Controversy as a Tipperary club fails to show up for U17 county hurling final

County Under 17 Division 2 Hurling League Final 2025

Kiladangan v Roscrea

By Liam Hogan

Kiladangan were crowned County Tipperary Division 2 Hurling League winners without literally pucking a ball. That’s the story coming from their meeting with Roscrea in the final at Toomevara last Monday at noon.

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On a splendid morning for hurling a small crowd witnessed the Kiladangan team line out in their correct positions, and fifteen minutes after the appointed time, referee John Lillis threw in the ball and watched Kiladangan midfielder Eoin Kelly solo half the length of the field and score a goal without any opposition player to dispossess him.

Why so? Because Roscrea hurlers didn’t show up. The club had sent an email an hour before throw-in saying that they were not able to field a team.

Understandably, there was a number of very disappointed Kiladangan supporters and officials at the venue, but their disappointments were somewhat softened when PJ Bowden, chairperson of Coiste na N’Og, Thiobraid Arann presented the Shield to Eoin Kelly, captain of the Kiladangan team. 

Speaking to PJ Bowden after the game, the chairperson said it was very disappointing to see no game take place and explained in detail the events surrounding the final. 

“Originally at the start of the year the county Board had the four finals pencilled in for the June Bank holiday Monday, the 2nd of June. It was since decided that, with the league running late, the finals would go ahead on the last weekend of June. We had the football finals last weekend,” said the Chairperson.

He went on to explain. “We didn’t want anyone playing that close to the exams (Leaving and Junior Cert), so we changed to the 30th of June. Meanwhile, Roscrea approached Kiladangan to play the game on Sunday, June 1st.

"Then, with permission from Kiladangan, Roscrea asked the game be moved forward to Monday 2nd because there was a fun run organised in the Roscrea club on Sunday.”

“Then on Saturday morning (May 31st ) I began receiving messages requesting the game be put off because the club didn’t have players due to exams and it was unfair organising the game so close to the exams,” said PJ who then explained the Boards ninety six hour deadline in granting postponement of games.

“Clubs have a ninety-six hour deadline when they want to have a game moved to another day, and that would have been noon Thursday 29th of May, but they sent an email to the Board at lunchtime on Sunday, twenty-three hours before throw-in. They sent another email on Monday about an hour before throw-in stating they were not coming to Toomevara.”

“Look, it's very disappointing. The game should have been played. There should have been enough players to field a team. 

“This league was organised to provide hurling for players on the panels while the county players are away on developing squads. We had the four Football League finals played last weekend without a bother,” added PJ.

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