Kiladangan stay put as Moyle Rovers step up

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship Final

Moyle Rovers 2-15

Kiladangan 0-11

Report: Michael Dundon at Pairc Shilean, Templemore

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Neil Cahalan (Kiladangan)

SCORERS – Moyle Rovers: Dara Ryan 0-6 (5 frees); Killian Butler 1-2; Anthony Phelan 1-1; Kevin Grace, Luke Delahunty 0-2 each; Riain Quigley, Danny Lyne 0-1 each.

Kiladangan: Neil Cahalan 0-8 (3 frees); DJ McGrath 0-2; Eoghan Sharkey 0-1.

Kiladangan hopes of an immediate return to intermediate level were ended by a dominant Moyle Rovers in the County Junior ‘A’ Hurling final on Saturday.

From an early stage Kiladangan were chasing the game but it was still within their reach, trailing by six points at the three quarter stage. However, a defensive blunder at that stage presented Moyle Rovers with their second goal and a 2-13 to 0-10 lead and from that on there was going to be only one winner.

Many tipped Kiladangan for a speedy return to the intermediate grade following their relegation last year, and with a side liberally sprinkled with former senior players, their credentials were sound.

However, here they came up against a very fit and mobile Moyle Rovers combination, many of whom had something to prove after bowing out tamely in the senior football semi-final a week previously.

This was Rovers’ first adult hurling team, and it had quality above the level normally associated with the grade. That allied to an athleticism not normally seen in this grade, gave them a distinct advantage that was apparent all through.

It started well for Kiladangan, however, as DJ McGrath and Eoghan Sharkey points gave them momentum but, in the fifth minute, Killian Butler scythed through for a Rovers goal, and they never looked back after that.

They were 1-3 to 0-3 ahead after twelve minutes and it took a fine save by Kiladangan goalie Ciaran Kelly to prevent Killian Butler getting a second goal after fifteen minutes.

At the twenty minute mark, Kiladangan trailed 1-6 to 0-3 and looked to be slipping out of the frame but a solid finish to the half which yielded three points from Neil Cahalan, Kiladangan’s best player, kept them in the hunt at the break (0-6 to 1-8).

Moyle Rovers had lost the influential Ben Owns to a leg injury after 23 minutes. He had been very influential in a sweeping role up to that, but the Monroe side coped well with the set-back and continued to contain the Kiladangan attack.

A five point deficit required a raising of Kiladangan’s game in the second half if they were to keep their title chances alive but in a competitive third quarter they made no inroads into the lead, Neil Cahalan (3) and DJ McGrath points being cancelled by Rovers’ replies.

Into the last quarter and it was still within Kiladangan’s reach to save the game if they were good enough but then disaster struck when hesitation in the defence offered Rovers’ Anthony Phelan the opportunity of goaling and he didn’t have to be asked twice for a score that put his side 2-13 to 0-10 ahead and firmly on the road to victory.

Kiladangan did not capitulate. Neil Cahalan pointed, and they went for goal from two close range frees but to no avail. A goal off either might have sparked a late Kiladangan surge but it was Moyle Rovers who had the last say, points from Dara Ryan and sub Danny Lyne, who has Kiladangan connections, setting the seal on a well-deserved win for the Powerstown-Lisronagh outfit.

Hats off to Kiladangan for a brave effort that against lesser opposition might have claimed the prize. Their biggest difficulty was a lack of scoring options. Neil Cahalan hit eight of their eleven points. A three-point return from his colleagues was well below what was required to succeed.

No one could question their commitment as they gave it everything, but they came up against a more skilful and lively combination. Cahalan was Kiladangan’s top performer, but Martin Minehan, Gavin McGrath, DJ McGrath, Johnny Horan, and Ronan Ducie did their utmost to further the Kiladangan cause.

This is a very good Moyle Rovers team which now goes forward in pursuit of provincial honours. Their fitness levels were above those of their rivals and they were matched with a tidiness on the ball not normally seen in the fourth tier of county hurling.

They absorbed the loss of key defender Ben Owens seamlessly, but their biggest advantage lay with their scoring potential as they always threatened to raise flags when on the attack.

Team captain Dara Ryan led by example. Riain Quigley, Kevin Grace, Killian Butler, and Luke Delahunty along with defenders Shane Ryan and Conor McGrath all had big games on what was a big day for the Moyle Rovers club.

TEAMS - Moyle Rovers: Brian Gleeson (6); Cathal McKeown (6), Conor McGrath (7), Brian McKeown (6); Luke Boland (6), Ben Owens (7), Shane Ryan (7); Riain Quigley (7), Kevin Grace (7); Killian Butler (7), Dara Ryan (8), Rory Collins (6); Dean English (6), Anthony Phelan (6), Luke Delahunty (7).

Subs: Daire Luttrell (6) for Owens (23 inj); Nathan Croke (NR) for B McKeown (55); Sean Hackett (NR) for Grace (57), Danny Lyne (7) for Phelan (58); Michael O’Reilly (NR) for Butler (58).

Kiladangan: Ciaran Kelly (6); Gavin McGrath (7), Shane Seymour (6), Jack McGrath (6); Darragh Ryan (6), Martin Minehan (7), Ronan Ducie (7); Johnny Horan (7), Neil Cahalan (9); Bill Cleary (6), Matthew Cleary (6), Dan O’Meara (6); DJ McGrath (7), Eoghan Sharkey (6), Eoin Meagher (6).

Subs: Daragh Butler (6) for B Cleary (26); Eoin Kelly (6) for Sharkey (HT); Stephen Mulvihill (6) for Meagher (40); Paddy Gallagher (6) for Seymour (49); Ryan Gillick (NR) for O’Meara (59).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines).