Kilkenny SHL- Holland heroics give Tullaroan local bragging rights

A superb clash of neighbours Tullaroan and Graigue-Ballycallan delivered in spades in this St Canice’s Credit Union senior hurling tie, with Tullaroan coming storming down the home straight to finish with aplomb.

This game of the weekend sent the large crowd home buzzing from Páírc Lachtain on Saturday afternoon, and after Dylan Simpson’s late late goal, it fell to their goalkeeper Niall Holland, to deny Billy Ryan from a penalty with a cracking save in the final play.

The game was barely 30 seconds on when Bill Walton split the posts for Tullaroan. Aaron McEvoy soon pointed a free in reply from midfield after a foul on Billy Ryan.

Mossy Keoghan sent over a super point from out on the right hand sideline from a player who has had such a tremendous year.

Colum Prendiville then made a tremendous drive forward for Graigue all the way to the 20 metre line before pointing and we were level for the second time. That was to be the trend for the game with the sides level on 10 occasions in total, seven of those coming in the first half.

Graigue now enjoyed a good spell and pushed on to lead 0-6 to 0-4 after 13 minutes with points from McEvoy, Conor Flynn and a Sean Ryan free. Tullaroan came back as expected, with Martin Keoghan setting up Tomás Dunne for a great point off the sideline.

Dylan Simpson rowed in with two quick points courtesy of Bill Walton passes but it must be said that Simpson had the freedom of the park at this stage.

Billy Ryan levelled it again before two more Simpson points, one from a free, put the Sash two ahead again.

It was now Graigue Ballycallan’s turn to dominate and they went on to strike five unanswered points, three from Sean Ryan frees.

At this stage, Gearóid Dunne had pushed forward to the midfield area and within a minute he struck over two long range points.

At the other end Conor Flynn fielded well twice and set up Billy Ryan for a point before registering one himself off another Prendiville delivery to leave Graigue Ballycallan ahead at the break 0-14 to 0-12.

A good run by the busy Eamonn Holland then set up Tullaroan’s Peter Walsh for the first point of the new half.

The see saw trend continued for the new half with Graigue Ballycallan holding on to a slender lead right up to the 63rd minute.

In the 40th minute, Martin Keoghan fielded an intelligent cross from Padraig Walsh and after rounding his man shortened his grip sufficiently to strike a point off his right despite the attentions of Jack Walton.

Moments earlier, Graigue showed great awareness when Sean Ryan stood over a tricky free, but elected to strike short to the better placed Ryan Corcoran who pointed with ease.

It was that type of game, with tremendous skill on show and great intelligence displayed in abundance.

Sean McGrath brought off an excellent save from Martin Keoghan.

Jim Moore was introduced for Tullaroan and after setting Peter Walsh up for a scoring opportunity, Moore soon got on the scoreboard himself.

A super catch from Billy Ryan secured a point and before we could draw a breath Martin Keoghan had repeated the feat off the left wing.

The game was levelled up in the 49th minute when Bill Walton took a pass from Padraig Walsh and struck over from distance to leave it 0-21 apiece.

With 61 minutes on the clock it was 0-24 each, two Sean Ryan frees drawing responses from play from John Walton and a screamer from Tomás Dunne. This game had draw written all over it.

A foul on Bill Gaffney saw Niall Holland strike a huge 62nd minute free forward.

It was broken down by Martin Keoghan to the on-running Dylan Simpson who batted to the net for an exciting goal.

Straight down the field came a Tom Dunphy drive, for substitute Shane Butler to win a penalty for the sky blues. Up stepped Billy Ryan but Niall Holland dived to his left and saved the day for a mighty Tullaroan victory.

Teams and scorers

Tullaroan: Dylan Simpson (1-9, 0-6 frees); Bill Walton, Martin Keoghan (0-3 each); Niall Holland, Gearóid Dunne, Tomás Dunne (0-2 each); Jack Keoghan, Peter Walsh, John Walton (0-1 each).

Graigue-Ballycallan: Sean Ryan (0-9, 0-8 frees); Billy Ryan (0-4); Aaron McEvoy (0-3, 0-1 free); Ryan Corcoran, Conor Flynn (0-2 each); Stephen Keoghan, Colum Prendiville, Jeff Neary, Jesse Roberts (0-1 each).

Tullaroan: Niall Holland, Joe Coughlan, Bill Gaffney, Padraig Walsh, Martin Walsh, Gearóid Dunne, Eamonn Holland, Jack Keoghan, Bill Walton, Tomás Dunne, Dylan Simpson, Ciallin Brennan, Peter Walsh, Martin Keoghan, John Walton.

Sub: Jim Moore for Ciallin Brennan 37 minutes.

Graigue Ballycallan: Sean McGrath, Billy O’Neill, Tom Dunphy, Richie Keoghan, Jack Walton, Stephen Keoghan, Killian Egan, Colum Prendiville, Jeff Neary, Aaron McEvoy, Billy Ryan, Ryan Corcoran, Conor Flynn, Sean Ryan, Jesse Roberts.

Subs: Tommy Ronan for Killian Egan 41 mins, Eoghan Cahill for Ryan Corcoran 51 mins and Shane Butler for Jesse Roberts 58 mins.

Referee: Peter Burke (Emeralds)