Comfortable win for Kilsheelan Kilcash in Tipperary Under 21 B hurling semi-final

Kilsheelan Kilcash 1-21 Galtee Rovers 0-6

Kilsheelan Kilcash are through to the final of the FBD Insurance County Under 21B Hurling Championship following their comprehensive 18-point victory over West champions Galtee Rovers at a dull but relatively calm Fethard Town Park on Sunday evening.

In a game played before a modest attendance at this excellent venue, the South champions controlled the exchanges from the throw-in. They led by 0-6 to 0-0 after ten minutes and pushed on for the remainder of the opening period to lead 0-13 to 0-4 at the break, with Galtee’s four points coming from placed balls.

After the restart, Kilsheelan continued to dictate the contest, with midfielder Tommy O’Connor in fine form from placed balls.
Their defence was on top throughout with Conor Neville and Emmet Butler particularly strong. Their attack was a constant threat, with Liam Freaney and Michael Bates combining well.

Galtee were limited to just two scores during this second half, with Bill Quirke and Robbie McGrath on target from placed balls. Their attack never looked like penetrating a tight defence and played second fiddle throughout. They also finished the game with thirteen players following the dismissal of Bill Quirke and Eoghan Byrnes to two yellow cards during the final ten minutes.

Galtee Rovers won the toss and elected to defend the town end for the opening half, but it was Kilsheelan who set the pace from the off. Tommy O’Connor converted two placed balls inside the opening three minutes before Michael Bates set up Senan Butler for a third on six minutes. O’Connor was again on target before turning provider to put Michael Bates through with a neat pass. Senan Butler made it 0-6 by the tenth minute, as Galtee began to struggle.

Robbie McGrath eventually got Galtee on the scoreboard with a converted free after thirteen minutes, but again Kilsheelan replied in triplicate, two from Tommy O’Connor and one from Liam Freaney when he finished off a good move after Senan Butler had won a ball and cut in along the end line.

Galtee were off target from both placed balls and open play before Robbie McGrath got their second minor after eighteen minutes.

Jack Norris came upfield and split the posts before Conal Grogan denied Mikey McGuire at the expense of a 65, which came to nothing.

Coming up to half-time, McGuire had the ball in the Galtee net but the goal was denied after the referee awarded a free out for interference with the goalkeeper. Tommy O’Connor hit his seventh point of the half on the stroke of half-time, as the South champions went in leading 0-13 to 0-4.

After the restart it was all Kilsheelan, with Tommy O’Connor in the thick of the action. The opening six points all came from placed balls, with O’Connor responsible for five of those, while Robbie McGrath was on target for Galtee. Bill Quirke put over his second point of the evening before Liam Freaney set up Michael Bates at the other end.

Galtee were then reduced to thirteen players after Eoghan Byrnes and Bill Quirke were dismissed in separate incidents after receiving second yellow cards as the final minutes were played out. With five minutes remaining Liam Freaney crashed home the only goal of the game before closing out the scoring with a well-taken point.

Kilsheelan did enough to get over the line with ease in this game and progress to the final this weekend. Against the Mid champions, Boherlahan Dualla, they will meet sterner opposition and will need to up their game considerably.

Overall they will be happy with their play, especially in defence where they gave the Galtee forwards very little latitude, with Conor Neville and Emmet Butler in fine form.

The forwards as a unit were always in command and in Tommy O’Connor, Liam Freaney and Senan Butler they had the upper hand throughout.

Scorers: Kilsheelan Kilcash: Tommy O’Connor (0-13, 12 frees), Liam Freaney (1-2), Jack Norris (0-1), Emmet Butler (0-1), Senan Butler (0-1), Michael Bates (0-1).

Galtee Rovers: Robbie McGrath (0-4 frees), Bill Quirke (0-2 frees).

Kilsheelan Kilcash: Oisin O’Donoghue, Jack Norris, Conor Neville, Billy O’Gorman, Tadhg Maguire, Emmet Butler (captain), Ewan Rumble, Jack O’Donoghue, Tommy O’Connor, Eoin Barry, Liam Freaney, Senan Butler, Michael Ryan, Mikey Maguire, Michael Bates.

Subs: Reuben Darcy for Tadhg McGuire (38), Cian Roche for Michael Ryan (46), Luke Keyes for Senan Butler (56).

Galtee Rovers: Conal Grogan, Cian O’Dwyer, Sean Gubbins (captain), Tadhg Gubbins, Liam Finnane, Evan Kennedy, Emmet Bonner, Dermot McCarthy, Robbie McGrath, Joe O’Callaghan, Bill Quirke, Callum McCarthy, Jack Crowe, Eoghan Byrnes, Robert Moloney.

Subs: Josh O’Dwyer for Robert Moloney (39), Jack Magner for Callum McCarthy (56), Ciaran McCarthy for Cian O’Dwyer (56), LT Roche for Joe O’Callaghan (59), Ger Quinn for Jack Crowe (60).

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Referee: Declan Hickey (Skeheenarinky).