Long final wait ends for Kilruane

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-17

Upperchurch/Drombane 1-14

Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

SCORERS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Willie Cleary 0-7 (3 frees, 2 65s); Jerome Cahill 1-4; Cian Darcy 1-1; Mark O’Neill 0-2; Kian O’Kelly, Seamus Hennessy, Thomas Cleary 0-1 each

Upperchurch/Drombane: Paudie Greene 0-7 (6 frees); Jack Butler 1-1; Colm Ryan, Gavin Ryan (frees) 0-2 each; Niall Grant, Luke Shanahan 0-1 each.

Kilruane MacDonaghs ended a 36-year wait to play in another County Senior Hurling final after seeing off Upperchurch/Drombane in the semi-final on Sunday.

A game that was so hard to call beforehand, Kilruane were much the better side, in the very wet conditions, and but for some poor finishing, deserved to be more comfortable winners than the final scoreline suggested.

Upperchurch’s progression to the semi-final was built on a team ethic but as the games get harder, you need match-winners and Kilruane had more of them, and they got their big players to produce big performances for them.

None more so than Jerome Cahill who was outstanding in contributing 1-4 from play, and also was the contributor for Cian Darcy’s goal right on half time which gave Kilruane a second decent lead which they never looked like relinquishing.

The fear for Kilruane was the pressure of trying to end such a wait to get to another county final might overwhelm them, but from an early stage they were on the front foot, but poor finishing allowed Upperchurch stay in the game.

Indeed, the Mid side looked to be gaining control coming up to half time when Jack Butler’s goal brought them back within one. However, they didn’t look like they had the scoring threat to go with Kilruane with Butler, Paudie Greene and Colm Ryan the only forwards to offer a consistent threat, with Paul & Luke Shanahan particularly subdued.

Maybe the exertions of battling on two fronts took its toll but Upperchurch never looked like producing a second half recovery, even if they were within four points with less than ten minutes to go.

However, with Niall O’Meara, Seamus Hennessy and laterally Jerome Cahill stepping back and cutting out attack after attack, it was a rather comfortable way in which Kilruane reached a first county final since 1986.

However, it did come at a cost with Jack Peters forced off with what appeared a hamstring injury on fourteen minutes which makes his participation in the final in doubt. It certainly upset the balance of the Kilruane defence in the second quarter, despite it leading to the introduction of Seamus Hennessy who, like he did in the quarter final against Toomevara, was on the scoresheet within two minutes of his introduction.

Peters’ loss likely explains the concession of the Upperchurch goal on 26 minutes as Jack Butler cut in from the wing, but Kilruane defenders backed off before his shot was well saved by Paidi Williams, with Butler scrambling the rebound over the line.

However, Kilruane’s response was impressive, largely due to Jerome Cahill who within five minutes had scored a point from play before turning provider for a Willie Cleary point, and then Cian Darcy’s rasping goal in added time as MacDonaghs led 2-9 to 1-7.

Despite Upperchurch sending Dean Carew into the game at half time to man-mark Cahill, it didn’t make much difference as the full forward was on target twice after half time, the second not far off being his second goal.

It was far from being a one-man show with Kian O’Kelly as industrious as ever, Willie Cleary nerveless from frees, while Mark O’Neill continues to be an underrated presence in midfield. Thomas Cleary put in a hard-working shift as always, but it was in defence where he made his biggest impact, getting back to get a hook on Dean Carew on 55 minutes when a goal would have brough Upperchurch back within two points.

One area Kilruane will have to improve on for the final will be their finishing, they had some decent looks to score more than two goals, but it was sufficient for the day as the MacDonaghs prepare to return to Semple Stadium on Sunday to be once again part of the biggest hurling day of the year in the county.

TEAMS - Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paidi Williams (6); Eoin Hogan (7), Jack Peters (6), James Cleary (6); Kieran Cahill (6), Niall O’Meara (8), Conor Austin (6); Aaron Morgan (6), Mark O’Neill (8); Cian Darcy (7), Sean McAdams (7), Willie Cleary (7); Thomas Cleary (7), Jerome Cahill (9), Kian O’Kelly (7).

Subs: Seamus Hennessy (7) for Peters (14 inj); Brian O’Meara (6) for Austin (52).

Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (5); Ger Grant (6), Matt Ryan (6), Mikey Lavery (6); Keith Ryan (7), Gavin Ryan (7), Ailbe O’Donoghue (6); Diarmuid Grant (6), Aaron Ryan (6); Paul Ryan (6), Colm Ryan (7), Paul Shanahan (6); Luke Shanahan (6), Paudie Greene (7), Jack Butler (7).

Subs: Dean Carew (7) for P Ryan (HT); Niall Grant (6) for D Grant (42); Sean Ryan (6) for O’Donoghue (52).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines)