Today marks the 20 year anniversary of the clubs All Ireland Intermediate Hurling Semi Final victory over St Thomas' of Galway.

Match Report:

Heart and determination sees Kildangan through to All-Ireland final

Heart and determination went a long way in deciding this fixture and once again Kiladangan showed they possessed both traits in abundance as they overcame the challenge of St Thomas's in the All-Ireland semi-final of the Intermediate Club Championship.

Despite the final scoreline, Kiladangan were pushed all the way by St Thomas's and this game was still in the melting pot until a last minute goal from Dan Hackett secured the victory for the North Tipperary side, a win that sees them through to contest their first ever All-Ireland final.

At half time, St Thomas's were in a wonderful position to triumph in this fixture as Kiladangan had played with a storm at their backs in the opening period but only led by two points. However, Kiladangan emerged from the dressing room and outfought the Connacht champions all over the field. It was a display epitomized by the outstanding half back line of Karl Hogan, Gerry Slattery and in particular Dan Hackett who dominated throughout the second half. With 10 minutes remaining the sides were level, and it was Kiladangan that better rose to the challenge and in the end pulled away from their opponents much to the excitement of the large Tipperary support that ventured to Birr for the contest.

Facing the breeze in the first half, it was St Thomas's that started the brighter and with four minutes of the game played, they led by two points. Wing forward Kenneth Burke hit his first free between the posts that was then added to when Burke picked out Ritchie Murray with a crossfield ball that the Galway senior star hit over from long range.

Kiladangan opened their account on the scoreboard when Pat Lynch caught an outcoming clearance and hit over first time from along the right touchline. Lynch followed this up with two successive frees to edge Kiladangan in front for the first time but five minutes later Kenneth Burke was fouled and got up himself to point the resultant free.

Kiladangan had the greater of the first half possession but were finding scores difficult to come by. The Kiladangan management then made the call to introduce Darragh Egan, who had started the game from the bench after picking up an ankle injury in a recent college game. At the time, St Thomas's were playing corner forward Noel Burke as an extra defender against the wind and the tactical substitution saw corner back Michael Ryan leave the field as Kiladangan took the risk to introduce Egan while they hurled with the advantage of the wind.

Four minutes later, referee Brian Gavin penalised St Thomas's goalkeeper Adrian Burke for timewasting. The throw-in on the 21-yard line ended up with Egan feeding Hugh Flannery who hit over. Tommy Connors then made room for himself and his strike raised a white flag to increase their lead to two. Soon after Kiladangan had two chances for a goal.

First, Egan blocked down keeper Burke and upon gathering shot first time, but the backtracking Robert Murray cleared his effort off the line. Moments later, Egan shot for goal from a 21-yard free which Burke saved before the St Thomas's defenders on the line whipped in out to safety.

In first half injury time, Maurice Headd hit over a superb point in the right corner to close the gap to a point but a third pointed free along the left touchline from Lynch restored the two-point margin between the sides at the break.
At the time, victory looked more likely for that Galway side as they had yet to hurl with the aid of the strong wind and two points didn't seem like a big enough lead to defend against the elements. However, St Thomas's were met by a motivated Kiladangan side, who brought Michael Ryan back on at the break.

Within six minutes of the restart, St Thomas's hit five wides, which seemed to further strengthen Kiladangan's resolve. During this time, Burke cut the gap to a point, but Pat Lynch responded by hitting over an excellent point from the right corner of the field. It took five minutes for the Galway champions to reply through Ritchie Murray.

However, Kildanagn were winning copious amounts of possession and seemed the side more ready to fight for the victory.

With 10 minutes remaining, a fourth pointed free from Burke leveled the scores and the game was left to be won by either side.In the end two long-range efforts against the wind from placed ball by Egan and a second point from Connors put the North Tipperary parish ahead. Than, at the death Pat Lynch did well to keep a Brian Kelly shot in play by batting the sliotar across the goalmouth and a limping Hackett, who had moved from his centre back berth into full forward, was on hand to sweep to the net from 10 yards to secure the victory for the North Tipperary parish.

On a day when heart and determination won out, this courageous Kiladangan side left victorious.

Scorers :
Kiladangan:
P Lynch (0-5,3f), D Hackett (1-0) T Connors (0-2), D Egan (0-2,1f, 1&'65), H Flannery (0-1).
St Thomas:
K Burke (0-4,4f), R Murray (0-2), M Headd (0-1).

Kiladangan:
D Hogan; B Lawlor, L Kelly, M Ryan; K Hogan, D Hackett, G Slattery; B Kelly, T Connors, P Lynch, J Slattery, J Maher; E Nolan, H Flannery, C Hayes. Sub: D Egan for M Ryan (12 min), M Ryan for E Nolan (h/t), S Gleeson for J Slattery (50 min), B McLaughlin for C Hayes (56 min).

St Thomas's:
A Burke; E Keely, R Murray, S Burke; J Kelly, R Murray, S Forde; E Tannian, A Callanan; B Burke, A Linnane, K Burke; M Headd, J Conroy, N Burke. Sub: C Burke for A Callanan (47-min), J Lynskey for N Burke (58 min).

Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly).

Kelly thrilled to be in All-Ireland decider
An immense second half display by the men from Kiladangan saw them overcome Connacht champions St Thomas’s and through to the club’s first ever All-Ireland Final. It had been a tense second period and only after Dan Hackett scored a last minute goal could the North Tipperary side breath easy, safe with the knowledge that victory was secured.

Kiladangan had a strong wind at their backs in the first half but did not take full advantage of the breeze and went in a half time only two points in front. At the time, it seemed that St Thomas’s would better use the wind advantage but Kiladangan outmatched them in the latter period outscoring their opponents 1-4 to 0-3.

Afterwards, Kiladangan manager Eamonn Kelly gave The Guardian a few thoughts on the titanic battle.

“It was superb win. Backs to the wall stuff after playing with a strong breeze in the first half but the players really responded well, just like they have done all year. Often times with a breeze like that a lot of balls go wide. It happened us in the first half and it happened St Thomas’s in the second half, with balls dropping wide. Against the breeze, you are inclined to hold so your inside forward line have a lot better chance and that is what happened. We knew at half time it was very similar to the Moycarkey game in the county semi-final. We discussed that and the lads felt that they still had enough in the tank to still come out and do it.”

Kiladangan will face Carrickshock of Kilkenny in the final after they overcame London side Robert Emmets in the other semi-final. The final will probably be fixed for the end of March. Eamonn Kelly also paid tribute to all the players on the panel whose attitude and commitment has been the cornerstone of all Kiladangan’s success in the last year.

“We were down a few bodies today and everybody was needed and everybody played their part. The half back line were fantastic and the whole panel have been really great. They have all played their part, even the subs that didn’t come on are playing their part in training and there is not a bad word amongst them. They are very tight and very committed bunch of players and nobody is cribbing about not playing.”

“We will probably take a week off. We have done a lot of training now since Christmas and we’ll knuckle down in a week’s time. We never thought Kiladangan would be in an All-Ireland final. We are thrilled to be there.”

Full gallery of photos from the match are available to view on the following link (which were taken by the great Sean Fay RIP): https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.374550192643686&type=3

Thanks to Doris Ryan for providing some footage of the game here: https://www.facebook.com/KiladanganGAACamogie/videos/1071461531416071