Kickhams bridge seven-year gap in West Tipperary Junior B Hurling league final

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams 3-21 Golden/Kilfeacle 2-16

Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams claimed a second Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Tipperary Junior B Hurling League title on Tuesday evening in Annacarty, having won their maiden title in the competition in 2019, when they beat Golden/Kilfeacle in the final.

This was a tough, honest and physical encounter, with Kickhams just that bit more fluent in front of goal. A Conor King goal late in the first half brought Golden/Kilfeacle back into contention but Dean Thompaosn’s goal for Kickhams on the stroke of half time was a crucial score. Late goals from Shane Morrissey and Sean Cleary, after Andy Byrnes' goal had got Golden back into the game, sealed the win for Kickhams, eventually putting daylight between themselves and their opponents.

A minute's silence was observed for the late Joe Lonergan, a member of the Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams club, before the game commenced.

The game was played in mostly dry conditions. Kickhams were quicker out of the blocks, racing into a three points to nil lead after just four minutes. Sean Cleary pointed twice either side of an Evan Slattery free. Both players sat their English Paper 1 in the Leaving Certificate just 14 hours later.

Cleary had a huge say in the proceedings, covering a huge amount of ground while Eoin Carew, particularly in the opening half, was proving a handful for the Golden/Kilfeacle defence.

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Tom Byrnes got Golden/Kilfeacle off the mark with a pointed free after six minutes and soon doubled his tally but Cleary and Slattery, Dan Lonergan and Eoin Carew pushed the lead out to six as the first quarter was drawing to a close.

A Kickhams clearance broke down around the 45, after which Tom Byrnes set up the in-running Conor King, who grabbed the game’s first goal. It was a huge boost to Golden/Kilfeacle, with further points from Andy Byrnes and Lee Hayes reducing the deficit to one by the quarter mark.

Golden, though, couldn’t get level and crucially Kickhams hit the next three points from Evan Slattery, Brian Furlong and Tom O’Driscoll to ease the pressure. The teams traded points over the final four or five minutes of the half to leave three between them.

However, Kickhams got a hugely important score before Donal Ryan blew for half time. Dan Lonergan played the ball into the corner from about 45 yards out on the sideline, which Dean Thompson collected, getting the better of two defenders along the endline before making an angle and hitting the roof off the net with his shot. Andy Byrnes replied with a point but the goal probably gave a more honest reflection of Kickhams’ dominance on the scoreboard.

In the third quarter Andy Byrnes was a big factor in the Golden/Kilfeacle scoring charts, while Evan Slattery continued his accuracy from placed balls for Kickhams, while substitute Shane Morrissey opened his account.

At the three-quarter mark Kickhams held a five-point lead and were still well in control. While Golden/Kilfeacle briefly reduced the deficit to four, they were struggling to get any closer but then Andy Byrnes forced his way in along the end line before beating the goalie on his near side. Earlier Kickhams goalie Peter Comerford had denied Lee Hayes with a fine save.

With seven minutes to go the difference was back to two but it was as close as Golden got. Two minutes later an Evan Slattery free dropped short and was batted by the goalie, and following a goalmouth scramble Kickhams’ Shane Morrissey raised the green flag. Another Andy Brynes free kept Golden/Kilfeacle in touch but the game was sealed with three minutes to go when Sean Cleary raised Kickhams’ third green flag to seal the win for Kickhams.

Following the game West GAA Board Chairman Andrew Fryday presented the Sean Breen Cup to Kickhams captain Michael Shanahan in the presence of Jimmy Ryan, uncle of the late Sean Breen. Sean was remembered in the presentation by both the chairman and Michael Shanahan on the seventh anniversary of his tragic passing. During his speech Michael Shanahan dedicated the win to the late Joe Lonergan.

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Scorers: Kickhams: Sean Cleary (1-4), Evan Slattery (0-6f), Shane Morrissey (1-2), Dean Thompson (1-1), Eoin Carew (0-2), Joe Fitzgerald (0-2), Shane Farrell (0-1), Tom O’Driscoll (0-1), Dan Lonergan (0-1), Brian Furlong (0-1).

Golden/Kilfeacle: Andy Byrnes (1-8, 0-6f), Conor King (1-4), Tom Byrnes (0-2f), Brendan Moloney (0-1), Lee Hayes (0-1).

Kickhams: Peter Comerford, Conor Farrell, Cathal Carr, Diarmuid Carr, Paudie O’Carroll, Jack Ryan , Brian Furlong, Sean Cleary, Michael Shanahan, Niall O’Brien, Tom O’Driscoll, Dan Lonergan, Evan Slattery, Eoin Carew, Dean Thompson.

Subs: Shane Morrissey for Niall O’Brien, Joe Fitzgerald for Michael Shanahan, Shane Farrell for Dan Lonergan, Mark Furlong for Joe Fitzgerald, Joe O’Dwyer for Sean Cleary.

Golden/Kilfeacle: Tyler Barry, David Sinclair, Jonathan Wade, Michael Coman, Ronan Hayes, Brian Marnane, Ning Brennan, Jack Lonergan, Conor King, Andy Byrnes, Cian Lonergan, Aidan Tuohy, Kevin Hogan, Tom Byrnes, Lee Hayes.

Subs: Brendan Moloney for Kevin Hogan, Conor Marnane for David Sinclair, James McLoughlin for Ronan Hayes.

Referee: Donal Ryan (Cappawhite).