REPORTS: Kilruane win the U13 North hurling double for a second consecutive year

North Tipperary U13A Hurling Championship Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-16

Nenagh Éire Óg 1-10

A spectacular 1-5 without reply, in the six minutes after half time, brought the game to life and Kilruane successfully defended their North Tipp under 13 Roinn A hurling title after a well-fought and delightful final played out at a gloriously sunny Dolla last Saturday.

Kilruane were the early pacesetters as they went 0-4 to 0-1 in front after ten minutes. Nenagh had the lead cut to the minimum after fifteen minutes before Kilruane went four in front, 0-7 to 0-3 before Nenagh rallied and were one behind at half time 0-8 to 0-7.

The second half began with Kilruane scoring three points in ninety seconds with Jack O’Meara providing two (the first after seven seconds) before O’Leary added a third. It was a whirlwind restart for the holders and it got better when Jack O’Meara found space approaching the Nenagh goal before he shook the net. Senan O’Leary added a point to see Kilruane eight in front. Nenagh were stunned.

Yet they rallied and forced Kilruane keeper Shane O’Meara to produce a goal-line clearance and when play reached the other end three Senan O’Leary points had the lead out to eleven, 1-15 to 0-7.

Despite the deficit, Nenagh appeared to have found renewed energy, and points from Cian Ryan and Kirsters Janitens were encouraging. Senan O’Leary’s free made it 1-16 to 0-9 but Shane O’Meara’s great save denied Marcus Finn at the expense of a point.

When Adam Quigley’s free went all the way to the net, Nenagh were six adrift but with minutes of added time Kilruane used the time well as Lukah Williams scored Kilruane’s second goal with the winners.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Shane O’Meara; Ben Williams, Ben Teeffey; Cian O’Looney, Mark Cleary, Dylan Hussey Sheahan; Tiernan Casey, Jack O’Meara (1-2); Lukah Williams (1-1), Tarla Dorris (0-1), Michael Hutchinson (0-3, 0-1’65); Paul Williams, Senan O’Leary (0-9, 0-1f).

Nenagh Éire Óg: Justin Griffin; Ronan Quinn, Paraic Sheehy; Harry Walsh, Cian Ryan (0-1), Eibhin Darcy; Kevin Hogan, Kirsters Janitens (0-1); Fionn Tucker (0-3f), Adam Quigley (1-0f), Marcus Finn (0-4); Anluan White (0-1), Oisin McNamara.

Subs used: Aaron Griffin for McNamara; Harry Bailey for Darcy; Daniel O’Leary for A Griffin.

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines)