Kiladangan into sixth final in seven years after seeing off Toomevara

ANOTHER FINAL: Jack Delaney in action with Kiladangan's Declan McGrath during the FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final. Pic: Padraig Hogan

Tipperary SHC semi-final

Kiladangan 2-30 Toomevara 2-21 

A sixth Tipperary senior hurling final in seven years for Kiladangan who comfortably saw off the challenge of Toomevara in a modest contest at Semple Stadium yesterday to set up a clash with championship specialists Thurles Sarsfields in two weeks time.

Kiladangan were hot favourites to advance and they fully justified that rating with a performance that will have them fancied to win the Dan Breen Cup for the second time when they encounter Sarsfields.

The outcome was never in any doubt here from the time Paul Flynn netted for Kiladangan after just three minutes to put them 1-2 to 0-2 ahead. The scores were coming easily to Kiladangan for whom Billy Seymour was an inspirational figure leading the attack and Toome were at full stretch trying to stay with them.

Darragh McCarthy was Toome’s main source of scores and he hit six points in the first half but, without ever hitting top gear, Kiladangan were 1-15 to 0-12 ahead at the break and coasting.

Two minutes after resuming Kiladangan looked to have put the contest to bed as Bryan McLoughney rifled home their second goal but a minute later Mark McCarthy doubled overhead for a spectacular Toomevara goal, which they quickly followed with two points to keep them in the hunt.

With Seymour on song, Kiladangan extended their advantage to 2-20 to 1-16 but then they lost Tipp goalkeeper Barry Hogan to a second yellow card at the three quarters stage. Former Wexford manager and former Tipp goalkeeper Darragh Egan who is part of the club’s managment team stepped into the breach and marked his cameo role with a pointed long-range free after 50 minutes.

Kiladangan were leading 2-25 to 1-17 after 52 minutes when Toome staged a mini rally. Darragh McCarthy pointed and then hit a cracking goal, followed by a Jack Delaney point to cut the deficit to five points(2-20 to 2-25) with five minutes left.

Kiladangan looked to Seymour for leadership and he responded with three points in a five points surge that saw them safely through to the final.

Kiladangan lost to Sarsfields when they met in the final in 2016 but have been consistent challengers since and will argue that they should have more than one title(2020) in their locker. This was an impressive performance, with ten players on the scoresheet, and the strength of their bench is also a big factor. 

Former under 21 star Billy Seymour is their stand-out performer in this campaign, running up big scores from play and frees, and he again obliged in this encounter with a tally of fourteen, six from play.

Even when down to fourteen players they controlled the game with Paul Flynn, Joe Gallagher, Tadhg Gallager, Alan Flynn and Fergal Hayes all giving eye-catching displays. County man Willie Connors, still recovering from injury, got some game time and will bolster their bid for their second title.

Toomevara have made great strides this year. The club has enjoyed considerable underage success and things are looking bright for them as they bid to regain the title they last held in 2008. They still have some way to go but with Darragh McCarthy playing a starring role, ably assisted by Mark McCarthy, Joey McLoughney, Josh McCarthy and Jack Delaney, they can look to the future with optimism.

Scorers for Kiladangan: B Seymour(0-14m8fs), P Flynn(1-3), B McLoughney(1-2), T Gallagher(0-3),D O Meara, Shayes(0-2 each), D McGrath, A Flynn, W Connors, D Egan(0-1 each) 

Scorers for Toomevara: D McCarthy(0-11,6fs), M McCarthy(2-1),K McCarthy(0-3), J McLoughney, J Delaney(0-2 each), R Quirke, J McCarthy(0-1 each).

KILADANGAN: B Hogan; J O Meara, J Quigley, 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: D Egan for McLoughney(45mins), W Connors for D O Meara(47 mins),C Byrne for Loughnane(50mins) J Horan for Quigley(54mins);

TOOMEVARA: R Brislane; L Ryan, A Ryan, S O Farrell; Jake Ryan, J McCarthy, J McLoughney, R Quirke, D Delaney; K McCarthy, A Hall, M McCarthy; J Delaney, C Canning, D McCarthy.

Subs: S Nolan for Hall(32mins), Jack Ryan for D Delaney(48mins), K Ryan for Quirke(52mins), D Nolan for O Farrell(54mins);

Ref: J Dooley, Thurles Gaels