Late O'Meara goal does the trick for Kilruane MacDonaghs in their North U21B final win

North Tipperary U21B Hurling Championship Final 

Kilruane MacDonaghs 3-13 

Burgess 2-11

By Liam Hogan 

Tommy O’Meara’s goal in the 60th minute helped Kilruane MacDonaghs win their second North Tipp U21B Hurling title when defeating holders Burgess team in an entertaining but error-strewn contest played at the all-weather pitch in UL Limerick last Sunday evening.

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Played in a slight mist all through the hour, which made control somewhat difficult, both teams tried playing the short passing game, which is difficult enough in warmer climes, not to mind on a wet winter’s night.

But it didn’t prevent Tommy O’Meara, whose goal came after Kilruane had regained the lead thanks to a splendid goal by Cian Moyles eight minutes earlier. 

Kilruane needed both three pointers as Burgess had dominated the middle sector of the game when holding Kilruane scoreless between the 27th and 45th minute while scoring 1-4 to take a two-point lead, 2-8 to 1-9.

Kilruane’s success was their first since winning their 12th North Under 21 A title in 2013, while bridging a gap of thirty two years since they won their first Under 21 B decider.

They entered the game as favourites and the opening bouts saw Kilruane, helped by the breeze, find the target with ease as Michael Cleary scored four points, three from play, as the left wing forward looked a class apart. Centre forward Brian O’Meara had the opening point.

David Nealon had scored the opening point for Burgess in the fifth minute, and their next score came six minutes later through Paul Cahalan before Michael Cleary restored Kilruane’s four-point lead for the second time.

Then the tempo of the game increased significantly. Helped by the increased work rate of Johnny Grace at six and Kieran Grace at eight, Burgess came more into the game and, turning defence into attack, it was David Nealon who turned his defender on the twenty metre line before firing a low ball past Tom Austin in the Kilruane goal. Nealon added a free to level by the 16th minute.

Kilruane regained the lead with points by Tommy O’Meara and Michael Cleary, but Joe O’Dwyer narrowed the gap with a well-taken point in the 24th minute. 

Another Brian O’Meara point doubled Kilruane’s lead and, with a stroke of luck, their advantage increased to five when Cillian Healy’s effort for a point from halfway dropped short and the bounce deceived Oisin Tucker in the Burgess goal.

However, Burgess were not for going away and as play entered additional time Joe O’Dwyer scored their second goal, quickly followed by a Nealon sixty five, with the teams then heading towards the dressing rooms and Kilruane leading 1-9 to 2-5.

On the restart, Burgess were level after David Nealon’s free bisected the posts. Kilruane responded only to see Brian O’Meara’s low shot scream inches past the post and wide before two more Nealon frees had them two in front, the second coming after he was fouled en route to goal, with a goal very much the likelihood if unchecked. A goal at that stage would have asked serious questions of Kilruane.

Sensing trouble, Kilruane made two substitutions with Michael Hennelly and Fiachradh Ahearne Woods entering the fray, while also switching Tommy O’Meara from left wing back to the attack. From there Kilruane regained parity thanks to points by Michael Cleary (free) and Brian O’Meara from play. Paul Cahalan responded with his second point to give Burgess the lead once more in the 45th minute. 

Burgess might have gone further ahead had the usually accurate David Nealon not failed with two scorable frees, with the swirling breeze proving difficult. Fiachradh Ahearne Woods was just off target at the other end before Michael Cleary levelled with a free in the 48th minute, 2-9 to 1-12, but Burgess were back in front after Nealon made no mistake with another free.

Then the game turned. Cian Moyles had moved from wing back to the attack and suddenly, he was unmarked. Moving forward, he produced a thundering shot from thirty five metres past Oisin Tucker. Michael Cleary’s free had Kilruane three in front with his eighth point, his fifth free, and four minutes remaining. Nealon replied in similar fashion. 

Michael Cleary was just off target with his next attempt before the game was finally settled when Tommy O’Meara escaped the Burgess cover and found the net with Kilruane’s third goal. Three minutes of added time followed but Burgess were unable to cut the deficit as Kilruane were champions.

Best for Kilruane were Shane Cleary at centre back in front of an improving Kilruane defence, with Cormac Kennedy, Eamon Coonan and Paul Molloy taking time to close down a threatening Burgess attack. Michael Cleary was the pick of the forward line, closely followed by Brian O’Meara and the hard working Jack Mulcahy.

Aidan O’Dwyer and Johnny Grace were best in the spine of a hard-working defence, with Liam Grace catching the eye at corner back. Conor Cooney and Kieran Grace won the midfield battle, while much depended on David Nealon and Joe O’Dwyer to lead the charge up front, but the attack seemed to have run out of ideas in the second half.

Scorers: Kilruane MacDonaghs: Michael Cleary (0-8, 0-5f); Tommy O’Meara 1-1; Cillian Healy, C Moyles 1-0 each; B O’Meara 0-3; S Cleary 0-1.

Burgess scorers: D Nealon 1-8 (0-6f, 0-1’65); J O’Dwyer 1-1; P Cahalan 0-2.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Tom Austin; Cormac Kennedy, Eamon Coonan, Paul Molloy; Cian Moyles, Shane Cleary, Tommy O’Meara; Cathal England, Cillian Healy; Eoin Carroll, Brian O’Meara, Michael Cleary; Charlie Kennedy, Jack Mulcahy, Sean Hayes.

Subs used: Michael Hennelly for Healy (39); Fiachradh Ahearne Woods for Hayes (39).

Burgess: Oisin Tucker; Conor Grace, Aidan O’Dwyer, Liam Grace; Diarmuid O’Donoghue, Johnny Grace, Thomas Ryan; Kieran Grace, Conor Cooney; Keith O’Donoghue, Michael Ryan, Jack Sullivan; David Nealon, Paul Cahalan, Joe O’Dwyer. 

Subs used: Luke Power for M Ryan (58). 

Referee: Mark Gennery (Portroe)

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