club one way or another,” Slattery said.

“It was a great day.”

The Kiladangan team that lined out in the All-Ireland Final were: Dermot Hogan; Michael Ryan, Liam Kelly, Brian Lawlor; Karl Hogan, Dan Hackett, Ger Slattery (Capt); Brian Kelly, Tommy Connors (0-2); Pat Lynch (0-3), Hugh Flannery (0-1), John Maher; Darragh Egan (1-6, 0-5f), Enda Nolan, Conor Hayes (1-0).

Subs: Liam Karl Flannery (0-1) for Maher (24); Brian McLoughlin for Nolan (HT); John Slattery for Hayes (42); Sean Gleeson for McLoughlin (55); Conor Hayes for Hackett (60 inj).