On a bitterly cold January afternoon Kilsheelan-Kilcash had Loughmore-Castleiney as opponents in the U/21”A” hurling County Semi in Cashel. Credit to both teams for serving up a great game that kept the large attendance enthralled to the end.
Loughmore got the dream start when Liam Mc Grath raised a green flag in third minute. Kilsheelan were not fazed by this as Conor Davin Murphy found Eoin Kehoe who sent over the bar. Both sides posted wides before Paul Maher fielded the puck out and delivered to Brendan Martin who made no mistake. Bill Maher opened his account to level matters after a nice movement involving Eoin Kehoe and Martin Gibbs. John Mc Grath pointed a free for Loughmore. Bill Maher reacted with a
pointed free from distance. John Mc Grath and Colin Gleeson traded points from frees. John Mc Grath advanced with intent but was denied by Kilsheelan’s full back David Corcoran. For a ten minute period both sides tried relentlessly to gain an advantage in a tight marking physical match. Eoin Kehoe, who was outstanding throughout for Kilsheelan, led the defence to repel Loughmore’s attack. Liam Mc Grath was wide following a delivery from Anthony Ryan. Kilsheelan’s Alex Harte’s free fell kindly for Lorcan Egan but Kevin O’Connell failed to capitalise. Liam Mc Grath broke the impasse when he latched on to the puck out and sent it back over the black spot. The South side got a major boost when County panellist Bill Maher took a long range free which deceived the goalkeeper to record a three pointer for his side. The hardworking Paul Maher was fouled and Colin Gleeson pointed the resultant free for Kilsheelan and Liam Mc Grath finished the scoring in that half with a pointed free to leave Kilsheelan in the ascendancy on a scoreline of 1-6 to 1-4.
On the resumption Loughmore introduced substitutes David Ryan and Peter Nyland but it was Kilsheelan to stretched their advantage to three with a Colin Gleeson point. Following a foul on Tommy Maher, John Mc Grath pointed the free and Liam Mc Grath added another, from a free. Loughmore’s Joseph Hennessy’s side line cut was collected by Paul Maher to register a point.
The decisive score came when the very effective Liam Mc Grath sent a ground shot to the back of the net and followed quickly with a point to leave the scoreboard reading 2-7 to 1-8. Great pressure was being exerted now as Loughmore extended their advantage to three with a point by Tommy Maher. Peter Nyland found Joseph Nyland but Kevin Larkin was vigilant to clear the danger.
Loughmore’s John Meagher lofted a fine ball forward but David Corcoran was up to the task and got it away to Paul Maher who was fouled. The free was taken short but the Loughmore defence dealt with it ably. Liam Mc Grath dropped a ’65 into the danger area but Alex Harte got in the clearance.
With five minutes remaining Liam Mc Grath sent a fine sideline cut over the bar for Loughmore. Kilsheelan lost their captain David Corcoran and John Kehoe to injury as John Mc Grath, sent over from play and Liam Mc Grath added another, from a free. Kilsheelan needed a goal now if they were to advance but an effort was deflected out for a ’65 which Colin Gleeson converted. The puck out was held by the excellent Liam Mc Grath who sent over his seventh point of the outing. Kilsheelan’s Eoin Kehoe was fouled and Colin Gleeson pointed while the last score of the encounter was from the stick of John Mc Grath to leave his side winners by 2-13 to 1-10.
Loughmore can be proud of their performance and were best served by Joseph Hennessy, John Meagher, John and Liam Mc Grath.
For Kilsheelan, they lost no honour in defeat and were best served by Eoin Kehoe, Conor Davin Murphy, Bill and Paul Maher.
KILSHEELAN-KILCASH: Alex Harte, Kevin Larkin, David Corcoran, Sean Ryan, Eoin Kehoe 0-1, Conor Davin Murphy, David Smyth, Paul Maher 0-1, Bill Maher 1-2, John Kehoe, Kevin Guiry, Martin Gibbs, Colin Gleeson 0-5, Adrian Mc Guire and Brendan Martin 0-1.
SUBS: John Smyth, Paudie O’Donovan and Aaron Larkin.
LOUGHMORE-CASTLEINEY: Craig Cleary, Lorcan Egan, Joseph Hennessy, Padraig Hennessy, Brian Mc Grath, John Meagher, Martin Meagher, Joseph Nyland, Bill O’Connell, Anthony Ryan, John Mc Grath 0-5, Tommy Maher 0-1, Richie Maher, Liam Mc Grath 2-7 and Kevin O’Connell.
SUBS: Peter Nyland and David Ryan
REFEREE: Michael Murphy
