Kilsheelan/Kilcash add Under 19 crown to roll of honour in south Tipperary

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 1-12 St Patrick's 2-5

Kilsheelan/Kilcash withstood a spirited fightback from St Patrick’s to hold on for victory in the Hall Alarms South Tipperary Under 19 B Football Championship final at Fethard Town Park on Thursday night, winning by four points.

The all-weather pitch allowed both teams to display their skills on another wet night and it proved to be a highly entertaining clash.

Kilsheelan/Kilcash looked to be heading for a comfortable victory when they led by 0-6 to 0-1 after eleven minutes, hitting the first five points without reply, but St Patrick’s stunned them with two fisted goals in the space of three minutes to lead 2-1 to 0-6.

The sides were tied at the break, 2-2 to 0-8, but Kilsheelan regained control in the second half, helped by a Matthew Roche Nagle goal two minutes in, while it took the Drangan-Cloneen side 24 minutes to register their first second half score.

But that kick-started a revival and it was all St Patrick’s pressure in the closing stages. However, despite laying siege to the Kilsheelan goal, they just couldn’t get the scores.

Kilsheelan have three South Tipp Minor B titles, won in 2010, 2014 and 2016, and have now added the new Under 19 grade to their roll of honour.

It started brightly for them at Fethard Town Park when Micheal Freaney pointed a free after thirty seconds following a foul on Senan Butler.

Eoin Barry extended the lead after taking a pass from the outstanding Tommy O’Connor and by the fifth minute they were five up, with Mikey McGuire punishing a loose St Patrick’s clearance.

When Liam Freaney and Lucas Shiel added two more points in the space of thirty seconds, it was beginning to look bleak for St Patrick’s. They were playing good football, with Finn Madigan and Daithi Hogan looking particularly lively, but without making any inroads.

Then somewhat against the run of play, things changed. Madigan was fouled for a free, taken by Hogan. It didn’t have the legs to get over the bar but before Kilsheelan goalkeeper Oisin O’Donoghue manged to collect the ball, Conor Brett ghosted in to fist the ball to the net.

Kilsheelan/Kilcash almost hit back immediately, with Mikey McGuire just wide with a low shot – Kilsheelan failed to convert at least four good goal chances in the first half – but play swung again to the other end and Sean Nash was first to react to a crossfield ball and O’Donoghue was beaten by a fisted effort again.

The goals energised St Patrick’s players and supporters. Yet, Kilsheelan hit back strongly, with Liam Freaney pointing a free after a high tackle on Micheal Freaney, and then a Tommy O’Connor point that came after a flowing move the length of the field, to put them one point ahead.

However, it was level pegging at the break, with Finn Madigan setting up Willie Cleere for the equaliser.

Both sides were also guilty of missed chances on a difficult night for football, with constant heavy rain falling.

Kilsheelan regained the lead two minutes into the second half with a crucial score, Matthew Roche Nagle shooting low and hard to the corner of Brian O’Halloran’s net after taking a pass from Micheal Freaney.

They remained on the offensive but scoring dried up on both sides for the next thirteen minutes, Kilsheelan with the better chances but failing to take them.

Their second score of the half didn’t come until the 15th minute from a Tommy O’Connor free after Senan Butler had been held back. Liam Freaney then kicked a lovely point a minute later to put his side 1-10 to 2-2 ahead.

Soon after Kilsheelan/Kilcash lost the Roche Nagle brothers in different circumstances. Goalscorer Matthew was fouled while taking a shot. Tommy O’Connor pointed the free but Roche Nagle was unable to continue and was replaced by Tadhg McGuire. Then a minute later brother Harry was sent off on a second yellow card to leave the side finishing the game with fourteen players.

St Patrick’s had to wait until the 24h minute for their first score of the half, with a point from Robbie Noonan. And even though Liam Freaney cancelled that out with a point soon afterwards, St Patrick’s realised that the game was still there to be won, even though they were six points behind.

It was backs to the wall for Kilsheelan in the last five minutes of normal time, and at least four minutes added on, as St Patrick’s laid siege to their goal.

Points from a Daithi Hogan free and a second from Robbie Noonan narrowed the gap to four but they couldn’t find a way through for a vital goal.

Kilsheelan/Kilcash celebrated in style after a deserved win, with fine performances from Oisin Lavin and Harry Roche Nagle in defence, with Tommy O’Connor, Liam and Micheal Freaney, Senan Butler, Mikey McGuire and Eoin Barry the threats in attack.

St Patrick’s put in a battling performance, with Conor Brett and Sean Nash very alert to take their goals. Finn Madigan and Daithi Hogan always took on the defence with direct runs, with Robbie Noonan and Willie Cleere also impressing.

Kilsheelan/Kilcash: Oisin O’Donoghue, Harry Roche Nagle, Jack Norris, Billy O’Gorman, Lucas Shiel 0-1; Oisin Lavin, Aaron Costin, Michael Freaney 0-1 free; Matthew Roche Nagle 1-0; Senan Butler, Tommy O’Connor 0-4, 2 frees; Liam Freaney 0-4, 1 free; John Brunnock, Mikey McGuire 0-1; Eoin Barry 0-1.

Subs: Mark Ryan for Billy O’Gorman, Ruairi Kelly for Mikey McGuire, Tadhg McGuire for Matthew Roche Nagle, Jack Landy for Eoin Barry.

St Patrick’s: Brian O’Halloran, Pat Moroney, Bill Cuddihy, Evan Holohan, Eoin Fitzgerald, Jack Cleere, Sean Nash 1-0; Robbie Noonan 0-2; William Cleere 0-2; Oran Gahan, Finn Madigan, Danny Broderick, Charlie Noonan, Daithi Hogan 0-1 free; Conor Brett 1-0.

Subs: Eoin Morrissey for Eoin Fitzgerald, Sean Fitzgerald for Conor Brett, Cormac Duggan for Charlie Noonan.

Referee: Keith Delahunty (Moyle Rovers).