Kiladangan impress in drubbing Sars

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 4

Kiladangan 2-23

Thurles Sarsfields 1-17

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

Nobody saw this coming!

Beaten North finalists Kiladangan handed Thurles Sarsfields a nine-point drubbing in the opening round in group four of the County Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday to kick-start a campaign they hope will lead to Dan Breen success later this year.

This was no fluke result. Indeed, Kiladangan should have inflicted an even heavier beating on their rivals, but 21 wides was the only damper on their performance and will give players and management something to think about before round two.

Kiladangan were without former county man Willie Connors through injury but had Declan McGrath and Tadhg Gallagher back from suspension with Bryan McLoughney coming into the attack for his first start of the campaign.

However, they got off to a poor start, conceded a goal after only two minutes, Aidan McCormack netting for Sarsfields. A measure of the maturity of the Kiladangan side is the manner in which they dealt the situation and with Billy Seymour on top of his game they were level 0-7 to 1-4 after eight minutes.

The North lads got their first big break in the 19th minute when Seymour scythed through a hesitant Thurles defence for a quality goal and a lead (1-7 to 1-5) they never relinquished. Seymour added three further points as they pulled away from lethargic opponents and then, just before the half-time whistle, Sean Hayes blasted home their second goal for a 2-12 to 1-9 lead at the break.

Ten first half wides was surely a concern for Kiladangan who were exploiting gaps in the Thurles defence where the absent Ronan Maher and David Corbett were sorely missed.

A big Thurles effort was expected in the second half, but apart from a brief flurry at the start of the last quarter it did not materialise. By then Kiladangan were 2-19 to 1-12 clear, almost home and hosed, but three unanswered points for Sarsfields left seven points in it with ten minutes to play.

Again, Kiladangan’s maturity showed as they comfortably weathered the storm and were unlucky not to have a third goal when sub Eoghan Sharkey had the ball in the Thurles net after 55 minutes, but referee Michael Kennedy ruled it out for an infringement of the square. It made no difference as Kiladangan out-pointed their rivals four to two in the closing minutes to set the seal on a big win for the club.

Apart from the untypically poor finishing Kiladangan have every reason to be pleased with this victory in this very difficult group featuring four teams all of whom would see themselves as potential champions (Borris-Ileigh and Clonoulty-Rossmore are also included).

The draw between the other two sends Kiladangan to the top of the table but most encouraging for them will be the manner in which they disposed of such highly rated opposition. However, no medals were given out on Sunday and the challenge for Kiladangan will be to maintain this level of performance and to tidy up on their shooting.

Billy Seymour had his best game for some time for the club, exploiting the latitude afforded him for a man of the match performance that yielded 1-3 from play with five pointed frees thrown in for good measure. Equally so Paul Flynn who shot five of his six points in the second half, and there was much to admire too about the play of James Quigley, David Sweeney, Sean Hayes, and the Gallagher brothers, Joe & Tadgh.

A setback for Thurles Sarsfields’ new manager Padraic Maher certainly, but one which comes with ample time for redress. Ronan Maher’s leadership was badly missed in an insipid showing where Billy McCarthy was the top performer for them. Michael Purcell, Darragh Stakelum, Stephen Cahill, Stephen Maher, and Aidan McCormack were others to impress when so many were below par.

Player of the Match: Billy Seymour (Kiladangan)

Kiladangan: Barry Hogan (6); John O’Meara (6), James Quigley (7), Fergal Hayes (6); David Sweeney (7), Joe Gallagher (0-1, 7), Declan McGrath (6); Alan Flynn (0-2, 7), Tadhg Gallagher (0-3, 7); Dan O’Meara (6), Billy Seymour (1-8, 0-5f, 9), Paul Flynn (0-6, 9); Bryan McLoughney (0-1, 6), Sean Hayes (1-2, 7), Conor Byrne (6).

Subs: Eoghan Sharkey (6) for Hayes (48); Shane Gleeson (6) for McLoughney (55); Darren Moran (5) for D O’Meara (55).

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack (6); Seosamh Ryan (6), Stephen Maher (7), Cathal Moloney (6); Jack Derby (6), Denis Maher (6), Michael Purcell (7); Stephen Cahill (0-1, 6), Cian Stakelum (6); Conor Stakelum (0-1, 6), Tommy Doyle (0-2, 6), Darragh Stakelum (0-3, 7); Paddy Creedon (0-1, 6), Billy McCarthy (0-3, 7), Aidan McCormack (1-6, 0-5f, 7).

Subs: Conor Lanigan (6) for Doyle (HT); Seanie Butler (6) for Creedon (43).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle)