Kiladangan win first Junior football title since 2011 with hard-earned win over Kickhams

FBD Insurance County Tipperary Junior A Football Championship Final 

Kiladangan 0-13 

Knockavilla Kickhams 1-6

By Liam Hogan 

For a team that did all the right things to help them to an unassailable lead of eight points, it was two giveaways either side of half-time that almost denied Kiladangan a third title before Darren Moran’s assurance point in injury time moved the winners four clear and into safety with their Junior title returned for the first time since 2011 and seven years after winning the Intermediate County Final.

That’s what happened. Kiladangan led 0-9 to 0-1 after 28 minutes but the concession of a goal before half-time had the lead down to five at half time 0-9 to 1-1. 

The second half saw a hard-working Knockavilla team working their might to further cause damage and the hard work paid off as the margin was whittled down to two 0-11 to 1-6 with five minutes remaining before Willie Connors and Darren Moran split the posts with two valuable scores. 

It was that close and Kiladangan can thank Moran and Connors for their relentless work with Joe Gallagher and David Sweeney not far behind in terms of man of the match. Further back, Alan Flynn, John O’Meara, Darragh Butler, and James Quigley earned their crust in defence.

What of Knockavilla? With hopes of winning their third and first since 2009 they came through to the final very much the underdog. The loss of Adam and Eddie Daly through suspension following their semi-final win over St.Patrick's of Drangan curbed their chances somewhat. 

Shane Farrell stood tall in defence along with Lorcan Carr, Shane Buckley, and Eoin McCormack while Elliott Thompson was the more prominent at midfield. Conor Horgan caused much danger in the attack. 

Indeed the West champions battled against the odds for a team that played over half an hour a man short with Paudie O’Carroll black carded in the tenth minute and he earned a second black card in the 38th minute thus receiving a red which meant he missed the remainder of the game.

Then again, Kiladangan suffered the same flight but the punishment was not as severe when James Quigley had to sit it out for ten minutes after receiving a black card in the 46th minute. 

Kiladangan had the first use of the breeze as brilliant October sunshine saw Kiladangan take an early two-point lead with David Sweeney scoring after eight seconds followed by a second point from the boot of Darragh Butler who finished off a move involving David Sweeney, Tadhg Gallagher and Dan O’Meara inside the third minute.

A quick response from Knockavilla saw Conor Farrell take an assist from his midfield partner Elliott Thompson but from there, it was one-way traffic as far as scoring was concerned. 

Two points in the fifth and seventh minutes by Stephen Mulvihill and Darren Moran were the result of much play by Kiladangan as they swung the ball from side to side. They missed a few chances in the meantime before Darragh Butler scored his second point in the 11th minute after heavy work by James Quigley who had ventured up in attack. One minute later Stephen Mulvihill added a free. 

Play continued in the direction of the Knockavilla end of the field and after many pairs of hands, Kiladangan went six clear after another Sweeney point in the 17th minute. One minute later, Willie Connors landed a brilliant point and there was no way to stop the North men as Stephen Mulvihill made it 0-9 to 0-1 from play, two minutes to half-time.

A rare attack of substance by Knockavilla came next but ended in a wide ball.  The resulting kickout was short and intercepted with Conor Farrell needing Jamie Duncan for the latter to find the back of the Kiladangan net. At half-time, it was 0-9 to 1-1.

During the break, Fergal Hayes replaced Darragh Ryan who had under -21 hurling duty the following day. Two minutes into the new half, Knockavilla pressed but lost possession to a sideline ball. John O’Meara’s intended kick pass from the line was intercepted and Kickhams turned possession into a score by Conor Horgan. 

A step in the right direction for Knockavilla but they received a setback when Paudie O’Carroll earned a second black card followed by a red and he had to leave the field for the remainder. Mulvihill posted the resulting free against the breeze and from 35 metres. 

However, a brilliant left-footed effort by Conor Horgan went over and a redeemed Kickhams followed up with two more points through new substitute Shane Morrissey and Conor Horgan, this time from a free to leave his team two in arrears 0-10 to 1-5 and 13 minutes remaining.

A foul on Darren Moran earned a reprieve for Kiladangan as Stephen Mulvihill converted with ease before Conor Horgan replied with a 35-metre free in the 55th minute to leave a deficit to two once more.

Kiladangan had meanwhile summoned the bench into action with Barry Hogan and James O’Meara entering the fray. 

The ability to win high ball from Brian McGahey’s kickouts saw Joe Gallagher and Darren Moran at their best and Kiladangan began winning more possession in the 56th minute, Willie Connors scored his second point to move them three in front. 

That three-point lead was still cause for concern but the Kiladangan defence continued to stand firm and deep into injury time a defence turned into attack towards a crowded goal before play broke to Darren Moran who kicked over the bar from 20 metres to seal the win. 

Scorers for Kiladangan: Stephen Mulvihill (0-5, 0-4f); Darragh Butler, David Sweeney, Willie Connors, Darren Moran all 0-2 each. 

Knockavilla Kickhams: C Horgan (0-3, 0-2f); J Duncan 1-0; C Farrell 0-1, S Browne, E Thompson 0-1f each. 

Kiladangan: Brian McGahy; Conor Culhane, James Quigley, Darragh Ryan; Tadgh Gallagher, John O’Meara, Daragh Butler; Alan Flynn, Darren Moran; Joe Gallagher, Willie Connors, David Sweeney; Stephen Mulvihill, Dan O’Meara, Conor Byrne. 

Subs used: Fergal Hayes for D Ryan (HT); Barry Hogan for Byrne (35); Paddy Gallagher for Culhane (44); James O’Meara for T Gallagher (54); Paul Flynn for Sweeney (57). 

Knockavilla Kickhams: Derek Breen; Aidan Duggan, Paudie O’Carroll, Shane Farrell; Shane Buckley, Lorcan Carr, Eoin McCormack; Elliott Thompson, Conor Farrell; Sean Cannon, Conor Horgan, Walter O’Carroll; Jamie Duncan, Stephen Browne, Joe O’Dwyer. 

Subs used: Shane Morrissey for W O’Carroll (32); Joe Fitzgerald for Duncan (50). 

Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow)