Holycross Ballycahill overpower Kilruane MacDonaghs to qualify for U17A county final

County U17A Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Holycross Ballycahill 3-22 

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-15

By Liam Hogan

A more clinical Holycross Ballycahill side had that bit too much for North champions Kilruane MacDonaghs when the sides met in the second semi-final played at Borris-Ileigh on Sunday afternoon.

 Playing with the breeze in the first half they overcame a slow start to claim a 0-13 to 0-7 half-time lead. Two goals inside the opening ten minutes of the second half meant that the lead margin was out to fifteen but Kilruane, who had a lot of possession finally breached the Holycross defence when cutting the lead to nine with two late goals but Holycross had done enough to survive. 

Similar to the first game, this tie had real talent with All-Ireland winning captain Cathal O’Reilly and Tiernan Ryan providing the backbone to the defence with Tadhg Ryan, Tony Maher and Jake Galvin, three members of the Tipperary Celtic Challenge team providing great assistance. 

Five of the starting six forwards scored including 15-year-old Zach O’Keefe and Eoghan Hickey. Hickey was excellent at corner forward and produced a man of the match performance. 

Kilruane had their moments when Jack Quinlisk, Paul Molloy, Cormac Kennedy and Cormac Gaynor did all they could to stem the tide. Shane Cleary covered much grass as he lined out at midfield. His partner Tommy Burins was solid while Michael Cleary was Kilruane’s best forward. 

 Scores were level at 0-1 each before Holycross took a 0-4 to 0-1 lead inside the opening 15 minutes. Kilruane’s score came from Michael Cleary and already the Kilruane wing forward was causing much worry for the mid side but his side had five wides and attempts for points for long distance were held short due to the breeze.

The Holycross defence deserved credit also as Cathal O’Reilly kept a close eye on things at full back with Tony Maher and Daire Ryan were always on hand to cut off any threat and their supply paved the way for five unanswered points in three minutes with Eoghan Hickey, Tiernan Ryan, Sean Ryan plus two more delightful points from the very skilful Eoghan Hickey at left corner forward. 

But Kilruane continued to press and were rewarded with two quick fire points by Charlie Kennedy and Michael Cleary in the 23rd minute. Holycross did likewise with wing back Tony Maher and midfielder Jake Galvin scoring back to back to regain their seven point advantage but Kilruane were finally finding the target as Michael Cleary and Tommy Burris bisected the posits in the 27th minute.

Kilruane created some danger as Tommy O’Meara bore down on goal but he was dispossessed which led to Cathal O’Reilly racing outfield while linking up with three players he was at the end of the sequence before scoring brilliantly inside half way. 

At double scores 0-12 to 0-6, Holycross looked good but they conceded one more score before the break thanks to a Michael Cleary free (his fifth score of the day) after a foul on Charlie Kennedy.  

Backed by the breeze Kilruane had hope of cutting the deficit but they suffered an early setback when Holycross outscored the Northmen 1-2 to 0-1 in four minutes with the goal, a piece of brilliance coming from fifteen year old Zach O’Keeffe who had to weave past two Kilruane defenders. 

The excellent Shane Cleary reduced the margin to nine but Holycross possessed real class and taking excellent points through Eoghan Hickey and midfielder Jake Galvin (0-4 in total by hours end) before Zack O’Keeffe doubled his goal tally with a blast from a tight angle. 

Ray Quinlivan and Eoghan Hickey swapped points and the teams went score for score with Hickey making it 2-21 to 0-12 and 12 minutes remaining.

Things looked bleak for Kilruane but they never gave up and in the 49th minute Michael Cleary took advantage of loose marking before firing home a great goal. 

The three pointer was the start of a Kilruane’s best second half period with Michael Hennelly and Shane Cleary (eighty metre free) before Sean Ryan broke the sequence for Holycross in the 52nd minute.

Four minutes later, Sean Ryan was involved again this time linking up with Sam Doyle before the former scored Ballycahill’s third goal. Michael Cleary replied with a goal but the game was well out of reach as Holycross had their sight on the final against Durlas Og in what should be a great game. 

Holycross Ballycahill: Harry Bourke; Tadgh Ryan, Daire Ryan, Cathal Ryan; Tadhg O’Rourke, Cathal O’Reilly (0-1), Tony Maher (0-2, 0-1 65); Tiernan Ryan (0-2), Jake Galvin (0-4); Liam Costello (0-1), Sean Ryan (1-3), Sam Doyle (0-1); Zach O’Keeffe (2-0), Tadhg Nally, Eoghan Hickey (0-8, 0-2f). 

Subs used: Alex Maher for T Ryan (53); Seamie Dwan for Doyle (57); Leo Ryan for Nally (60). 

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Andrew Austin; Jack Quinlisk, Fearghal Doheny, Cathal McIntyre; Paul Molloy, Shane Cleary (0-3, 0-1f), Cormac Gaynor; Tommy Burris (0-1), Cormac Kennedy (0-1); Cillian Healy, Johnny Naughnane, Michael Cleary (2-7, 0-4f); Charlie Kennedy, Tommy O’Meara, Michael Hennelly (0-1). 

Subs used: Ray Quinlivan (0-1) for Kennedy (42); Fiachradh Ahearne Woods (0-1) for Naughnane (42); Dara O’Looney for Hennelly (53); William Jones for McIntyre (57). 

Referee: Kevin Jordon (Thurles Gaels)