Kiladangan finish strongest against Thurles Sarsfields to claim league final place

FBD Insurance County Hurling League - Division 1 Semi-Final

Kiladangan 3-24

Thurles Sarsfields 2-20

Kiladangan booked their place in this year's Division 1 County League final after a strong second half performance to get the better of Thurles Sarsfields in Toor Killinan yesterday evening.

Trailing by a point at half time by 1-13 to 1-12, second half goals from Eoghan Sharkey and Willie Connors ensured that the north outfit finished off Sarsfields with a bit to spare in the end running out seven point winners.

The first quarter of the game belonged to Thurles Sarsfields though, and by that time they had built up a 1-6 to 0-3 lead thanks to Cathal Moloney's goal in the 10th minute along with five points from Aidan McCormack and a Darragh Stakelum effort.

Kiladangan settled quickly from that slow start though and it was former county man Alan Flynn who hit the next two points before they were right back in the mix in the 20th minute when Willie Connors foud the back of the net to leave just one point between the teams.

And that was the status quo up to half time with Thurles' scores coming from Tommy Doyle, Stephen Cahill, Darragh Stakelum, and Aidan McCormack, while Shane Gleeson's frees kept Kiladangan in touch as the home side kept their noses in front at the break.

Sarsfields extended their lead after the break with the first three scores of the half coming from Henry Fogarty, Conor Lanigan, and an Eoin Purcell goal but Kiladangan took a firm grip of the game from then on to take the impetus away from their opponents.

Tadhg Gallagher and Aidan McCormack traded points around the 36th minute before Kiladangan hit the back of the net for the second time through Eoghan Sharkey a minute later, which was closely followed by points from Shane Gleeson (free) and Willie Connors to give leave just a single point between the sides at 2-16 to 2-15 in Sars' favour.

But the final quarter belonged to Kiladangan as they took control and outscored their opponents 1-9 to 0-5 with Paul Flynn, Alan Flynn and Shane Gleeson (frees) all finding the target and when Willie Connors bagged his second goal of the match in the 2nd minute, it was a lead that they wouldn't relinquish as they seen out the remainder with comfort.

They will now face the winners of the other semi-final between Toomevara and Upperchurch Drombane in the final, which is fixed to be played next Wednesday night in Drombane.

Scorers: Kiladangan: Shane Gleeson 0-13f, Willie Connors 2-1, Alan Flynn 0-4, Paul Flynn 0-3, Eoghan Sharkey 1-0, Decky McGrath, Johnny Horan, Tadhg Gallagher all 0-1.

Thurles Sarsfields: Aidan McCormack 0-11 (0-6f, 0-1'65), Cathal Moloney, Eoin Purcell 1-0 each, Darragh Stakelum, Tommy Doyle, Liam McCormack all 0-2 each, Henry Fogarty, Conor Lanigan, Stephen Cahill 0-1.

Kiladangan: Liam Hayes; Fergal Hayes, James Quigley, David Sweeney; Johnny Horan, Joe Gallagher, Darren Moran; Alan Flynn, Decky McGrath; Paul Flynn, Tadhg Gallagher, Shane Gleeson; Conor Byrne, Eoghan Sharkey, Willie Connors.

Subs: Dan O'Meara; Conor Culhane; Ronan Ducie; Neil Cahalan.

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack; Seosamh Ryan, Denis Maher, James Armstrong; Henry Fogarty, David Corbett, Jack Derby;.Cian Stakelum, Harry Fitzgibbon; Tommy Doyle, Cathal Moloney, Darragh Stakelum; Eoin Purcell, Conor Lanigan, Aidan McCormack.

Subs: Liam McCormack; Stephen Cahill; Jack Lanigan; Mossie McCormack; Michael Purcell.

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess)