Kiladangan add to their county title to win divisional honours in final against neighbours

North Junior A Football Championship Final

Kiladangan 0-11  

Shannon Rovers 2-4

By James Hayden 

Kiladangan staved off a resilient Rovers challenge to prevail by the slenderest of margins and capture the North Junior ’A’ football title at an unseasonably mild Puckane on Friday Saturday evening last.

Having overcome Knockavilla Kickhams a fortnight previous to capture the county Junior ‘A’ football title the ‘Dangan were made to fight to the final whistle by a gutsy Shannon Rovers who belied their underdog status.

Having tasted north, county, and Munster glory last year at Junior ‘B’ level the Rovers found themselves back at the scene of last year’s north triumph but this time they faced a strong Kiladangan side intent on annexing their sixth-ever North Junior ‘A’ football title.

Following a tense opening ten-minute period where both sides defended in serious depth it was the home side who drew first blood following a well-flighted Stephen Mulvihill free from close-range. 

The Kiladangan corner-forward was forced to wait to convert though after the floodlights went out in Puckane with the pint-sized culprits spotted sprinting away from the kill switch at the back of the goals in fits of laughter.  

Kiladangan were continually stymied in their efforts to break down a packed Rovers’ defence but they eventually picked off their first point from play following an impressive David Sweeney effort.

Shannon Rovers responded in style though with a well-fashioned sweeping counter-attack move culminating in their first score of the half after seventeen minutes, a well-taken Conal Moran goal after sublime interchange play involving Alan Hannigan and Sean Hough.

Kiladangan retorted with a sweet Stephen Mulvihill point before the Rovers were forced to switch Derek Horan into goals after Dinny Cahalan appeared to pull a hamstring in a half that also saw Alan Flynn forced off the field with a facial injury following an overly robust challenge deep in time added on.

With five minutes remaining to the break Shannon Rovers raided again and breached the Kiladangan rearguard for a second cracking goal from the boot of Eamonn Hough following yet another sweeping move involving Austin Tierney, Conal Moran, and George Hannigan.

Kiladangan responded once more with an impressive brace from the influential Alan Flynn before George Hannigan flighted over a well-flighted free right on the 30-minute mark before adding another deep in injury time to ensure the Rovers took a deserved 2-2 to 0-5 lead to the dressing room at the break.

Kiladangan introduced Paddy Gallagher and Fergal Hayes at the break and two early salvos should have really yielded goals for the ‘Dangan. Stephen Mulvihill narrowed the gap with a 34th-minute free before Darren Moran cut the deficit to just a solitary point following a 38th-minute penalty after Mulvihill was pulled down on route to goal.

Kiladangan were back on terms by the 40th minute thanks to a snapshot effort from wing-forward James O’Meara before matters threatened to boil over following an on-field schemozzle on 42 minutes. 

Calm was quickly restored however with George Hannigan (free) and David Sweeny trading points before the introduction of Barry Hogan and Paul Flynn injected further pace and impetus into the ’Dangan.

The final quarter saw both sides battle for supremacy with Stephen Mulvihill edging Kiladangan in front with a 50th-minute free. The Rovers had the chance to draw upsides once more three minutes later but unfortunately for the Rovers’ George Hannigan’s effort tailed to the left and wide.

Kiladangan’s Billy Seymour flighted over a sublime effort on 60 minutes to put two points between the sides but the Rovers weren’t done yet and battled for all their worth in time added on. Michael Dolan narrowed the gap in the 62nd minute with a well-flighted point from range but try as they might, Shannon Rovers were unable to bridge the gap and Kiladangan held on to record a hard-fought and hard-earned solitary point victory.

Kiladangan: Brian McGahey; Conor Culhane, James Quigley, Darragh Ryan; Tadgh Gallagher, John O’Meara, Darragh Butler; Alan Flynn (0-2), Darren Moran (1-0 pen); James O’Meara (0-1), Billy Seymour, David Sweeney (0-2); Stephen Mulvihill (0-4 (0-2f), Dan O’Meara, Conor Byrne.

Subs used: Paddy Gallagher for Ryan (HT); Fergal Hayes for A Flynn (HT) Martin Minehan for Culhane (35); Barry Hogan for Byrne (45); Paul Flynn for D O’Meara (45); Eoin Meagher for J O’Meara (59).

Shannon Rovers: Dinny Cahalan; Derek Horan, Matt Tierney, Oisin McMahon; Michael Dolan (0-1), Padraic O’ Meara, Eamonn Hough (1-0); Andy Byrne, Conal Moran (1-0); Michael Tierney, George Hannigan (0-3, 0-2f), Alan Hannigan; Sean Hough, Austin Tierney, Marcus Esmonde.

Subs used: James O’Sullivan for Cahalan (20); John O’Meara for S Hough (45); Cathal Hogan for Michael Tierney (54).

Referee: Ger Fitzpatrick (Roscrea)