Golden/Kilfeacle reach first West Tipperary senior football final in a quarter of a century

Golden/Kilfeacle 5-6 Aherlow 1-9

A Sam Hall hat-trick of goals helped Golden/Kilfeacle into a first Shane Hennessy Agri and Business Consultancy West Senior Football Championship final since 1999, as they hit Aherlow for five in Bansha on Tuesday evening.

Amazingly, Aherlow led by four points to nil after eight minutes but managed just one point for the remainder of the half.

The game turned on two first half goals from Niall Heffernan and Sam Hall, which helped Golden/Kilfeacle to a four-point half time advantage.

A converted Barry Grogan penalty early in the second half looked as if it would haul Aherlow back into the game. However, a more determined Golden/Kilfeacle never allowed them to draw level and two more goals from Sam Hall and the fifth from  Shane O’Connell left Golden/Kilfeacle in a commanding position at referee Donnacha Horan’s full time whistle.

Aherlow looked very dangerous in the opening exchanges, with Mark Russell and Barry Grogan causing problems. Grogan and Stephen Carey had Aherlow two up after three minutes before Russell opened his account and Grogan added a second from a placed ball.

Golden/Kilfeacle had created a number of chances but failed to find the target. Eanna Ormond got them off the mark in the tenth minute and while they were now enjoying more possession, they failed to add to that score for another ten minutes.

They were, however, winning numerous turnovers with Shane O’Connell, Jack Lonergan and Daithi Bargary leading their challenge from the back. Tom Byrnes was making his mark around the middle while Ben Currivan was dropping back the field.

The game turned late in the first half when wing back Niall Heffernan, who had gone up the field, broke a tackle to slot low past Jack Whelton. Grogan responded with Aherlow’s first score in 21 minutes. However, a mis-hit free was intercepted by Cian Ryan, and drawing the defender he handpassed to the unmarked Hall, who got his first goal. Golden/Kilfeacle were leading 2-3 to 0-5 at the interval.

Early in the second half Barry Grogan converted an early penalty and it looked as if Aherlow were about to get back into the game. 

A point ahead, Golden got a huge break in the 14th minute when, following good work from Daithi Bargary, the ball broke to Hall after Jack Leamy's effort was blocked and he kicked goal number three.

Grogan and Hall swapped frees before Hall completed his hat-trick after being put through by Shane O’Connell. Whatever hope Aherlow had was finished with ten minutes to go when Shane O’Connell kicked Golden’s fifth goal. Aherlow needed goals but struggled to find a way past a well marshalled Golden defence.

Golden will now face Galtee Rovers in the West final for the first time since 1999.

A minute's silence was observed before the game in memory of Kevin Ivers (Golden/Kilfeacle) who died following a tragic accident in Australia.

Scorers: Golden/Kilfeacle: Sam Hall (3-1, 0-1 f), Niall Heffernan (1-0), Shane O’Connell (1-0), Eanna Ormond (0-1), Ben Currivan (0-1), Jack Leamy (0-1f), Ciaran Byrne (0-1), Aaron Colohan (0-1).

Aherlow: Barry Grogan (1-6, 1-0p, 0-6f), Mark Russell (0-2), Stephen Carey (0-1).

Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan, Jack Lonergan, Aidan O’Connell, Daithi Bargary, Niall Heffernan, Shane O’Connell, Mikey Bergin, Ronan Hayes, Tom Byrnes, Eanna Ormond, Jack Leamy, Cian Ryan, Sam Hall, Ben Currivan, Shane Stapleton.
Subs used: Aaron Colohan, Ciaran Byrne, Jason Morey, Sean O’Connell.

Aherlow: Jack Whelton, Darragh O’Brien, Mark Hanley, Moss O’Brien, Thomas O’Donoghue, Sean Mullins, Gary Quirke, Mark Russell, Ben Carey, Jack O’Halloran, Barry Grogan, Paddy Chapman, Liam Carew, Stephen Carey, Sean Landers.
Subs used: Cathal Dillon, Thomas Cooper Fahey, Mikey Nash, Sean Bourke, Tomas O’Shea, Shane Russell (temporary).

Referee: Donie Horan (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill).