Clodiagh Gaels snatch draw with Seir Kieran with last minute goal

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior 'B' Hurling Championship Round 3

CLODIAGH GAELS 2-15

SEIR KIERAN 0-21

A GOAL with virtually the last puck of the game earned Clodiagh Gaels a draw with Seir Kieran after a very competitive Offaly Senior Hurling 'B' Championship game played in Kinnitty on Saturday afternoon.

Seir Kieran looked like they might have finally shaken off a dogged opponent when they went five points clear with six minutes remaining but Clodiagh Gaels stuck to the task and a couple of points reduced the gap top three in the 59th minute before Sean Rattigan found the net two minutes into injury time to bring the sides level with the puck out signalling the final whistle.

Seir Kieran will be disappointed to have let that late lead slip but the draw keeps them on top of the table and well on course for a place in the semi-finals of the championship. That late five point lead was the biggest gap between the sides at any point of the game so they will be disappointed that they didn't manage the game out from there.

Clodiagh Gaels are also very much in the mix for the knock out stages as well and they will take huge confidence from this performance ahead of the final two rounds of the group. They will look back on 17 wides in this game and wonder what might have been and they showed that they will be a match for anyone for the remainder of the championship.

Seir Kieran made the better start and were four points clear after 10 minutes as the Gaels missed chances but they hung in and halved a gap before they found the net six minutes before half time to draw level and they went in at half time with a one point lead, 1-8 to 0-10.

It was nip and tuck for the first 10 minutes of the second half with the lead changing hands as Clodiagh Gaels were a point up again 10 minutes into the half. However over the next 14 minutes they were outscored 0-8 to 0-2 and Seir Kieran looked to be in control but they failed to score again after that as Clodiagh Gaels staged that late rally to snatch the draw.

Considering the amount of possession they had Clodiagh Gaels will feel they deserved to get something out of the game. They hit those 17 wides and were also denied a couple of goals by a couple of brilliant saves by Joseph Connors. Despite all the misses they never gave up and kept plugging away and their efforts were rewarded.

Seir Kieran are still on course to achieve their aim of returning to the top tier at the first attempt but this result may make take a bit of reflection. While they didn't have as many wides as Clodiagh Gaels, they also missed some decent chances, and they will realise now that they will have to be on top of their form if they hope to go all the way and win the title.

Joseph Connors made a couple of brilliant saves in goals and Stephen Gilligan did well at full back. Barry Kealey and John Coughlan were hugely impressive on the half back line with Michael Gilligan until injured doing well at midfield. Kevin Dunne did well in attack and later out the field, while Luke Carey and Sean Carey also contributed well in attack.

Kevin Kinahan made one vital second half block for Clodiagh Gaels while Clint Horan, Aaron Flanagan and Dylan Hyland all worked very hard in defence. Cathal Curran put in a good stint at midfield while in attack Liam Langton, Joey Keenaghan and Sean Brady all did well.

Seir Kieran were on the board after just 36 seconds through Kevin Dunne and he added a second a minute later. After three early wides and one dropped short, Clodiagh Gaels got off the mark in the third minute when Liam Langton pointed. Luke Carey added another for Seir Kieran but Liam Langton quickly replied from a free.

Seir Kieran then hit three in succession through Barry Kealey, Oisin Guinan and Kevin Dunne and after Liam Langton replied with a free, his side hit their seventh side inside the first 12 minutes. Connor Dooley hit a long range effort for Seir Kieran but points from Cathal Brady and Sean Brady had the Gaels back within two and seemed to give them renewed confidence.

John Coughlan pushed Seir Kieran three ahead but a minute later the sides were level when Cathal Curran's high ball dropped in the goalmouth and Joey Keenaghan doubled overhead to send it to the net. Sean Carey and Liam Langton exchanged points from frees before Langton struck from play to put Clodiagh Gaels in front for the first time. Thy had a chance of a second goal when Joey Keenaghan linked with Cathal Brady but Joseph Connors made a terrific save. Darragh Guinan levelled but Mark Dillon hit back and his point had Clodiagh Gaels 1-8 to 0-10 in front at half time.

Seir Kieran were level 22 seconds after the restart when sub Tom Dooley pointed but Joey Keenaghan had the Gaels back in front from a difficult angle. They had another chance of a goal when Cathal Brady cut in from the right but Joseph Connors saved well again and Mark Dillon was unable to connect with the rebound. Two Sean Carey frees restored the Seir Kieran lead but Sean Brady levelled for the sixth time before goalkeeper Kevin Kinahan lofted over a free from his own 45m line.

Seir Kieran then had a goal chance when Adrian Hynes and Sean Carey set up Tom Dooley but Kevin Kinahan advanced quickly to save at the expense of a '65' which Sean Carey pointed. He added a free and Darragh Guinan and Luke Carey pushed the lead out to three early in the final quarter.

Emmet Curley and Eoin Dunne sandwiched a Sean Carey free to keep Clodiagh Gaels in touch but three quick points from Sean Carey, Kieran Connor and Sean Dooley left Seir Kieran five points up with six minutes left. Liam Langton pulled one back from a '65' and then pointed from play but they seemed to have missed their chance as two more wides followed.

However they launched one final attack. Seir Kieran felt one of their defenders was fouled in the build up but play continued and Mark Dillon moved in from the right before crossing to Sean Rattigan and he fired low to the net to level matters again. The final whistle followed the puck out and the sides shared the points.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

CLODIAGH GAELS: Kevin Kinahan; Caolan Flanagan, Clint Horan, Mark Kelly; Ruairi Dunne, Aaron Flanagan, Dylan Hyland; Cathal Curran, Eoin Dunne; Joey Keenaghan, Liam Langton, Emmet Curley; Cathal Brady, Mark Dillon, Sean Brady. Subs. Diarmuid Walsh (for Mark Kelly, 22 mins), Sean Rattigan (for Cathal Brady, 55 mins).

SEIR KIERAN: Joseph Connors; Kieran Connor, Stephen Gilligan, Noelie Bergin; Connor Dooley, Barry Kealey, John Coughlan; Michael Gilligan, Thomas Connor; Darragh Guinan, Adrian Hynes, Sean Carey; Kevin Dunne, Luke Carey, Oisin Guinan. Subs. Tom Dooley (for Michael Gilligan, 30 mins), Sean Dooley (for Oisin Guinan, 46 mins).

REFEREE: Stephen Connolly.

MAN OF THE MATCH

There were some fine performances on both sides. The top scorers were Liam Langton and Sean Carey with 0-7 each, although both missed a couple of placed balls as well, and both centre backs Aaron Flanagan and Barry Kealey also had fine games. Kevin Dunne started well with three early points from play before moving to midfield and doing well. I've gone for Seir Kieran wing back John Coughlan for a fine all round display. Some of his fielding of high balls was out of the top drawer, he won an amount of possession, delivered good ball into the attack and he also contributed a fine long range point.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Clodiagh Gaels last second equalising goal was the most significant moment. Seir Kieran looked to have done enough when they went five points clear late on but Clodiagh Gaels fought back and Sean Rattigan's goal with virtually the last puck earned them a share of the points.

REFEREE WATCH

Stephen Connolly handled the game well throughout. He let the play run as much as possible and while on occasion there may have been protests from the sidelines, he did a good job and the players just got on with it. Overall there was little to quibble about with his performance.

WHAT’S NEXT

Seir Kieran play Kilcormac/Killoughey in the next round on Wednesday August 19th in Rath, while Clodiagh Gaels return to Kinnitty for their next game on Saturday August 22nd against Drumcullen.

VENUE WATCH

The Kinnitty venue was in very good condition for this game. There were enough stewards on duty to cater for the crowd and parking was well organised. The pitch was in good order and was firm after all the dry weather as evidenced when John Coughlan's long range first half effort bounced in the goalmouth and over the bar.

STATISTICS

Wides; Clodiagh Gaels 17 (11 in first half) Seir Kieran 10 (5 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Clodiagh Gaels 0 Seir Kieran 1 (Connor Dooley)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Clodiagh Gaels; Liam Langton (0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-1 '65'), Joey Keenaghan (1-1), Sean Rattigan (1-0), Sean Brady (0-2), Cathal Brady, Mark Dillon, Kevin Kinahan (free), Emmet Curley, Eoin Dunne (0-1 each).

Seir Kieran; Sean Carey (0-7, 0-5 frees, 0-1 '65'), Kevin Dunne (0-3), Luke Carey, Darragh Guinan (0-2 each), Barry Kealey, Connor Dooley, Oisin Guinan, John Coughlan, Tom Dooley, Kieran Connor, Sean Dooley (0-1 each).