Early goals set Kiladangan up for Division 1 Hurling League success

GAA: FBD Insurance County Hurling League Division 1 Final

Kiladangan 2-17

Toomevara 1-16

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: David Sweeney (Kiladangan)

SCORERS – Kiladangan: Billy Seymour 0-7 (4 frees); Eoghan Sharkey, Neil Cahalan 1-1 each; Shane Gleeson, Willie Connors 0-2 each; Declan McGrath, Sean Hayes, Conor Byrne, Tadhg Gallagher 0-1 each.

Toomevara: Mark McCarthy 1-8 (0-7 frees); Kevin McCarthy 0-3 (1 free); Jack Delaney 0-2; Darren Delaney, David Nolan, Darragh McCarthy 0-1 each.

A taste of what’s to come perhaps, as Kiladangan claimed the first silverware of the season with a solid if unspectacular win over Toomevara in the County Hurling League Division 1 final on Saturday.

Two first half goals reflected Kiladangan’s superiority, and while they fully deserved their success, Toome were always giving chase, but a lack of penetration in attack militated against their chances of catching their fancied rivals who stamped their authority on the game from the very start.

As a contest, the encounter never reached great heights and both sides will need to raise the intensity of their game when championship time comes around.

In that regard, Kiladangan look the better equipped to make progress, especially when it is remembered that they were short some key players, including Barry Hogan, Bryan McLoughney, the O’Meara’s (Dan & Tom), while Tadhg Gallagher only came on late in the game.

Toome were not at full strength either, but their back-up is not at the same level as Kiladangan’s who also contested the division 4 league final, losing to Clonoulty/Rossmore on Thursday, with some of that squad also figuring in this final 48 hours later.

Kiladangan could not have looked for a better start as after three minutes Willie Connors raced through, drew the defence, before setting up Eoghan Sharkey for a goal and a 1-1 to 0-1 lead.

Billy Seymour was in fine form for them as was Sharkey and Shane Gleeson, but Kevin & Mark McCarthy kept Toome in the hunt with points.

After 27 minutes, Kiladangan led 1-8 to 0-8 but a defensive error by Toome gave Neil Cahalan the chance to notch Kiladangan’s second goal, which Billy Seymour followed with a delightful long range point from a free inside his own half, to give the winners an interval lead of 2-9 to 0-8, with the light breeze the aid them in the second half.

Toomevara don’t give up easily and they resumed the second half with much greater purpose. Darragh McCarthy and Mark McCarthy had points inside three minutes to which Willie Connors replied before Mark McCarthy pointed two more frees to leave them 0-12 to 2-10 adrift.

After Billy Seymour again pointed for Kiladangan came two decisive moments which determined the outcome of the game. Firstly, Mark McCarthy thought he had netted for Toome in the 46th minute only to discover that referee Joe Leahy had earlier blown his whistle to award him a free. The resulting point was poor consolation.

A minute later, Jack Delaney looked certain to goal for Toome but Liam Hayes in the Kiladangan goal made a superb save to deny him. Had either chance raised a green flag, it might have made for a different finish, but a hitherto somewhat subdued Kiladangan seemed to recognise the danger and they outpointed their rivals six to two in the closing ten minutes.

The goal Toome needed did not come until the 61st minute, Mark McCarthy the scorer, but time was against them and Kiladangan stayed comfortably clear to the final whistle.

It was a performance that fell a bit short of the standards Kiladangan have set themselves but with the return of the absentees they will clearly be a formidable force in the championships, divisional and county.

A number of their bigger guns had a quiet day but in David Sweeney they had the man of the match, his reading of the game and decisive interventions ending many a promising Toome assault. Billy Seymour too was in fine form with Eoghan Sharkey, Declan McGrath, Joe Gallagher, Willie Connors, and goalie Liam Hayes other to have a big influence on the outcome.

Toomevara have had a good league campaign but have a bit to go to challenge for the top honours. Mark McCarthy was their key man, but Josh McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Jack Delaney, and Jack Ryan also led by example.

TEAMS – Kiladangan: Liam Hayes (7); Fergal Hayes (6), James Quigley (6), David Sweeney (9); Johnny Horan (6), Joe Gallagher (7), David Moran (6); Alan Flynn (6), Declan McGrath (7); Paul Flynn (6), Billy Seymour (7), Shane Gleeson (6); Neil Cahalan (6), Eoghan Sharkey (7), Willie Connors (7).

Subs: Sean Hayes (6) for Horan (40); Conor Byrne (6) for Cahalan (44); Tadhg Gallagher (6) for Gleeson (50).

Toomevara: Rory Brislane (6); Liam Ryan (6), Andrew Ryan (6), Seamus O’Farrell (6); Jake Ryan (6), Josh McCarthy (7), Jack Ryan (7); Darren Delaney (6), Eoin Grace (6); Jack Delaney (7), Kevin McCarthy (7), Adam Hall (6); Mark McCarthy (7), Shane Nolan (6), David Nolan (6).

Subs: Robbie Quirke (6) for Grace (HT); Darragh McCarthy (6) for S Nolan (HT); Joey McLoughney (6) for Hall (40); Conor O’Meara (6) for D Nolan (50); Conor O’Farrell (6) for S O’Farrell (55).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).