Sarsfields and Kiladangan must do it all again after another drawn senior hurling final in Tipperary

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What is it about Tipperary county finals and drawn games? For the third season in succession, the deciding match goes to a replay. In fact, if you include the extra time played in Covid year, 2020, this is the fourth season for the county showpiece to finish level in regulation time.

In truth it was a very cagey, even subdued contest for much of the game. That often happens with two closely-matched teams negating each other and going point-for-point.

Astonishingly, the teams were level on 14 occasions in the hour, though Kiladangan only led very briefly in each half. Mostly they were playing catch-up against a Sarsfields side that had a slight edge but lacked that ruthless streak to lock-out the game.

The teams were level on seven occasions in the first half. Both defences looked secure, the goalies under-employed, apart from puckouts.

Kiladangan, in their all-black strip, had a healthy spread of scorers with eight different players getting on the scoresheet in that half. The figure for Sarsfields was six with Aidan McCormack on song with the frees, hitting four, and Stephen Cahill chipping in with two.

The best goal chance fell to Sarsfields midway through the half when Eoin Purcell got free in the left corner but his handpass across goal failed to find the unmarked Paddy Creedon, the ball bobbing harmlessly wide.

Midway though the first half Sarsfields had slipped three-up and there was a reprise in the second period. When Stephen Cahill hit his third point in the 43rd minute his side was again three-up. However, Kiladangan found the necessary reaction once more.

This time it was in the shape of the game’s only goal – and it was a quality item. Declan McGrath drove forward before laying off to Sean Hayes, who then carried on the defence-splitting move. Hayes found Paul Flynn, who beat Patrick McCormack with a well-struck finish. The goalie will be disappointed with one that went under his body.

That score levelled the match once more and sparked the liveliest phase of play. Sarsfields eventually went back into a two-point lead with a Seanie Butler minor. Back hit Kiladangan with points from Paul Flynn and another Seymour free to level matters once again.

It was point-for-point now in the final moments. Conor Stakelum had Sarsfields ahead before a superb Seymour point from play evened matters once more. An Aidan McCormack ‘65’ restored advantage before Willie Connors from over ninety metres out hit a mighty leveller.

SARSFIELDS SHOWED A LACK OF KILLER INSTINCT

There were some late half-chances for Darragh Stakelum and Eoin Purcell, but in the tension of the moment they seemed reluctant to pull the trigger. That killer instinct is still something Sarsfields need to develop.

I thought the “Blues” were marginally the better side on Sunday but just couldn’t put the game away. Ronan Maher was again outstanding, sitting deep in front of the full back line and on more possession than anyone else. If he could only develop accuracy from distance, he’d be even more incredible.

Their defence generally held up well, with Denis Maher strong at full and Paul Maher noticeable in the right corner. Midfield was even while in attack both Darragh Stakelum and Stephen Cahill continued recent form, contributing three points apiece. Paddy Creedon too, in his first start in recent games, made an impact, hitting 0-3, while Aidan McCormack accounted for 0-11, 0-2 from open play.

The Kiladangan defence made it a stress-free day for Barry Hogan in goal. Like Sarsfields they can score from distance, with both Joe Gallagher and Declan McGrath on the scoresheet this time from half back.

Billy Seymour was superb on the frees but was less influential this time in general play. Paul Flynn was their lead attacker, hitting 1-3, including some excellent points. I thought Sean Hayes was very dangerous too despite the fact that he seems to be always earmarked for substitution.

The intermediate decider produced a comprehensive result, as Boherlahan took the honours against 13-man Golden. A tight first half gave way to an emphatic outcome in the end as the mid side’s more balanced team proved too strong for the west.

Boherlahan got an ideal start when Darragh Hickey showed all his experience to nip in for an opening goal after just five minutes. However, by the end of the initial quarter Jack Leamy had Golden ahead, 0-6 to 1-2, at which stage the west side was having the better of it.

GOALS WERE INVALUABLE FOR BOHERLAHAN

This was Golden’s purple patch when Boherlahan were struggling to get traction in the game. The eventual winners looked ponderous at this stage, slow to get direct ball into attack. Since when did fast, route-one ball into the forwards become unfashionable.

However, the old cliché about goals winning matches comes into play as Boherlahan plundered a second major twenty minutes into the action. Tossy Ryan converted a penalty after the referee failed to allow advantage initially when John Hayes was fouled and Tossy goaled in the follow-up. Daithí Bargary was booked for the foul, something that would have consequences later.

Boherlahan led by three at the interval, 2-6 to 0-9. They had recovered well after a poor spell midway through the half in a game that still seemed finely balanced.

However, seven minutes after the restart, with Boherlahan four-up, Golden lost corner back Daithí Bargary to a second yellow card following a high tackle on Seamie Leahy. Ironically, if the referee had allowed advantage on Boherlahan’s second goal it’s quite possible the Golden man would have escaped that first yellow.

Would it have changed the outcome? It’s unlikely. Boherlahan had that bit more forward power, where Tossy Ryan was outstanding from play and frees. By contrast Golden relied almost exclusively on Jack Leamy, who hit all bar one of their 15 points, the other coming from midfielder Seanie O’Halloran.

Two minutes from the end Golden lost a second plyer with the dismissal of Cian Ryan. By then, however, the game was effectively over. David Clarke polished off the win with Boherlahan’s third goal deep into injury time.

It’s a sweet one for Boherlahan, who got an injection of new players this year and stepped up considerably from previous seasons. They were consistent throughout the series, topping a very strong group and pushing on in the knockouts. I thought their semi-final win over Moneygall was a major statement, showing great heart in very challenging circumstances.

By any reckoning it’s progress for a club that suffered the heartbreak of dropping to junior level in 2017 before rebounding the following season. Now they’ve stepped up another notch with a platform to build from.

On different days you could pick out different contributions of merit, from goalie, Darragh Lacey, to corner forward, Darragh Hickey.

Tossy Ryan was the individual star on Sunday, scoring 1-11, including five points from play, and winning the man-of-the-match accolade. It was an exceptional display. Colm O’Dwyer too had an important input with a brace of points, similar to Seamie Leahy. The experience of a player like Darragh Hickey in such a young team cannot be overstated either.

Premier intermediate will present its own challenges next year but for the moment the team can bask in the achievement of the club’s second-ever intermediate title, following that of 1981. With happy timing it came on the same day the heroes of 1996 were honoured.

P.S. A shout-out for Rockwell Rovers, who suffered the disappointment of relegation recently but are energetically fundraising with a car raffle. Visit WinaVWID4.ie and take a punt.