Tipp favourites Kiladangan need late points to see off youthful Holycross

A brace of injury-time points saw a fancied Kiladangan through to the Tipperary SHC semi-finals

Ballycahill Cathal Barrett in action against Kiladangan's Fergal Hayes during the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final - Kiladangan vs Holycross Ballycahill at Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Photo: Diarmuid Brennan / Sportsfocus

Tipperary SHC quarter-final: 

Kiladangan 2-22 Holycross-Ballycahill 3-17 

A brace of injury-time points saw a fancied Kiladangan through to the Tipperary senior hurling semi-finals but they were pushed all the way by a young Holycross-Ballycahill side at Semple Stadium on Saturday.

In a contest that never reached championship pitch until late on, bookies favourites to lift the Dan Breen Cup, Kiladangan were below their best as they struggled to contain a lively Holycross outfit who were leading 0-9 to 0-8 after 23 minutes. However, points from Declan McGrath, Bryan McLoughney and Billy Seymour (2) and a McLoughney goal after 26 minutes sent Kiladangan six points clear (1-12 to 0-9) approaching the break.

Holycross finished with a flourish however as Cathal Barrett netted a penalty and David Fogarty had an injury-time goal to level the game at half-time 1-12 to 2-9.

Fortunes ebbed and flowed in the second half. Billy Seymour’s goal after 35 minutes put Kiladangan 2-13 to 2-12 ahead but two minutes later Jimmy Lahart netted for Holycross. The sides were level on three occasions in an exciting finish but as the game moved into injury time Kiladangan had points from Alan Flynn and Billy Seymour to clinch their place in the semi-final draw.

Always likely winners, Kiladangan could not shake off a persistent Holycross for whom Daragh Woods, Bryan O Mara, Cathal Barrett, Jim Ryan, Eoin Craddock and David Fogarty had big games.

Kiladangan’s Billy Seymour was man of the match with 1-5 of his 1-10 tally coming from play. Andy Loughnane, Sean Hayes, Joe Gallagher, Alan Flynn and Declan McGrath were very influential also.

Kiladangan scorers: B Seymour (1-10, 5fs), B McLoughney (1-1), A Loughnane (0-3),S Hayes (0-3), P Flynn, A Flynn(0-2 each), D McGrath (0-1);

Holycross scorers: D Woods (0-10, 5 fs), C Barrett (1-3,pen gl), D Fogarty (1-1), J Lahart (1-0), J Caesar(0-2), B Hennessy(0-1);

KILADANGAN: B Hogan; J O Meara, J Horan, F Hayes; D Sweeney, J Gallagher, D McGrath; T Gallagher, A Flynn; D O Meara, B Seymour, P Flynn; B McLoughney, S Hayes, A Loughnane

Subs: J Quigley for Hiran(h/t), W Connors for Mc Loughney(41mins), C Byrne for Loughnane(45mins), E Sharkey for J O Meara(59mins);

HOLYCROSS-BALLYCAHILL: E Bourke; G Dunne, C Ryan, Jimmy Ryan; M J Doyle, B O Mara, Jim Ryan; E Craddock, L Doyle; J Caesar, C Barrett, B Hennessy; D Woods, J Lahart, D Fogarty

Subs: A Stakelum for Hennessy(34mins), J Dwan for Lahart (60mins) 

Ref: J McCormack, Knockavilla Kickhams