Comprehensive win for Killenaule in south Tipperary Under 21 B Hurling final

Killenaule 0-18 Knockmealdown Gaels 0-9

The early stages of Saturday’s Pat Cleere South Tipperary Under 21 B Hurling Championship final at the Duneske Centre in Cahir were close, until the last 10 minutes of the first half when Killenaule got into their stride, scoring four points without reply to go in at the short whistle 0-9 to 0-5 ahead.

This trend continued in the second half, with Killenaule’s Ciaran O’Dwyer, the game’s standout player, growing into the game, in particular with two great points from line balls in the second half.

He was ably assisted by Darragh Fitzgerald, Luke Ryan and Johnny Gleeson.

For a gallant Knockmealdown Gaels, Darragh Brennan scored eight of their nine points and excelled. He received good support from Christopher English but on the day they were well beaten by a big, strong Killenaule outfit.

Killenaule had the first point from play by Mark Stakelum. The Gaels then dominated the play with three points on the trot, two frees by Darragh Brennan and one from play by Cathal English.

Killenaule immediately bounced into the game, scoring three points in five minutes, two from play by Darragh Fitzgerald and one from a long-range free by Ciaran O’Dwyer, with Darragh Brennan scoring from a free to draw the sides level.

We then had an exchange of points; for Killenaule from a free by Ciaran O’Dwyer, and for Gaels an excellent point from play by Darragh Brennan, who was set up by Oisin Ryan.

The next four points were all from play for Killenaule, two from Darragh Fitzgerald and one each by Oisin Shelley and Fionn Fitzgerald on the stroke of half-time, leaving the score Killenaule 0-9 Knockmealdown Gaels 0-5.

Killenaule were first off the mark in the second half when Padraig O’Dwyer set up Johnny Gleeson for a point from the centre of the field. Within a minute Gaels were awarded a free that Darragh Brennan duly scored.

In the 36th minute there was another exchange of points, for Killenaule from play by Darragh Fitzgerald and for Gaels a 30 metre free scored by Darragh Brennan, leaving the score Killenaule 0-12 Gaels 0-7.

Killenaule continued to dominate the game, with substitute Nathan Barrett proving an effective replacement. They had four points in a row, two line balls from Ciaran O’Dwyer and from play points from Nathan Barrett and Johnny Gleeson, leaving the score at the three-quarter stage Killenaule 0-16 Gaels 0-7.

In the closing stages Killenaule had two points from frees, one each from Darragh Fitzgerald and Ciaran O’Dwyer, while Darragh Brennan responded with two converted frees for Knockmealdown Gaels.

Killenaule: David McCormack, Cian Johnson, Sean Hassett, Daire O’Connell, Padraig O’Dwyer, Ciaran O’Dwyer 0-5 (3 frees, 2 sidelines), Felix Quinn, Luke Ryan 0-1, Johnny Gleeson 0-2, Fionn Fitzgerald 0-1, Darragh Fitzgerald 0-5 (1 free), Matthew Gleeson, Mark Stakelum 0-1, Aaron Ryan (captain), Oisin Shelly 0-1.

Subs: Nathan Barrett 0-2 for Mathew Gleeson (36 minutes), David Hayes for Johnny Gleeson (55 minutes), Sean Ivors for Fionn Fitzgerald (55 minutes), Seamus Healy for Oisin Shelly (60 minutes).

Knockmealdown Gaels: Paul Murphy, Cathal O’Gorman, Christopher English, Christy O’Donnell, Cian O’Brien, Colman Flynn, Alistair Spencer, Cathal English 0-1, Roibeard Maher, Evan Hickey, Darragh Brennan 0-8 (7 frees), Charles English, Oisin Ryan, Dean Finn, Sean Morrissey.

Subs: Dylan Morrissey for Sean Morrissey (40 minutes), Killian Hackett (40 minutes), Robert O’Brien for Evan Hickey (50 minutes), Eoghan O’Dwyer for Cathal O’Gorman (63 minutes), Evan Hyland for Oisin Ryan (63 minutes).

Referee: Philly Keane (St Patrick’s).