Shane Nolan steers Crotta O’Neills to league final win over Kilmoyley
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Crotta O’Neills Captain Adam O'Sullivan pictured with his team after they won the final. Pic: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD .
Whenever the 2023 Senior Hurling Championship winners Crotta O’Neill’s clash with the 2021 winners Kilmoyley, there are usually fireworks and with just two weeks to go before the start of the 2024 Senior Hurling Championship, neither side wanted to give the other the physiological edge in the County League final, played in Ballyduff on Thursday evening.
It was a game that went right down to the wire before Crotta survived a second half fightback by John Meyler’s Kilmoyley to win their first County League final since 2010 by a single point.
The two sides struggled playing against a strong wind but ultimately it was Shane Nolan's fifth minute goal that proved the difference between the sides and a man of match display by young defender Sean McGrath that saw Crotta edge this competitive contest.
Both sides will have to brush up on their shooting from play and frees, with Crotta only managing 8/22 from play while Kilmoyley also managed 8 from 15 attempts. Both free takers were only 50% so plenty for Brendan Mahony and John Meyler to work on before they embark on their SHC campaigns.
Crotta made an explosive start playing with the wind as they raced 1-2 to 0-0 inside five minutes. Nolan converted two frees and then when fullback Conor Fitzell turned the ball over from a short puck-out, Nolan nipped in and shot low to the Kilmoyley net.
Daniel Collins who found free taking tricky, converted an early free for Kilmoyley but Crotta powered by a dominant half back line of Cillian Trant, Tomas O’Connor and Seam McGrath added five more points before the 20th minute from Nolan ( 2), Tadgh McKenna, Jordan Conway and Seanie McElligott as they moved 1-7 to 0-1 in front.
Kilmoyley began to threaten but their attack was being well shackled by the Crotta defence despite Kilmoyley points from Liam Flaherty and Darragh Corridon while Daniel Collins converted two frees. Crotta were also guilty of poor shooting and only added two more points in the final ten minutes of the half from Darragh O’Donoghue and a Nolan special from play.
So Crotta retired 1-9 to 0-5 in front and the major talking point at half time was their seven points lead enough as Kilmoyley had the elements to their backs in the second half.
Kilmoyley had two early second half points from Ronan Walsh and Philip Maunsell but they just could not create a decent goal chance or get going up front.
Nolan and Trant responded for Crotta so with twenty left they still led 1-11 to 0-7.
Kilmoyley rallied with Walsh and Paudie O’Connor leading the fightback and four unanswered points including a beauty from Jordan Brick closed the gap to just three points with five minutes remaining.
Nolan scored an all important point in the 56th minute Paudie O’Connor reduced the gap to three. Kilmoyley refused to throw in the towel and two late points from Daire Nolan were not enough to force extra time as Crotta O’Neills held on thanks to Sean McGrath to see Crotta O’Neills being crowned County League Division 1 champions.
: S Nolan (1-7, 5fs), C Trant, T McKenna, J Conway, Darragh O’Donoghue and S McElligott (0-1 each).
: D Collins (0-4fs), R Walsh (2fs) and D Nolan (0-2 each), D Corridan, P Maunsell, P O’Connor, J Brick, B O’Connor and L Flaherty (0-1 each)
: A O’Sullivan; B Keane, S Weir, E Shanahan; C Trant, T O’Connor, S McGrath; T McKenna, J McKenna; J Sheehan, J Conway, Darragh O’Donoghue; R Mahony, S Nolan, S McElligott.
: Declan O’Donoghue for S McElligott (51), A Behan for J Sheehan (51)
: J B O’Halloran; J Godley, C Fitzell, S Nolan; F McCarthy, R Walsh, D Corridon; D Fitzell, P Maunsell; P O’Connor, D Walsh, J Brick; B O’Connor, L Flaherty, D Collins.
: L Fitzell for P Maunsell (48 inj)
: J Murphy (Ballyduff).
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