Kilsheelan hold off Cahir's challenge in county senior football quarter-final in Tipperary

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 2-13 Cahir 1-14

Ideal conditions prevailed in Ardfinnan on Saturday last for the County Senior Football Championship quarter-final between Kilsheelan Kilcash and Cahir. Patrons were treated to an excellent game of football, with Kilsheelan Kilcash progressing to the semi-final after a battle that went down to the wire, with the outcome in doubt until the final whistle.

Kilsheelan Kilcash had the best of the first half exchanges and their speed and combination play had Cahir on the back foot for most of the half. They turned over with a seven-point lead, which looked comfortable enough the way they were playing.

Cahir had other ideas, however, and starting the second half in determined fashion they assumed control around midfield and gradually whittled away the Kilsheelan Kilcash lead.

A second yellow card and a red card for Daire Brennan with a quarter of an hour to go rocked Kilsheelan Kilcash and Cahir took full advantage of their numerical advantage.

When Stephen Grogan rattled the Kilsheelan net with ten minutes to go it was game on, and the last few minutes were played out in hectic fashion.

Kilsheelan Kilcash recovered, however, and when Jamie Roche netted after a great run and pass from Mark Kehoe the village side were on their way to the county semi-finals.

Kevin Grogan won control of the ball for Cahir on the throw-in and going forward he hit a fine point from distance. Evan Comerford opened Kilsheelan’s account from a free from fifty yards.

Kilsheelan Kilcash, showing great speed and passing ability, had a succession of scores. Points by Mark Kehoe, Conor Davin Murphy, Barry Kehoe and Jamie Roche built up a commanding lead and when a great interception in defence by Conor Neville was delivered to Mark Kehoe, he raced through the Cahir defence to fire a great shot at goal, which was well saved by Cahir goalie Aaron Wall. The rebound, however, went to Daire Brennan, who raised the green flag.

Cahir responded with points from Craig Guiry and Ian Flannery to narrow the gap but faced a deficit of seven points going into the second half. At half-time it was Kilsheelan Kilcash 1-10 Cahir 0-6.

Cahir were a much more determined outfit in the second half and Kilsheelan Kilcash found it hard to pass centrefield, where Kevin and Stephen Grogan held sway.

Points by Dylan Butler and Stephen Grogan narrowed the gap and when Daire Brennan departed the scene it was an opportunity for Cahir to launch attack after attack.

When Stephen Grogan goaled there were only two points between the sides.

Cahir brought it down to one but Kilsheelan Kilcash came alive again and a great run by Mark Kehoe found the Cahir defence short handed, and when Jamie Roche got possession he made no mistake from close range.

Cahir fought it out to the finish, however, and two points from frees by Craig Guiry left a narrow margin between the teams at the final whistle.

For Kilsheelan Kilcash, Mark Kehoe was the outstanding player, with five points from play and a hand in many more while Evan Comerford, Daire Brennan and Jamie Roche all caught the eye.

Cahir had outstanding players in Kevin and Stephen Grogan, while up front Niall McKenna and Craig Guiry were a thorn in the Kilsheelan Kilcash defence throughout the hour.

Kilsheelan Kilcash: Evan Comerford 0-2, Conor Neville, Jason Madigan, Tadhg McGuire, Emmett Butler, Daire Brennan 1-0, Billy O’Connor, Michael Freaney 0-1, Billy Murphy, Tommy O’Connor 0-1, Mark Kehoe 0-5, Barry Kehoe 0-1, Jamie Roche 1-2, Conor Davin Murphy 0-1, Liam Freaney.

Subs: Mark Stokes for Tadhg McGuire, Senan Butler for Conor Davin Butler, Eoin Kehoe for Billy Murphy.

Cahir: Aaron Wall, Sean Leahy, Michael O’Connor, Eoin Donaghy, Jesse Kiely, Eddie Kendrick, Colm Mc Eniry, Kevin Grogan 0-2, Stephen Grogan 1-1, Ian Flannery 0-1, Niall Mc Kenna 0-3, Jake Kiely, Conor O’Brien, Craig Guiry 0-5, Dylan Butler 0-2.

Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow).