Third Junior 'A' Football title for Kiladangan

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

Kiladangan 0-13

Knockavilla-D Kickhams 1-6

Report: Liam Hoganat Kenyon Park, Templederry

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Darren Moran (Kiladangan).

SCORERS - Kiladangan: Stephen Mulvihill 0-5 (4 frees); Daragh Butler, David Sweeney, Willie Connors, Darren Moran 0-2 each.

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams: Conor Horgan 0-3 (2 frees); Jamie Duncan 1-0; Conor Farrell, Stephen Browne, Elliott Thompson (free) 0-1 each.

Darren Moran’s insurance point in injury time ensured the County Junior ‘A’ football title returned to Kiladangan for the first time since 2011 following Saturday’s final against Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams.

Kiladangan led 0-9 to 0-1 after 28 minutes but the concession of a goal before half time had the lead down to five at the break. The second half saw a hard working Knockavilla team working hard to whittle down the deficit further and has it down to two with five minutes remaining before Willie Connors and Moran split the posts with two valuable scores.

It was that close and Kiladangan can thank both players for their relentless work with Joe Gallagher and David Sweeney not far behind in terms of man of the match. Further back, Alan Flynn, John O’Meara, Darragh Butler and James Quigley earned their crust in defence.

What of the West champions? With hopes of winning their third title and first since 2009 they came into the final very much the under-dog. The loss of Adam & Eddie Daly through suspension following their semi-final win over St. Patricks hurt their chances somewhat. Meanwhile, Shane Farrell stood tall in defence along with Lorcan Carr, Shane Buckley and Eoin McCormack while Elliott Thompson was the more prominent at midfield. Conor Horgan caused much danger in attack.

Indeed, they battled against the odds for a team that played over a half an hour a man short with Paudie O’Carroll black carded in the tenth minute and he earned a second black card in the 38th minute thus receiving a red. Then again, Kiladangan suffered the same fate, but the punishment was not as severe when James Quigley had to sit it out for ten minutes after receiving a black card in the 46th minute.

Kiladangan had first use of the breeze as brilliant October sunshine saw Kiladangan take an early two point lead with David Sweeney scoring after eight seconds followed by a second point from the boot of Darragh Butler who finished off a move involving David Sweeney, Tadhg Gallagher, and Dan O’Meara.

A quick response from Knockavilla saw Conor Farrell take an assist from his midfield partner Elliott Thompson but from there it was one-way traffic as far as scoring was concerned. Two points in the fifth and seventh minutes by Stephen Mulvihill and Darren Moran was the result of good play by Kiladangan as they swung the ball from side to side. They missed a few chances in the meantime before Darragh Butler scored his second point in the eleventh minute after good work by James Quigley who had ventured up the field. One minute later, Stephen Mulvihill converted a free.

Play continued in the direction of the Knockavilla end of the field and after many pairs of hands Kiladangan went six clear after another Sweeney point in the seventeenth minute. A minute later, Willie Connors landed a brilliant point and there was no way of stopping the North men as Stephen Mulvihill made it 0-9 to 0-1, two minutes from half time.

A rare attack of substance by Knockavilla came next but ended in a wide. The resulting kickout was short and intercepted with Conor Farrell playing in Jamie Duncan who found the back of the net, and at half time it was 0-9 to 1-1.

At the break, Fergal Hayes replaced Darragh Ryan who had under 21 hurling duty the following day. Two minutes into the second half, Knockavilla pressed but lost possession to a sideline ball. John O’Meara’s intended kick pass was intercepted and Kickhams turned possession into a score by Conor Horgan. A step in the right direction for Knockavilla but they suffered a setback when Paudie O’Carroll earned a second black card followed by a red. Mulvihill converted the resulting free against the breeze and from 35 metres.

However, a brilliant left-footed effort by Conor Horgan went over and a rejuvenated Kickhams followed up with two more points through substitute Shane Morrissey and Horgan from a free to leave his team two in arrears, 0-10 to 1-5, with thirteen minutes remaining.

A foul on Darren Moran earned a reprieve for Kiladangan as Stephen Mulvihill converted with ease before Conor Horgan replied with a 35 metre free in the 55th minute.

Kiladangan had, in the meantime, summoned the bench into action with Barry Hogan and James O’Meara entering the fray. Their ability to win high ball from Brian McGahey’s kickouts saw Joe Gallagher and Darren Moran at their best and Kiladangan began winning more possession where in the 56th minute Willie Connors scored his second point.

That three point lead was still cause for concern, but the Kiladangan defence continued to stand firm and deep into injury time a defence turned into attack towards a crowded goal before play broke to Darren Moran who kicked over the bar from twenty metres to seal the win.

TEAMS - Kiladangan: Brian McGahey (6); Conor Culhane (6), James Quigley (7), Darragh Ryan (6); Tadgh Gallagher (6), John O’Meara (7), Daragh Butler (6); Alan Flynn (6), Darren Moran (Capt, 8); Joe Gallagher (8), Willie Connors (8), David Sweeney (8); Stephen Mulvihill (6), Dan O’Meara (6), Conor Byrne (6).

Subs: Fergal Hayes (7) for D Ryan (HT); Barry Hogan (6) for Byrne (35); Paddy Gallagher (6) for Culhane (44); James O’Meara (6) for T Gallagher (54); Paul Flynn (6) for Sweeney (57).

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams: Derek Breen (7); Aidan Duggan (6), Paudie O’Carroll (6), Shane Farrell (7); Shane Buckley (7), Lorcan Carr (7), Eoin McCormack (7); Elliott Thompson (7), Conor Farrell (6); Sean Cannon (6), Conor Horgan (8), Walter O’Carroll (6); Jamie Duncan (6), Stephen Browne (6), Joe O’Dwyer (6).

Subs: Shane Morrissey for W O’Carroll (32); Joe Fitzgerald for Duncan (50).

Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow).