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Munster Quarter - Final
Munster Intermediate Hurling First Round 2004
Kildangan 2 - 17
St. Catherines 1 - 13
Kildangan got their first taste of Munster success, when they defeated Cork champions St Catherines in a rip-roaring tied,
at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh last Saturday.
The game produced all the thrills that are usually associated with Tipp v Cork clashes. While playing with the breeze
in the first half, Kildangan only managed a 0-10 to 0-9 lead at the interval.
However the second half showed a different picture. Kildangan showed contempt for the elements and played their best hurling
this year. Their half-backline of Karl Hogan, Dan Hackett and Ger Slattery formed a partnership as strong as the Berlin Wall.
Sean Maher was outstanding at wing forward. Brian Kelly scored a well-executed goal in the 44th minute to put the Tipp team
seven points ahead. Eight minutes later, victory was assured after Enda Nolan added a second goal. There
was no way back for St Catherines, but in true Cork fashion, they battled to the final whistle.
There wasn't a better game in Nenagh this year and Kildangan followers will be eagerly looking forward to their semi final
clash with Smith O'Briens, of Clare, next Saturday. Conor Hayes opened the scoring after just 15 seconds followed by a point
from Hugh Flannery inside the second minute.
As in the Cork County final, St Catherines brought Cathal Casey to midfield and the experience of the former All-Star
was beginning to tell. The teams were level at 0-2 each with eight minutes gone after the illustrious Shane Kearney pointed
for St Catherines.
The teams were level for the third time before St Catherines took the lead for the first time at 0-4 to 0-3 after 11 minutes.
That score could have changed the course of the game but for Dermot Hogan making a wonderful save arising from a Shane Kearney
effort, at the expense of a point.
One minute later, Liam Karl Flannery managed to level for Kildangan which was to be their last score from play in the
half. Worrying times for Kildangan as the St Catherines defence led by Martin O Keeffe at centre back were now well in control.
So too were Cathal Casey and Kieran Morrison in the centre field area.
With their grip on the game, they hit four points in as many minutes, through Hegarty twice from frees along with Kieran
Morrison and Casey himself.
At this juncture Kildangan made a number of switches with Tommie Connor and Liam Karl Flannery moving to midfield. James
Flannery made way for Liam Kelly on the full-back line, allowing Brian Lawlor to move to the corner on Kearney.
The trend changed as Tommie Connors and Sean Maher forced Ian O'Connell to make two very good saves. With Kildangan back
in the picture, Daragh Egan pointed a 65 and added three frees to go level at 0-8 each after 29 minutes.
On the half hour, Hegarty restored the St Catherines lead again but Tommie Connors made a quick reply. There were four
minutes of additional time allowed as Darragh Egan put Kildangan ahead again with a 65 for the final score of the half.
Kildangan began well in the second half as Sean Maher fired over a line ball and Darragh Egan and Hugh Flannery now out
on the forty added two more inside seven minutes.
Seven minutes went by with no score to either team. Kildangan were winning at half back and midfield forcing Cathal Casey
to the inside forward line. Enda Nolan gained possession on the left, but his effort sent for a point dropped short because
of the breeze before the ball broke to Brian Kelly who fired home first time.
Kelly was in action again a minute later as he set up Sean Maher for a great point. But St Catherines came back in search
of much needed scores. They went for goal from a close in free but were denied. They returned again when Hegarty pointed a
40-metre free, their first score in 23 minutes of play.
From Dermot Hogan's puck out Ger Slattery cleared before Darragh Egan and Conor Hayes found Enda Nolan who scored a great
goal.
Yet, Catherines would not decline. Shane Kearney and Hegarty reduced the margin to seven points with a point each. Kildangan
briefly interrupted that spell with a very good point from Egan. At the other end, Catherines reduced the margin to five when
Cathal Casey linked up with Kearney
for a goal with three minutes to go. But fitness and determination were the key to Kildangan's hold on the game and as
a result they ended the game with two Egan frees giving them a remarkable victory.
Best for Kildangan were Ger Slattery Dan Hackett and Karl Hogan. Brian Lawlor did a Trojan job on danger man Kearney.
Tommie Connors and Liam Karl Flannery formed a gear double act at midfield while Sean Maher stole the show in attack. There
were great performances from Brian Kelly, Hugh Flannery and Darragh Egan while lets not forget the performance of Enda Nolan.
On the performance of the opening half Cathal Casey was man of the match. Shane Kearney and Kieran Morrison plus Michael
Hegarty performed so well. They faded somewhat in the second half where Martin O'Keeffe and Aidan Hogan performed consistently
over the hour. Full back Mike Fitzgerald had his first outing with a Leinster club final the following day. Ian O'Connell
made a number of good saves
Scorers :
Kildangan:
D Egan 0-9 (5f and 2=65), B Kelly 1-1, E Nolan 1-0, S Maher 0-3 (1-side), C Hayes, H Flannery, L Flannery and T Connors
0-1 each.
St Catherines:
M Hegarty 0-7(5f), S Kearney 1-3, K Morrison 0-1 C Casey 0-1.
Kildangan:
Dermot Hogan; James Flannery, Brian Lawlor, Michael Ryan; Karl Hogan, Dan Hackett, Ger Slattery (Capt); Sean Maher, Brian
Kelly; Tommie Connors, James Flannery, Liam Karl Flannery; Conor Hayes, Hugh Flannery, Darragh Egan,
Subs: Liam Kelly for J Flannery 12th min; Enda Nolan for Minehan 26th min; Pat Lynch for Hayes 58th min; Eoin Kelly for
B Kelly; for L K Flannery 59th min.
St Catherines:
I O'Connell: A Keane, M Fitzgerald, A Hogan; S Fitzgerald, M O'Keeffe, P Cotter; C Casey, J Sheehan; R O'Connell, K Morrison,
P O'Connell; S Kearney, D Farrell, M Hegarty. Subs: B Hogan for Fitzgerald 57th min; P O'Neill for S Fitzgerald; K Dineen
for P O'Connell.
Referee: D O'Driscoll Limerick
© Nenagh Guardian
& http://www.unison.ie/
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