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Irish Examiner
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kiladangan claim North Tipperary title with win over Borris-Ileigh
Kiladangan are North Tipperary SHC champions for a 10th time after fending off a late Borris-Ileigh fightback at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh. The Puckaun-based club completed a hectic schedule of three games in eight days with a tense 0-20 to 0-19 victory over the County League winners. They showed signs of fatigue for a finish against a fresher Borris side, who scored five of the last seven points and threatened a late leveller. Eddie Ryan had slotted three second-half frees from his own 45, but his final effort dropped short as Kiladangan held on. Remarkably, they have appeared in seven consecutive North finals, collecting the Frank McGrath Cup four times in that streak. They were far sprightlier when reeling off four unanswered points from the throw-in. Paul Flynn, Billy Seymour, Dan O'Meara, and Willie Connors (two frees) struck early braces. Patrick Ryan's frees and two points from the lively James Devaney got Borris back in touch by the break; 0-11 to 0-9 in arrears. Dara O'Dwyer, Seymour, and Conor Byrne soon extended Kiladangan's lead to five, but Borris weren't letting go. A super Devaney score followed by Paddy McCormack and Tommy Ryan points got them back within two. Seán Hayes and Byrne landed insurance scores, although stoppage-time points from Jerry Kelly and Eddie Ryan had it back to the minimum for a finish. Meanwhile, former Cobh Ramblers manager Shane Keegan led JK Brackens to their second Mid Tipp title with a 1-22 to 2-18 triumph over Moycarkey-Borris at Boherlahan. Eddie Brennan's Moycarkey were chasing a first success since 1982, and they vaulted into an early lead through goal-poacher Jack Hayes. They arrived battle-hardened by victories over Loughmore-Castleiney and Thurles Sarsfields, but Brackens didn't fade away. In a mirror image of Tipp's opening goal in the All-Ireland final, Rhys Shelly was caught batting the sliotar down from above the crossbar, and Andrew Ormond nipped in to finish his third goal in five days. The sides were deadlocked, 1-9 apiece, at the change of ends. Within two minutes of the resumption, U20 All-Ireland winner David Costigan rifled to the net for Moycarkey. The accuracy of Kieran Morris opened up a three-point lead, but Brackens were never distanced beyond that mark. They moved ahead with four points in a row from Shane Doyle (who finished with 0-11), Ormond (1-3), and Éanna McBride. A goal-saving Seán Hayes block denied Ciarán O'Shea the clinching score before Morris's 10th free equalised. When Lyndon Fairbrother's white flag was cancelled out by Killian Cantwell, the sides were level for a ninth time. But Ned Delaney, who was a waterboy when Brackens made their breakthrough in 2022, came forward from wing-back for his fourth point of the day to deliver the Johnny Leahy Cup to Templemore. For Kiladangan and Brackens, victory guarantees them a preliminary quarter-final berth, should they fail to progress through the county championship group stage, which begins next weekend. In Saturday's South Tipp SHC final, Carrick Swan defended their title for the first time since 1986 with a 1-17 to 0-15 victory over Killenaule at Clonmel Sportsfield. The reigning champions had to do it with 14 men for the duration after Tipp U20 Stefan Tobin was red-carded for an off-the-ball incident in the opening play. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Swans were never headed. They responded with a steady flow of points before captain Eric O'Halloran fed Aaron Dunne to beat John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer in the Robins' goal. They led 1-8 to 0-7 at midway, and playing numbers were equalised when Eoin O'Connell received a straight red card within five minutes of the restart. Swans held their lead from there to collect the club's 26th title. Free-taker Callum Lanigan finished with 0-9 and captain O'Halloran tagged on 0-3. Tipp senior panellist Gavin O'Halloran contributed a pair in a man-of-the-match display from centre-back.
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Austin Stacks lead the way with Legion and O' Rahilly's on their coat tales
Austin Stacks continue to set the pace in Division One of the County League with a 2-19 to 0-16 victory in round six. Two early goals from the home side laid the foundations for this latest win for new boss Darragh Long. Despite an early Donal Maher point for Kilcummin, Stack struck for a two goal salvo inside five minutes, with Sean Quilter and Darragh O'Brien finding the net. Paul O'Shea hit 0-3, including a 2 pointer from a free and points from Philip O'Leary and Chris O'Leary and two more from O'Shea saw Kilcummin stay in touch. But Stacks with Quilter firing over four points, along with points from Brendan O'Sullivan and Darragh O'Brien, had Stacks 2-9 to 0-9 in front at half time. Paul O'Shea, Paudie Moynihan and Matt Keane kept Kilcummin in touch but they were merely hanging on to Stacks coattails as Quilter, Greg Horan, Ryan O'Driscoll and Ferdia O'Brien ensured that Stacks would cruise to a nine point win. Laune Rangers are becoming the draw experts as they shared the points with Kerins O'Rahilly's in Killorglin on a 1-13 apiece scoreline. In fact it took a late Conor O'Sullivan point to snatch a draw for the Strand Road side after Patrick Radny had given Rangers the lead. Both goals came in the first half of the game, with O'Rahillys taking a one-point lead into the half time interval. Daniel Bowler scored a first half goal for O'Rahilly's while Calum Moriarty raised a green flag for Rangers to lead by a point but a two pointer from Barry John Keane from outside the arc saw the Tralee side lead 1-6 to 1-5 at half time. It was tit for tat in the third quarter with O'Rahillys replying with three converted frees from Savage before Keane pointed from play to put the Tralee men two ahead on 50 minutes. Cleary and Tyther leveled the contest when Radny popped up what appeared to be the winner with two minutes left but Conor O'Sullivan had other ideas as Kerins O'Rahilly's escaped with a point. Killarney Legion are now in second place after they beat injury ravaged Beaufort 0-20 to 2-8. Ryan O'Grady was the star of the game as the Legion sharp shooter fired over 0-10 of his sides total including their opening two points. David and Eoghan O'Sullivan were on target as was Cian Gammell. Legion led 0-10 to 0-6 ahead at half time and were always in control despite a Liam Carey goal leveling the contest early in the second half at 0-10 to 1-7. But that was as good as it got for Beaufort as they went through a barren 20 minute spell and Legion added seven unanswered points with O'Grady the main scorer. Jack O'Connor scored a point and Ciaran Kennedy scored Beaufort's second goal in the 57th minute but it was too little too late as Ryan O'Grady and Oisin Fleming closed the game out for Legion. Rathmore hammered Spa 4-9 to 0-6 with all four goals coming in the opening half as Rathmore led 4-2 to 0-4 at the interval. Darragh Rahilly, Alan Dineen, Jamie Mahony and veteran goal John Moynihan's scored the fourth and that made the second half purely academic. Rathmore are now in fourth place with eight points. Dr Crokes had little difficulty getting back to winning ways after their last round one point loss to Strand Road as Glenbeigh/Glencar are struggling with injuries and numbers and will be returning back down to division two. Crokes were superb winning on a 2-20 to 1-6 scoreline. Points from David Shaw (3), Billy Courtney (2), Alex Hennigan (2) and Brian Looney saw the home side take a 0-8 to no score lead by the 16th minute before the visitors struck for a goal in the 17th minute. Ten minutes later Cian McMahon scored Dr Crokes first goal as they led 1-9 to 1-1 at half time. The second half was notable only for the point scoring of David Shaw and the precocious Alex Hennigan while Cian McMahon with his goal late on top and tailed this facile Dr Crokes win. Ballymacelligott who do not have the use of their home pitch are struggling on four points and were well beaten by Glenflesk on a 4-11 to 0-13 scoreline. Dara Roche got two goals in the first half for Glenflesk with Dylan Roche and Peter Cronin scoring two in the second.
