Munster Semi - Final December 11th 2004 McDonagh Park, Nenagh. Kildangan 1 - 17 Smith O' Briens 1 - 11 ( Clare )

Match Reports / Press

Munster Semi - Final

Kildangan triumphant

Kildangan 1-17

Smith O'Brien's 0-11

Saturday December 11th 2004

By David McDonnell

at McDonagh Park


Kildangan progressed to the final of the Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship after a convincing nine-point victory over Smith O'Brien's, Killaloe in McDonagh Park, Nenagh last Saturday.

Kildangan never looked like losing this contest ant any stage and led this game practically from start to finish.
Even in the second half when Smith O'Brien's pulled Kildangan's lead back to two points with 15 minutes of the second half yet to play, the North Tipperary side showed they possessed the character to respond to the challenge with even greater determination.

A 53rd minute goal from Darragh Egan sealed victory for the Kildangan side. Liam Karl Flannery delivered a ball into the full-forward line, which Egan got to first before rounding his man and burying the sliotar from point-blank range past the Killaloe goalie. At the time it put eight points between the sides and ended any Smith O&'Brien aspirations of making a late comeback.

In an entertaining first period, Kildangan took to the field running and within five minutes were three-point ahead, when a point for Tommie Connors and two frees for Egan were followed up when a ball sent into the right corner was instantly hit over by Conor Hayes.

After nine minutes, Egan pointed a free when Smith O'Brien fullback, Ciaran Rosney fouled the Tipp minor and then after the whistle was blown, went to challenge the youngster on the ground with his knee for which he was shown the yellow card. Killaloe freetaker Shane O'Brien responded in similar fashion from a free.

Indeed by this stage the Kildangan full-forward line of Flannery, Egan and Hayes were causing much panic to the Killaloe defence. Kildangan came close to a goal when Hayes came through and handpassed the sliotar into the path of the onrushing Egan. Killaloe goalkeeper Brendan Foley came rushing out but Egan got their first yet his flick past Foley trickled agonisingly wide. A minute later Hayes again rounded his man and shot over, after which Connors got his second point of the half to leave five separating the sides.

Killaloe responded with a free from Shane O'Brien and a point from Willie Neary before Kildangan captain Gerry Slattery found himself upfield and slotted the sliotar over from 40 yards. Dan Hackett then hit a free from 70 yards over the bar, to which the Clare side responded when Neary hit over an excellent point from the right touchline. Then a Daragh Egan point was followed up with a point for O'Brien, before the Tipp minor left the field for the remainder of the half with a noticeable limp. However, before the break, Dan Hackett pointed his second long range free to leave five points separating the sides at the break

Egan returned to the fray after the half-time interval but it was the Clare champions who started the brightest to the second half. Firstly Shane O'Brien hit a 65 over. Then it seemed for a moment that Killaloe had scored a goal when Martin Hough pulled into the back of the net from four yards out. However, the referee judged that he had blown the whistle for a 21-yard free before play saw the sliotar into the net and Smith O'Brien's were awarded a free. Goalkeeper Brendan Foley made the journey from his own berth at the other end of the field to hit the free which sailed powerfully over the crossbar. Shane O'Brien pointed another free to leave two points between the sides.

Egan replied for the North Tipperary side when he caught a high ball and blasted over from 15 yards, but this again was followed up when O'Brien hit another free over the bar. With another quarter of the game yet to play it seemed that this contest would go down to the wire. However, Egan again fielded another high ball and shot over, which he followed up with a free. Enda Nolan then made an impressive catch
before making a better angle and striking over. Egan's goal followed and that ended this game as a contest. Connors and Kelly added late scores to ensure their side&'s nine-point triumph.

Scorers - Kildangan: D Egan (1-7,3f), T Connors (0-3), C Hayes, D Hackett (0-2 each), G Slattery, E Nolan, B Kelly (0-1 each). Smith O'Brien&'s: S O'Brien (0-7, 5f, 1&65), W Neary (0-2), B Foley, T Howard (0-1 each)

Kildangan: D Hogan; B Lawlor, L Kelly, M Ryan; K Hogan, D Hackett, G Slattery; B Kelly, J Maher; T Connors, L K Flannery, E Nolan; C Hayes, D Egan, H Flannery. Sub: P Lynch for Hayes (58 min), S Gleeson for H Flannery (62 min), C McGrath for Nolan (65 min), J Slattery for Ryan (65 min).

Smith O Brien's: B Foley; M Culhane, C Rosney, I O'Halleron; J Culnane, S Gleeson, K McCarthy; T Howard, S Tuohy; B McKeogh, P Aherne, W Neary; J Cusack, M Hough, S O'Brien. Sub: B Lenihan for Hough (40 min).


Referee: Jason O'Mahoney (Limerick).

© Nenagh Guardian

& http://www.unison.ie/

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