O’Dwyer delivers at the death as Killenaule edge thriller

FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

Killenaule 0-21

Boherlahan Dualla 0-20

A pulsating encounter, with the sides level on eleven occasions and never more than three points between them, was finally decided by a Podge O’Dwyer point in injury time to put Killenaule through to the FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final with a quarter-final victory over Boherlahan Dualla at Leahy Park, Cashel, on Saturday afternoon.

Great defensive play from Jimmy Feehan created the chance, and O’Dwyer’s booming effort sailed between the uprights to the delight of the Killenaule supporters. But Killenaule needed to work hard in defence again before they could celebrate.

Extra-time looked a real possibility when Boherlahan Dualla were awarded a free a minute later. It was from distance, but Tomás Ryan, who had already pointed seven frees, as well as two points from play, was narrowly off target.

The Mid side were also wide from play in the next move and, as they continued to press forward, backs and forwards battled for the ball on the ground in front of the Killenaule goal, but eventually Killenaule broke from defence as referee Nigel Carrigan called time on a full-blooded encounter. Their reward is a county semi-final showdown with Éire Óg Annacarty Donohill.

The Robins deserved the win and recovered from the loss of team stalwart Joe O’Dwyer through injury just before half-time. They led at the interval, 0-12 to 0-11, and had extended the lead to three points eight minutes into the half. On three occasions Boherlahan Dualla brought it back level, including in the 60th minute when a superb score from Tomás Ryan levelled it at 0-20 each.

It would need a moment of magic for either side to win and that was provided by Podge O’Dwyer in spectacular fashion. It was O’Dwyer’s second score of the game in a powerhouse display at midfield.

The Killenaule backs were outstanding all through, led by team captain Killian O’Dwyer, with Charlie Barrett, Jack Hassett and Jimmy Feehan all impressing. Tony Ryan’s free-taking was crucial for Killenaule, converting seven as well as three points from play.

Tom Stakelum was a huge threat with storming runs through the centre and knocked over three points, with Paudie Feehan, Darragh Doyle and Fionn Fitzgerald also getting on the scoresheet.

Boherlahan Dualla will regret not converting their late chances, but they contributed hugely to an absorbing contest. Tomás Ryan scored seven points from frees as well as two from play, Paddy Gahan hit five from play, with Charlie Ryan chipping in with three, including one monster effort from the left touchline. Team captain Martin Paul O’Dwyer was a commanding presence at the heart of defence, with fine displays also from Gerard O’Dwyer and Ned Ryan.

The Mid side were ahead by two inside a minute, Tomás Ryan from a free and play, but Killenaule were level by the fifth minute through frees from Tony Ryan and Joe O’Dwyer.

There was nothing between the sides, and they were level again at 0-3, 0-4 and 0-5 each up to the end of the first quarter, Killenaule taking the lead each time through two Tony Ryan frees and Podge O’Dwyer from play, and Boherlahan equalising through Charlie Ryan, a Tomás Ryan free and Paddy Gahan from a Charlie Ryan pass.

Paudie Feehan and Tomás Ryan, from a free, exchanged scores before two in a row from Gahan and James Kirby edged Boherlahan ahead by two for the first time in eighteen minutes. But the trend of the game continued, with Ryan from a free and Fionn Fitzgerald levelling it again at 0-8 each.

Following the script, Boherlahan went ahead again through Charlie Ryan, after the point had initially been flagged wide by the umpire but overturned by referee Nigel Carrigan, before Darragh Doyle levelled again.

Ryan from a free and Charlie Ryan saw it level at 0-10 each before two in a row for Killenaule, from Tom Stakelum and a lovely score from substitute Eoin Shaw, who had only come on minutes earlier for the injured Joe O’Dwyer. The Sash had it back to the minimum by the break through Paddy Gahan.

Tomás Ryan, from a free, hit the equaliser in the first minute after the restart, but then the Robins built up a three-point lead, 0-15 to 0-12, for the first time in the space of eight minutes, all three from Tony Ryan, two from frees.

In a game without goals, every point was proving crucial, and Boherlahan hit the next two, first Ned Ryan setting up Brian Óg O’Dwyer, and then Tomás Ryan pointing a free given for over-carrying, an offence that referee Carrigan was strict on throughout the game.

Back came Killenaule, with Paudie Feehan putting Fionn Fitzgerald through to widen the gap to two again, but Boherlahan Dualla were never going away, and a brilliant point from Paddy Gahan and another Ryan free had it level for the tenth time by the 48th minute.

It was all-square again at 0-17 each, but with five minutes to go, Killenaule had gone two ahead, 0-19 to 0-17, through Tony Ryan and Tom Stakelum, the latter score following great play in the build-up from Jack Hassett and Charlie Barrett.

With every score now vital, James Kirby hit back for the Mid men before Killenaule looked to have stolen a march on their rivals with a Tom Stakelum point with time running out. But Boherlahan were not losing this without a fight, and a superb two in a row in the space of a minute, from Paddy Gahan and Tomás Ryan, levelled it by the end of normal time.

Both sets of supporters were now urging their team to victory, or the prospect of another twenty minutes’ play in extra-time. Boherlahan were pressing hard, but superb Killenaule defence saved the day, and when Jimmy Feehan broke clear with the ball and fed Podge O’Dwyer, it provided the dramatic finale to an outstanding game.

Killenaule: David McCormack; Jack Hassett (0-1), Killian O’Dwyer, Jimmy Feehan; Charlie Barrett, Joe O’Dwyer (0-1f), Tom Keaveney; Podge O’Dwyer (0-2), Luke Ryan; Tony Ryan (0-10, 0-7f), Tom Stakelum (0-3), Paudie Feehan (0-1); Darragh Doyle (0-1), Mark Stakelum, Fionn Fitzgerald (0-2).

Subs used: Eoin Shaw for Joe O’Dwyer (29, inj); Oisín Kelly for Fitzgerald (53); Michael Doyle for Paudie Feehan (55).

Boherlahan Dualla: Darragh Lacey; Tomás Bourke, Gerard O’Dwyer, Conor Kennedy; Ned Ryan, Martin Paul O’Dwyer, John Ryan; Charlie Ryan (0-3), David Clarke; Euan Ryan, Brian Óg O’Dwyer (0-1), Tomás Ryan (0-9, 0-7f); Eoin Moloughney, James Kirby (0-2), Paddy Gahan (0-5).

Subs used: Seamie Leahy for Euan Ryan (38); Cathal Darcy for Clarke (45).

Referee: Nigel Carrigan (Ballybacon Grange)