Kiladangan get the better of Toomevara in Tipperary County Hurling League Division 1 final

Kiladangan 2-17 Toomevara 1-16

Kiladangan got an ideal pre-championship boost with a victory over Toomevara in the FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling League Division 1 final at FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday, a win that was more comprehensive than the four points margin suggests.

Two first half goals gave Kiladangan control of the game and Toome’s goal did not come until well into injury time.

However, a  46th minute incident, when Mark McCarthy had the ball in the Kiladangan net, only to discover that referee Joe Leahy had blown to award him a free, might have changed the complexion of things, as Toome were trailing by 0-12 to 2-11 at the time. They did get a point from the free but had the goal stood it might have been a platform for The Greyhounds to stage a last quarter rally.

That said, Kiladangan, despite the absence of five regulars, looked the smarter outfit, and were never headed in a contest that lacked championship intensity. A number of Saturday’s team figured in their second team, which narrowly lost the division four final to Clonoulty/Rossmore a few days earlier, so obviously the club’s hurling championship preparations are going well and they will look forward to the county and divisional championships with confidence.

Kiladangan set down a marker as early as the third minute when Willie Connors set up Eoghan Sharkey for their first goal.  Billy Seymour was looking sharp, hitting four points. Eoghan Sharkey was causing Toome problems, and they were moving well and with an assuredness that suggested that they felt the trophy was theirs. 

Toome were relying on the McCarthys, Mark and Kevin, to keep them in touch and David Nolan’s 28th minute point left them just a goal behind (0-8 to 1-8) after 27 minutes. However, they were dealt a match-deciding blow when a defensive error presented Neil Cahalan with the opportunity to shoot Kiladangan’s second goal. 

A 2-9 to 0-8 interval lead was a fair reflection of the first half play, but Toome resumed briskly with points from Darragh McCarthy and Mark McCarthy inside three minutes. Although Mark McCarthy chipped in with another brace before the end of the third quarter, the scores were not coming quickly enough to panic a Kiladangan side that appeared to have dropped their concentration levels.

Then two goal chances went astray for Toome, who were 2-11 to 0-12 behind. Firstly, Mark McCarthy was awarded a free but had finished the ball to the net in the 46th minute, and secondly, in the 47th minute, when Kiladangan goalie Liam Hayes saved well from Jack Delaney.

What impact a Toomevara goal would have had at that stage is anybody’s guess but those were crucial opportunities and, having survived, Kiladangan regained control, outpointing their rivals six to two for a 2-17 to 0-16 lead as the game went into injury time.

Mark McCarthy’s 61st minute goal raised Toome hopes but Kiladangan saw out the remaining minutes in comfort to claim their first silverware of the season.

It was a welcome win for Kiladangan but by no means a vintage performance, and it leaves lots of room for improvement before the serious business of the year commences. They will be in everybody’s shortlist for Dan Breen honours and the league has afforded some fringe players the opportunity to stake a claim for a regular starting berth.

Billy Seymour and Eoghan Sharkey looked sharp in attack but David Sweeney’s  grafting in defence headed off a lot of trouble. Joe Gallagher, Willie Connors and Decky McGrath were also prominent.

Toome have some work to do to mount a serious championship challenge but will take encouragement from a good league campaign. They too were short some regulars who will strengthen their challenge later on but it was the McCarthys, Kevin, Josh and Mark, who led by example with Jack Delaney, Jack Ryan and Liam Ryan also to the fore.

Kiladangan: Liam Hayes; Fergal Hayes, James Quigley, David Sweeney; Johnny Horan, Joe Gallagher, David Moran ; Alan Flynn, Decky McGrath (0-1); Paul Flynn, Billy Seymour (0-7, 4 frees), Shane Gleeson (0-2); Neil Cahalan (1-1), Eoghan Sharkey (1-1), Willie Connors (0-2).

Subs: Sean Hayes (0-1) for Horan; Conor Byrne (0-1) for Cahalan, Tadhg Gallagher (0-1) for Gleeson.

Toomevara: Rory Brislane; Liam Ryan, Andrew Ryan, Seamus O'Farrell; Jake Ryan, Josh McCarthy, Jack Ryan; Darren Delaney (0-1), Eoin Grace; Jack Delaney (0-2), Kevin McCarthy (0-3,1 free), Adam Hall; Mark McCarthy (1-8, 0-7 frees), Shane Nolan, David Nolan (0-1).

Subs: Robbie Quirke for Grace and Darragh McCarthy (0-1) for S Nolan (half-time), Joey McLoughney for Hall (40 mins), Conor O'Meara for D Nolan (50 mins), Conor O'Farrell for S O'Farrell (55 mins).

Referee: Joe Leahy, Moyne/Templetuohy.