Kilsheelan/Kilcash march on to the last eight of Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 3-15 Skeheenarinky 1-17 

Three cracking first half goals, two from county man Mark Kehoe, appeared to be enough to set Kilsheelan/Kilcash on their way to a comfortable win over Skeheenarinky in the County Intermediate Hurling Championship preliminary quarter-final at Clonmel Sportsfield on Sunday afternoon.

They led by eight points at the break, 3-7 to 0-8, but hadn’t reckoned on a spirited fightback by Skeheenarinky in a thrilling second half. Skeheen’ hit the first six points of the second period without reply and had drawn level, 3-11 to 1-17, with nine minutes to go following a stunning goal from Darragh Brennan.

But Skeheen’ weren’t to score again, as Kilsheelan hit the last four points without reply to maintain their bid for county honours in both hurling and football. That campaign on two fronts might be taking its toll, as this was their third game in seven days, and they looked leg-weary for much of the second half.

But that’s not to take anything from the performance of Skeheenarinky, who played their part in an exciting all-south Tipp clash that had both sets of supporters in full voice. Tomás Vaughan was one of their star performers from play and placed balls while Darragh Brennan hit a brilliant 1-3 from play, his goal a thing of beauty.

However, it was 2019 All-Ireland final medal winner Mark Kehoe who stole the show in the first half, especially in the opening ten minutes. Barry Kehoe and Tomás Vaughan had exchanged pointed frees in the first four minutes, before Barry set up brother Mark for an unstoppable shot past Aidan Treacy in the Skeheen’ goal.

Dean Finn for Skeheen’ and Martin Gibbs for Kilsheelan exchanged points in the space of thirty seconds before Kehoe struck for his second goal in the tenth minute, Jamie Roche picking him out with a precision crossfield pass, and Kehoe again left Treacy stranded to make it 2-2 to 0-2.

Barry Kehoe and Tomás Vaughan from frees swopped points before Skeheenarinky hit a purple patch with four points without reply – from Oisin Brennan following a great catch; Charlie English with a monster point; Tomás Vaughan from the puckout and then Vaughan again from a free after Billy O’Connor had been penalised for a throw pass, to leave it 2-3 to 0-7 at the end of the first quarter.

But Kilsheelan hit back quickly, first with a Senan Butler point followed by the side’s third goal, Barry Kehoe again the provider and Martin Gibbs finishing in style. Skeheen’ were still well in the game but wides from play and placed balls stalled their momentum.

Dean Finn had their final point of the half, following a Kilsheelan score from Mark Kehoe, and it was Kilsheelan who finished the half stronger with points from a Barry Kehoe free and Martin Gibbs to leave it 3-7 to 0-8 at the short whistle.

Skeheenarinky hit the ground running in the second to stage a wonderful fightback. Darragh Brennan pointed within ten seconds of the restart and followed up with a pointed free after Tomás Vaughan had been fouled. Vaughan then pointed a free himself and Tommy Sweeney followed up with a great score after a super intercept.

Skeheen’s John Martin pointed, after the chance was created by Tomás Vaughan, and then Vaughan from an Evan Hickey pass made it six in a row to make it 3-7 to 0-14 ten minutes into the half.

It was a wake-up call for Kilsheelan and they hit back with points from Senan Butler and a Barry Kehoe free from the puckout. At the other end, Darragh Brennan saw his goal-bound shot well saved by Tadhg Lonergan before Tomás Vaughan pointed from a free.

Barry Kehoe from a free had only Kilsheelan’s third point of the half by the 16th minute before Darragh Brennan stamped his immense class on the game in the space of three minutes.

Firstly, he hit two superb points from virtually the same position close to the right touchline, and then after Mark Kehoe replied with a point under pressure, Brennan took a pass from Tomás Vaughan and raced through to shoot to the net.

That tied the score for the first time since the fourth minute, 3-11 to 1-17, and the chance was there for Skeheen’ to push on for an unlikely win.

However, Kilsheelan steadied the ship. They kept Skeheen’ scoreless for the remaining ten minutes, with Sean Ryan, Emmet Butler and Mark Stokes resolute in defence, while an attack in which Mark and Barry Kehoe, Martin Gibbs and Senan Butler excelled wrapped up the win that sees them through to a county quarter final against Cappawhite.

Emmet Butler restored their lead immediately after Brennan’s goal; Barry Kehoe pointed a free; Martin Gibbs added a point and Barry Kehoe’s sixth pointed free wrapped up the scoring.

This is a good time for Kilsheelan/Kilcash, with the footballers also through to the county quarter-finals. Both sides have the same backroom team, under manager Liam Stokes, and even though the games are stacking up, the winning run will keep the players fresh.

A lull in the third quarter on Sunday was not too surprising, with the footballers beating Eire Og Annacarthy-Donohill on the previous Sunday, and the hurlers playing their final Group 3 game against Moneygall two days later on Tuesday evening.

The three first half goals gave them the breathing space they needed against Skeheenarinky as they now face the challenge of Cappawhite in Cahir this Saturday with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

For Skeheenarinky, and their sister football club Ballyporeen, it is a different story, with both going out of the championship on successive Sundays. Skeheen’ had their chances against Kilsheelan, but despite some outstanding play and wonderful scores, their wides total proved too costly in the end.

Kilsheelan/Kilcash: Tadhg Lonergan, Kevin Guiry, Daire Brennan, Sean Ryan, Emmet Butler 0-1; Mark Stokes, Jason Madigan, Billy O’Connor, Michael Freaney, Martin Gibbs 1-3; Barry Kehoe 0-6 frees; Tommy O’Connor, Senan Butler 0-2; Jamie Roche, Mark Kehoe 2-3, 0-1 free.

Sub: Sean Martin for Jamie Roche.

Skeheenarinky: Aidan Treacy, Seamus O’Callaghan, John Martin, Oisin Brennan 0-1; Noel Vaughan, James Barry, Riain O’Callaghan, Tommy Sweeney 0-1; Tomás Vaughan 0-7, 0-5 frees; Christy English 0-1; Darragh Brennan 1-4, 0-1 free; Charlie English 0-1; Riain Hennessy, Dean Finn 0-2; Paudie Fitzgerald.

Subs: John O’Callaghan for Riain Hennessy, Glen Walsh for John O’Callaghan (injured), Evan Hickey for Paudie Fitzgerald.

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).