Kiladangan add North title to County success

GAA: North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Football Final

Kiladangan 0-11

Shannon Rovers 2-4

Report: James Hayden in Puckane

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: David Sweeney (Kiladangan).

TEAMS - Kiladangan: Stephen Mulvihill 0-4 (2 frees); Alan Flynn, David Sweeney 0-2 each; Darren Moran (pen), James O’Meara, Billy Seymour 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers: George Hannigan 0-3 (2 frees); Conal Moran, Eamonn Hough 1-0 each; Michael Dolan 0-1.

Kiladangan staved off a strong Shannon Rovers challenge to prevail by the slenderest of margins to capture the North Junior ’A’ Football title on Saturday evening.

Having overcome Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams a fortnight previous to capture the County title, the ‘Dangan were made to fight all the way to the final whistle by a gutsy Shannon Rovers who belied their underdog status.

Having tasted north, county and Munster glory last year at Junior ‘B’ level, the Rovers found themselves back at the scene of last year’s north triumph but this time they faced a strong Kiladangan side intent on annexing their sixth ever North title.

Following a tense opening ten-minute period where both sides defended in serious depth it was the home side who drew first blood following a well-flighted Stephen Mulvihill free from close-range. The Kiladangan corner-forward was forced to wait to convert though after the floodlights went out in Puckane with the pint-sized culprits spotted sprinting away from the kill switch at the back of the goals in fits of laughter.

Kiladangan were continually stymied in their efforts to break down a packed Rovers’ defence, but they eventually picked off their first point from play following an impressive David Sweeney effort.

Shannon Rovers responded in style though with a well-fashioned sweeping counter-attack move culminating in their first score after seventeen minutes, a well-taken Conal Moran goal after sublime interchange play involving Alan Hannigan and Sean Hough.

Kiladangan retorted with a sweet Stephen Mulvihill point before the Rovers were forced to switch Derek Horan into goals after Dinny Cahalan appeared to pull a hamstring in a half that also saw Alan Flynn forced off the field with a facial injury following an overly robust challenge deep in time added on.

With five minutes remaining to the break, Shannon Rovers raided again and breached the Kiladangan rearguard for a second cracking goal from the boot of Eamonn Hough following yet another sweeping move involving Austin Tierney, Conal Moran, and George Hannigan.

Kiladangan responded once more with an impressive brace from the influential Alan Flynn before George Hannigan flighted over a well-flighted free right on the thirty-minute mark before adding another deep in injury-time to ensure the Rovers took a deserved 2-2 to 0-5 lead to the dressing rooms.

Kiladangan introduced Paddy Gallagher and Fergal Hayes at the break and two early salvos should have really yielded goals for the ‘Dangan. Stephen Mulvihill narrowed the gap with a 34th minute free before Darren Moran cut the deficit to just a point following a 38th minute penalty after Mulvihill was pulled down on route to goal.

Kiladangan were back on terms by the 40th minute thanks to a snapshot effort from wing-forward James O’Meara before matters threatened to boil over following a schemozzle on 42 minutes. Calm was quickly restored with George Hannigan (free) and David Sweeney trading points before the introduction of Barry Hogan and Paul Flynn injected further pace and impetus into the ’Dangan.

The final quarter saw both sides battle for supremacy with Stephen Mulvihill edging Kiladangan in front with a 50th minute free. The Rovers had the chance to draw upsides once more three minutes later but unfortunately for the Rovers’ George Hannigan’s effort tailed to the left and wide.

Kiladangan’s Billy Seymour flighted over a sublime effort on sixty minutes to put two points between the sides, but the Rovers weren’t done yet and battled for all their worth in time added on.

Michael Dolan narrowed the gap in the 62nd minute with a well-flighted point from range but try as they might, Shannon Rovers were unable to bridge the gap and Kiladangan held on to record a hard-earned victory.

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

Subs: Paddy Gallagher (7) for Ryan (HT); Fergal Hayes (7) for A Flynn (HT inj); Martin Minehan (7) for Culhane (35); Barry Hogan (7) for Byrne (45); Paul Flynn (7) for D O’Meara (45 mins); Eoin Meagher (NR) for J O’Meara (59).

Shannon Rovers: Dinny Cahalan (6); Derek Horan (7), Matt Tierney (7), Oisin McMahon (7); Michael Dolan (7), Padraic O’Meara (7), Eamonn Hough (7); Andy Byrne (7), Conal Moran (7); Michael Tierney (7), George Hannigan (7), Alan Hannigan (7); Sean Hough (7), Austin Tierney (Capt, 7), Marcus Esmonde (7).

Subs: James O’Sullivan (7) for Cahalan (20 inj); John O’Meara (6) for S Hough (45); Cathal Hogan (6) for Michael Tierney (54).

Referee: Ger Fitzpatrick (Roscrea).