Kiladangan make it back-to-back North Junior A titles with defeat of Nenagh Éire Óg

Watch Centre North Junior A Hurling Championship Final

Kiladangan 1-17 

Nenagh Éire Óg 2-10

By James Hayden  

Kiladangan secured back-to-back North Junior ‘A’ hurling titles with a powerful victory over a disappointing Nenagh Éire Óg side at a showery MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan, on Saturday afternoon last.

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Having annexed the Michael Cahill Memorial cup twelve months previously in what proved a thrilling extra-time win over Toomevara,  on this occasion the reigning champions proved the better side throughout, despite gifting Nenagh Éire Óg a route back into proceedings with two second-half goals, both of which came as a result of avoidable defensive errors.

Nenagh Éire Óg were gunning for their eleventh North title at this grade and hoping to bridge a four-year gap since their last victory in 2021. The ‘Blues’ came into the clash as deserving favourites having already defeated Kiladangan in the Junior ‘A’ league and also edged out the Joe Keane-managed side in the championship group stages.

However, on this occasion, it was Nenagh Éire Óg who played second fiddle to a determined ‘Dangan side, and despite a bright start, they struggled to reach the pitch of the game in the opening half, bagging just one point from play as a well-drilled Kiladangan defence snaffled out every attack with a mixture of guile and determination.

Playing with the aid of a diagonal breeze blowing into the dressing room end, Kiladangan were slow to settle with two early Shane Gleeson frees failing to bisect the uprights. Nenagh, on the other hand, seized the early initiative with a trio of Niall Madden frees, the first from close to the stand side in the third minute, with the second and third coming in the 11th and 13th minutes respectively. 

Kiladangan opened their account with a James O’Meara effort from close range before the men in blue and gold were dealt a major blow after centre-forward Ruairi Gleeson was forced to leave the field after landing awkwardly while plucking an Eoin Meagher puck-out from the skies.

Despite the loss, Kiladangan motored on with Shane Gleeson almost first-timing the sliotar to the back of the Nenagh net mid-way through the half. Gleeson stepped up to convert the resulting 65’ before Stephen Mulvihill surged up from corner-back to land a booming 16th-minute effort.

Jamie Cottrell edged Alan Kelly’s charges back into the lead with a fine strike from play before Kiladangan responded with a well-struck Shane Gleeson free. Niall Madden and Shane Gleeson both added another free to their respective tallies before a well-worked Jos Slattery point edged Kiladangan into the lead for the first time on 24 minutes. 

Kiladangan were dominating at this stage and kept the scoreboard ticking with a Johnny McGrath point from range before James O’Meara broke clean through on the Nenagh goal, but his kicked effort skewed off the side of his right boot in what proved a fortuitous let-off for Nenagh.

With the interval approaching and the breeze starting to abate somewhat, Kiladangan captain, Darren Moran, rose highest to fetch Eoin Meagher’s searching puckout before finding Johnny Horan in space. 

Horan arrowed over a sublime effort to fire Kiladangan three clear before turning provider right on the stroke of half-time. The Kiladangan midfielder found DJ McGrath in space and he expertly fed in Darren Moran on his shoulder for a cracking goal, 1-8 to 0-5.

Credit to Nenagh, they responded well with Niall Madden firing over his fifth free of the half from a difficult angle before a late Ronan Ducie point deep in time added on ensured the reigning champions took a deserved six-point lead to the dressing room, 1-9 to 0-6.

Kiladangan picked up where they left off for the start of the second half with a deftly-struck Shane Gleeson free, but Nenagh retorted with efforts from Niall Madden (free) and Jamie Cottrell before Shane Gleeson snapped Jos Slattery’s delivery and netted with aplomb, only to see his goal cancelled out for a square ball.

Éire Óg responded with a goal of their own after corner-forward, Stephen Hallinan, rattled the back of the Kiladangan net in the 38th minute following a bit of dilly-dallying in the Kiladangan defence. 

Shane Gleeson responded with a 21-yard free before Nenagh were handed a real lifeline when Matthew Cleary’s attempted short ball was intercepted, and Jamie Cottrell provided the finishing strike on 41 minutes to fire Nenagh Éire Óg right back into contention, 2-8 to 1-11.

Aodhán O’Connor edged Nenagh into the lead two minutes later, but two Shane Gleeson frees on the bounce restored Kiladangan’s lead before Niall Madden (free) brought Nenagh up sides again.

A heavy 50th minute shower made for slippy underfoot conditions before the momentum swung back in favour of the ‘Dangan with Shane Gleeson arrowing over a scintillating 54th minute effort from a really tight angle close to the stand sideline. 

Substitute, Paul Seymour, then first-timed the sliotar over the bar to put three between the sides before Kiladangan were reduced to fourteen after Bill Cleary was dismissed following an altercation on the ground with Cian Connolly. Two minutes later, Nenagh Éire Óg were also down to fourteen after Cian Connolly caught Shane Gleeson high with a mis-timed shoulder right on the stand sideline.

Gleeson stepped up to arrow over the insurance point for the ‘Dangan before a dangerous last-gasp Mark Tuite delivery straight into the edge of the Kiladangan square was well dealt with by Eoin Meagher to ensure a well-deserved Kildangan victory.  

Kiladangan were arguably the better side throughout, with Matthew Cleary, Shane Seymour, Stephen Mulvihill, Johnny McGrath, Johnny Horan, Darren Moran, Shane Gleeson, and Diarmuid Fogarty catching the eye while Jamie Cottrell, Niall Madden, Mark Tuite, Mark O’Farrel,l and Conor McCarthy were to the fore for Nenagh Éire Óg.

Kiladangan: Eoin Meagher; Stephen Mulvihill (0-1) Shane Seymour, Diarmuid Fogarty; Darragh Ryan, Matthew Cleary, Ronan Ducie (0-1); Johnny McGrath (0-1), Johnny Horan (0-1); Darren Moran (1-0), Ruairi Gleeson, James O’Meara (0-1); Eoghan Sharkey, Shane Gleeson (0-10, 0-8f, 0-1 65’), Jos Slattery (0-1).

Subs used: DJ McGrath for Gleeson (13); Bill Cleary for O’Meara (36); Paul Seymour (0-1) for Slattery (41); Gavin McGrath for Ryan (59).

Nenagh Éire Óg: Mark Tuite; Keelan Rice, Conor McCarthy, Gavin Dooley; Tom Kennedy, Cian Connolly, Mark O’Farrell; Conor Bonar, Emmet Jones; Zac Keller, Jamie Cottrell (1-2), Aodhán O’Connor (0-1); Niall Madden (0-7f), Filip McIntyre, Stephen Hallinan (1-0).

Subs used: Gary Howard for Jones (39); Darragh Walsh for Keller (39 mins); Brendan Long for Rice (55); Cian O’Farrell for Bonar (60).

Referee: Alan Graham (Roscrea)

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