Kiladangan stay on course for Junior ‘A’ double

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Football Championship Semi-Final

Kiladangan 2-6

Boherlahan-Dualla 0-8

Report: Liam Hogan at Pairc Shilean, Templemore

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: David Sweeney (Kiladangan)

SCORERS - Kiladangan: David Sweeney, Tadhg Gallagher 1-0 each; Stephen Mulvihill 0-(frees), Billy Seymour (1 free) 0-2 each; Conor Byrne, Willie Connors 0-1 each.

Boherlahan-Dualla: Eoin McLoughney 0-3 frees; Charlie Ryan, Jake Canny, Euan Ryan 0-1 each.

With an improved second half performance, Kiladangan came from behind to claim a deserved four-point win over Boherlahan-Dualla in well-contested County Junior ‘A’ Football semi-final on Saturday evening.

Trailing by three points at half time, the winners used their fitness and speed to find ways of opening up a Boherlahan defence, something they found difficult to do in the opening half.

Boherlahan had the strong breeze to aid them in the first half and from the throw-in had the majority of the ball in the opening minutes. In the fifth minute, they had the ball in the net, but play was called back for a free which Eoin McLoughney converted from thirteen metres. There was more of the same and Conor Byrne doubled their lead in the ninth minute.

Two minutes later, Kiladangan finally got their name in the scoreboard after Stephen Mulvihill pointed a free. But Boherlahan were very much in charge with a string of passing moves which saw wing backs Cathal Darcy and John Ryan, plus Martin Paul O’Dwyer at midfield very much involved. Both Euan Ryan and the speedy Jake Canny looked the more attack-minded up front and Boherlahan increased their lead to three after points from Euan Ryan and another McLoughney free.

With Alan Flynn, Darren Moran, Tadhg & Joe Gallagher bringing Kiladangan more into the game, they were finally rewarded when David Sweeney’s defence splitting run led to a free which Stephen Mulvihill converted in the 27th minute.

However, Boherlahan had the final say approaching half time which saw Martin Paul O’Dwyer score a brilliant point off his left, a score which brought an end to the first half and Boherlahan leading 0-5 to 0-2.

The second half began like the first as far as Boherlahan were concerned as Ger O’Dwyer vacated his centre back position to score a point after eighteen seconds.

As expected, Kiladangan began to press and in the 35th minute David Sweeney intercepted a Boherlahan clearance had the opportunity to attack and in an instant, he had the ball in the net.

Boherlahan replied with a point by wing forward Euan Ryan and looked to be back in command with Ger O’Dwyer leading the way at centre back while Martin Paul O’Dwyer was another leader.

Yet, Kiladangan refused to panic, and Willie Connors responded with a point after being set up by Tadhg Gallagher in the 39th minute.

Kiladangan began dipping into their subs bench where both Dan O’Meara and Fergal Hayes had been introduced and in the 49th minute both were involved in a move from the left from where Tadhg Gallagher finished to the net and suddenly Kiladangan were two points clear.

Kiladangan sensed they had control of the game as they began to move the ball around with greater ease and in the 51st minute they increased their lead with a Billy Seymour free before Conor Byrne increased their lead a minute later.

With a four point lead, Kiladangan became more defensive with Willie Connors spending more time in defence. This allowed Boherlahan to gain ground and they were rewarded with Eoin McLoughney scoring his third free in the 54th minute.

With both defences to the fore that three point margin was to remain with Kiladangan finally breaking the mould after Alan Flynn and Conor Byrne combining for Billy Seymour to bisect the post on the hour mark giving Kiladangan a four point advantage which Boherlahan found difficult to pull back in the four minutes of added time.

Kiladangan held on and are now they are in the unlikely situation of being in line to win a Junior ‘A’ hurling and football double in the coming weeks. They play Moyle Rovers in the hurling final next Saturday before the following weekend take on Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams in the football decider.

TEAMS - Kiladangan: Brian McGahey (6); Conor Culhane (6), James Quigley (7), Darragh Ryan (6); Tadgh Gallagher (7), John O’Meara (7), Daragh Butler (6); Alan Flynn (7), Darren Moran (6); Joe Gallagher (7), Conor Byrne (6), Billy Seymour (6); Stephen Mulvihill (6), David Sweeney (7), Willie Connors (7).

Subs: James O’Meara (6) for Ryan (25); Fergal Hayes (7) for Moran (HT); Dan O’Meara (7) for Mulvihill (44); Paddy Gallagher (7) for Butler (51); Ben Kirwan (NR) for Byrne (60).

Boherlahan-Dualla: Darragh Lacy (6); Niall Manton (7), Tomas Bourke (7), Tadhg O’Donnell (7); Cathal Darcy (6), Ger O’Dwyer (7), John Ryan (6); Martin Paul O’Dwyer (7), Niall O’Dwyer (6); Jake Canny (7), Charlie Ryan (6), Euan Ryan (7); James Murphy (6), Eoin McLoughney (6), Mark Downey (6).

Subs: Tomas Ryan (6) for Murphy (HT); Michael O’Connor (6) for Manton (HT).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens).