One-point victory secures Tipperary County Hurling League Division 4 title for Clonoulty/Rossmore

Clonoulty/Rossmore 0-19 Kiladangan 1-15

Clonoulty/Rossmore are County Hurling League Division 4 champions following their one-point victory over Kiladangan at Templederry last Thursday evening.

In a game played in ideal conditions on a fast, hard surface, with a slight wind blowing towards the dressing room end, it took a Paudie White point three minutes into injury time to secure the James Holohan Cup.

A Shane Gleeson goal for the north men, with three minutes of normal time remaining, had tied up the game and extra-time looked a possibility until White’s late strike edged the west men over the line.

From the start, Clonoulty/ Rossmore dictated the terms of engagement, as these sides (both clubs’ second teams) served up an honest game of hurling, which made it easy for referee Ciaran O’Donovan.

They led at the break by the minimum, 0-7 to 0-6, but in truth could have been much further ahead, as they hit fourteen wides during the opening period, with at least half that amount very scoreable.

Their best period on the scoreboard came in a five- minute spell in the third quarter, when they hit four unanswered points, to go four up. With three minutes of normal time remaining they were still three to the good, but a Shane Gleeson individual goal ensured a nail- biting finish.

The west men were first out of the traps and their top scorer Paudie White got the scoreboard ticking over with a converted free after two minutes. James Hammersley doubled their advantage before Conor Culhane pulled one back. Sean Ryan (Raymond) restored the two- point advantage, but two points from Neil Cahalan and Conor Byrne tied the game for the first time with ten minutes on the clock.

Paddy Kennedy and Neil Cahalan exchanged points before Johnny Horan, from out the field, gave Kiladangan a one-point lead for the only time in the game. Paudie White tied the game for the second time from a placed ball, Cathal Ryan (Raymond) hit one from open play and another converted free from White gave Clonoulty a two- point cushion with three minutes remaining before the break.

Shane Gleeson had the last say of this entertaining opening half when he put over from a placed ball just before the break, leaving the score Clonoulty Rossmore 0-7, Kiladangan 0-6. Both sides had been guilty of very wayward shooting during this opening period, with Clonoulty hitting fourteen wides to Kiladangan’s seven.

After the break Conor Byrne hit his second point of the evening to tie the game for a third time. Paudie White edged Clonoulty ahead from open play but Shane Gleeson replied from a placed ball on six minutes.

The next six minutes were to prove invaluable to Clonoulty. They upped their game, with Sean Ryan (Raymond) and particularly Nathan Slattery coming into their own at midfield. Slattery got on a huge amount of ball while Aidan White and Paddy Kennedy continued to run at the defence.

Slattery put over his first point on seven minutes, James Hammersley hit his second following good work by Kennedy while Sean Ryan (Raymond) converted a fifty metre free. During this period Eoin Meagher pulled off a good save in the Kiladangan goal. Aidan White put over from out near the sideline to put them four up with twelve minutes on the clock.

Shane Gleeson hit his third free of the evening to quell Clonoulty’s momentum, but Nathan Slattery restored the four-point advantage from the puckout. Kiladangan moved Johnny Horan to midfield in an attempt to break the Clonoulty hold around the middle third. Horan hit his second from the halfway line, but Clonoulty were quick to respond when Sean O’Connor came upfield and hit a good score under pressure.

The game continued to flow from end to end. Ruairi Gleeson got his first score, but points from the White brothers, Paudie and Aidan, gave the west men a five-point cushion with ten minutes remaining. Shane Gleeson, from a free, and Sean (Ryan Raymond) from open play traded points as the game increased in intensity.

Kiladangan came storming back, as Johnny Horan put over his third point and Ruairi Gleeson cut the deficit to three points with five minutes remaining.

Then a long, high delivery into the Clonoulty goalmouth found Shane Gleeson on the edge of the square, and he turned his marker and kicked the only goal of the game.

It was now all square and all to play for with three minutes of normal time remaining. Paudie White eased the west men ahead from a placed ball. Two minutes into injury time Shane Gleeson tied the game for the sixth time from a close-range free.

With extra time looming, Clonoulty were awarded a free from their backline. Goalkeeper David Egan found Paudie White, who split the posts from the halfway line to ensure victory by the minimum.

Both teams will be happy enough with their performances as they head towards their respective divisional championships in the coming weeks.

After the game, County Chairman Joe Kennedy presented the James Holohan Cup to the victorious Clonoulty/Rossmore captain Paddy Ryan.

Scorers: Clonoulty/Rossmore: Paudie White (0-7, 5 frees), Sean Ryan (Raymond) (0-3, 1 free), Nathan Slattery (0-2), Aidan White (0-2), James Hammersley (0-2), Cathal Ryan (Raymond) (0-1), Paddy Kennedy (0-1), Sean O’Connor (0-1).

Kiladangan: Shane Gleeson (1-5, 5 frees), Johnny Horan (0-3), Ruairi Gleeson (0-2), Conor Byrne (0-2), Neil Cahalan (0-2), Conor Culhane (0-1).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: David Egan, Padraig Carew, James Heffernan, Aidan Loughman, Sean O’Connor, Donnchadh Quirke, Paddy Ryan (captain), Sean Ryan (Raymond), Nathan Slattery, Paddy Kennedy, Paudie White, Aidan White, James Hammersley, Padraig Heffernan, Cathal Ryan (Raymond).

Sub: Odhran Quirke for Cathal Ryan (Raymond) (50 mins).

Kiladangan: Eoin Meagher, John O’Meara, Shane Seymour, Paddy Gallagher, Ronan Ducie, Johnny Horan, Darragh Ryan, Darren Moran, Conor Byrne, Shane Gleeson, Ruairi Gleeson, Neil Cahalan, Conor Culhane, Eoghan Sharkey, Aidan Ryan.

Subs: Jim Minehan for Darren Moran (48 mins), Fergal Hayes for Ronan Ducie (50 mins), Darren Ryan for Conor Byrne (54 mins).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess).