Lazarus like Kiladangan perform incredible late escape act to snatch draw with Clonoulty

FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Championship - Group 4 - Round 1

Clonoulty Rossmore 4-20

Kiladangan 4-20

The scoring feats in Borris-Ileigh were hard to believe by full time in the second of the senior doubleheader last Saturday, after reigning champions, Kiladangan came from the death to draw with Clonoulty Rossmore through a last-gasp Darren Moran goal deep in added time.

It was a scarcely believable rally from the county champions who looked dead and buried after 52 minutes when Clonoulty Rossmore hit their fourth goal through Danny Slattery and went into a commanding 4-19 to 2-16 lead.

But a combination of complacency from Clonoulty Rossmore and champion mettle from Kiladangan led to the North champions picking away at the deficit in the final ten minutes and they had a way back in the first minute of the four minutes of added time when Billy Seymour buried a 21 yard free to bring the game back to four points.

Even at that, it looked like the revival had come too late for Kiladangan but the clock ticked on. They had it back to a three-point game after a David Sweeney strike a minute later and, somehow, they managed to force a goal chance in the 63rd minute when a long ball dropped into the 21; Paul Flynn found possession to go for goal and despite a smart save from Jason O’Dwyer, substitute Darren Moran reacted to the break to double the ball to the back of the net. 

An incredible late smash-and-grab draw for the county champions.

Clonoulty will be desperately disappointed with the final result having put themselves into such a strong position with less than ten minutes of normal time left in the game, and had they held out they would have been full value for the win after a terrific performance; especially allowing for the two-month break from competitive action.

Kiladangan had the lead at half-time thanks largely to two first-half goals from Bryan McLoughney and Paul Flynn respectively, but Clonoulty had a response for each of those setbacks, and with five of their six forwards on target, they were well in contention at the break trailing by 2-8 to 0-13.

They started the second half strongly to take the lead with a quickfire 1-3 inside five minutes, with the goal coming from Cathal Bourke after Roberty Doyle set him up smartly, and Bourke was in flying form in that time with himself and Danny Slattery getting points along with a Stephen Ferncombe free. Clonoulty in the lead at 1-16 to 2-8.

However, Kiladangan hit a dominating spell after that and notched six points in as many minutes with Paul Flynn, Andy Loughnane, Shane Gleeson, Willie Connors, and Billy Seynour (2) all on target as they re-establish their lead by a single point after 42 minutes of play.

That lead would evaporate quickly in the following ten minutes though as Clonoulty Rossmore went on a scarcely believable scoring spree up to the 52nd minute starting with a class bit of link-up play between Jack Ryan and Stephen Ferncombe which allowed the latter to bury to the back of the net in the 45th minute.

Indeed, two more goals would follow in the 50th and 52nd minute when Robert Doyle reacted fastest to a John O’Keeffe shot for a point that rebounded off the post - Doyle lashing home from close range - and a brilliantly finished Danny Slattery effort to the top corner which was fed to him after a strong run down the middle from the aforementioned John O’Keeffe. 

A scarcely believable turn of events and it looked to all and sundry that the result was only going one way with limited time in reserve.

Kiladangan showed their champion mettle in the remainder and after showing it in the North final win over Toomevara a fortnight previous, they always believed they could get back into and they managed to do just that and snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.

Clonoulty Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer; Tommy Ryan, Ronan Heffernan, Donnchadh Quirke; Sean O’Connor, Enda Heffernan, John O’Keeffe; Nathan Slattery (0-1), Michael Ryan (W) (0-1); Danny Slattery (1-3), Stephen Ferncombe (1-9, 0-7f), Jack Ryan (0-1); Cathal Bourke (1-4), Tom Butler, Robert Doyle (1-1).

Subs used: Stephen Quinn for Butler (45); Jimmy Maher for Doyle (blood sub, 53).

Kiladangan: Barry Hogan; Fergal Hayes, James Quigley, David Sweeney (0-1); Willie Connors (0-1), Alan Flynn, Joe Gallagher; Decky McGrath, Tadhg Gallagher; Shane Gleeson (0-2), Billy Seymour (1-10, 1-5f, 0-1 65), Paul Flynn (1-2); Bryan McLoughney (1-1), Andy Loughnane (0-2), Conor Byrne (0-1).

Subs used: Darren Moran (1-0) for McLoughney (52); John O’Meara for Gleeson (56).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle)