Seir Kieran celebrate fantastic against the head league title
K Buggy Coaches Division 1 Hurling League final
Despite Seir Kieran’s fine start that saw Kevin Dunne and Oisín Guinan find the net in the opening ten minutes, it looked for most of this game that Pat Carroll Cup was destined to go back to Coolderry for the first time since 2018, despite the loss of Cathal Burke to a red card in the 20th minute.
K Buggy Coaches Division 1 Hurling League final
Seir Kieran 2-18
Coolderry 0-23
Perhaps it was the eventual effect of operating with a numerical deficit, but Seir Kieran found more in a dramatic finish to prevail, firing over four of the last five points while hurling into a strong wind, including a sensational match-winner from Tom Dooley.
It was an enthralling end to an otherwise lacklustre second half, which was in stark contrast to the sparkling hurling that these two sides produced for the opening 30 minutes.
Coolderry won the toss and opted to hurl into the wind and Seir Kieran weren’t about to turn down the gift of a fast start, hitting the net early when Oisín Guinan played a perfect pass into Kevin Dunne, who duly whipped the sliotar inside the near post from 12 metres out.
Shane Ryan and Cian Burke picked off the best of Coolderry’s early points while Eoin Burke looked like the star attacker on the field as he darted and jinked around the forward line, winning frees and opening up opportunities for others.
Gearóid McCormack and Andrew Hogan gave Coolderry a physical presence close to the Clareen goal, and while the Seir Kieran full back line held out manfully, they were forced to walk on the line when it came to their tackling.
Still, Joseph Connors hoisted over three frees from inside his own half, one from at least 100 metres out, Darragh Guinan was on target with three strikes from a variety of angles, and a scrambled Oisín Guinan goal briefly helped them to lead by six points.
Cathal Burke’s dismissal for a hit on Oisín Guinan after the ball was gone was another setback to Coolderry but they finished the half strong to trail by just two, 2-10 to 0-14. Ajay Cleary’s wonderful strike from distance crowned a half in which they were very efficient, hitting 14 points from 17 shots in all.
Seir Kieran kept their extra man close to their own goal in the second half even with that edge, still Pat and Stephen Gilligan found it hard to curtail Eoin Burke. By now McCormack had dropped back to the full-back line to replace Cathal Burke and Andrew Hogan showed both his potential and his rawness in his attempts to influence the scoreboard from the corner forward berth.
Barry Keeley was growing in influence at centre back, John Coughlan hurled some excellent ball on the wings and Kevin Dunne switched back to midfield to give Seir Kieran some energy in that sector, but through a combination of the breeze, Andy Connolly’s contribution off the bench and the ongoing effectiveness of Dunne, Coolderry took their first lead in the 42nd minute and were able to keep their noses in front for most of the remainder.
Seir Kieran missed a couple of chances that could only be described as sitters, and when Coolderry captain Will Malone swept over a majestic point to push Coolderry two up with a little over five minutes remaining, it felt like a clinching score.
Then Kevin Dunne hit the target (or was deemed to have following a long confab between officials), Thomas Connors levelled the game, and Adrian Hynes set up Barry Bergin for a second point for the impactful Clareen sub.
Andrew Connolly ran at the Seir Kieran goal and earned a 65 which Eoin Burke converted with a pressure strike, but the marksman gave back the credit when he tripped up the rampaging Dunne on the last attack, albeit it was odds against that the full price would be paid, given the location right on the midfield line.
With Luke Carey off the field and Joseph Connors not as sure-footed in his efforts into the wind, Tom Dooley was the one who stepped up to take on the shot and with his one and only attempt from a free, he just about kept his powerful effort inside the right hand post to wrap up the club’s first Senior League win since 2016, and a huge psychological boost for the Senior B Championship front runners.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Barry Keeley (Seir Kieran): The three front runners were Ajay Cleary, Eoin Burke and Keeley. Cleary looked every bid as formidable and imposing as his father Paul was back in the day with some of his play in the second half in particular, while Eoin Burke was ruthless from dead balls, including that high pressure equaliser in stoppage time.
Burke probably had his nose in front until he was guilty of the foul that allowed Tom Dooley to strike the winner, but after Seir Kieran won this game on the back of stubborn and stout defensive play against the wind, Barry Keeley gets the vote for his tenacious leadership of the back division.
A shout too to Kevin Dunne who hit two vital scores of his own but was always positive on the ball, putting Seir Kieran on the front foot with energy and intent.
THE SCORERS
Seir Kieran: Kevin Dunne 1-1, Oisín Guinan 1-0, Darragh Guinan 0-3, Joseph Connors 0-3f, Luke Carey 0-2f, Adrian Hynes 0-2, Tom Dooley 0-2 (0-1f), Barry Bergin 0-2, Barry Keeley 0-1, Chris Connors 0-1, Thomas Connors 0-1.
Coolderry: Eoin Burke 0-14 (0-11f, 0-1 65), Cian Burke 0-3, Shane Ryan 0-1, Declan Parlon 0-1, Andrew Hogan 0-1, Stephen Corcoran 0-1f, Ajay Cleary 0-1, Will Malone 0-1.
THE TEAMS
SEIR KIERAN: Joseph Connors; Pat Gilligan, Chris Connors, Stephen Gilligan; Thomas Connors, Barry Keeley, John Coughlan; Michael Gilligan, Seán Dooley; Tom Dooley, Adrian Hynes, Darragh Guinan; Oisín Guinan, Luke Carey, Kevin Dunne. Subs: Barry Bergin for O Guinan, 48mins; Declan Purcell for Carey 57mins.
COOLDERRY: Stephen Corcoran; Cathal Burke, Ajay Cleary, Stephen Burke; Conor Molloy, Will Malone, Marc Ryan; Shane Ryan, Shane Connolly; Declan Parlon, Eoghan Parlon, Cian Burke; Eoin Burke, Gearóid McCormack, Eoin Burke. Subs: Andy Connolly for S Connolly, 40mins; Joey McLoughney for McCormack, 48mins; Conor Hogan for D Parlon 51mins; James Tooher for S Burke, 57mins.
Referee – Matthew Farrell (Tullamore).
REFEREE WATCH
There were the usual amount of close calls but as is customary for Matthew Farrell, he was up with the play and generally on the money. The big decision was Cathal Burke’s red card, where he reacted to Oisín Guinan’s commentary on a wide ball. It was hard to tell if it was a shoulder to shoulder contact or there was use of the butt of the hurl, though either way, Burke gave the linesman (David McLoughlin) a decision to make, and acting on McLoughlin’s instruction, Farrell showed a straight red.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Had Coolderry won the game, it would be impossible to look past Luke Carey’s missed free from 25 metres and the superb score from Cian Burke immediately afterwards with 10 minutes remaining. As it was, however, it’s impossible to look past Kevin Dunne winning the decisive free, and Tom Dooley firing over the crucial point from the 65m line, into the wind, with his one and only dead ball strike of the day.
VENUE WATCH
The Birr pitch was in very good order, there was a small but vocal crowd, and while the wind was a factor in the game, overall it was a fine summer contest in a perfect setting.
WHAT'S NEXT
Seir Kieran will carry no small amount of confidence into their championship opener in a fortnight, which is another local derby clash, this time against Drumcullen. Coolderry manager Paul Cuddy faces a big challenge lifting the confidence of his side in advance of a big test against county champions Kilcormac-Killoughey on Sunday, July 12th.
STATISTICS
Wides: Coolderry – 7 (2 in first half); Seir Kieran – 9 (5 in first half).
Yellow cards: Seir Kieran – 4 (Chris Connors 3mins, Adrian Hynes 35mins, Pat Gilligan 36mins, Oisín Guinan 46mins); Coolderry – 0.
Red cards: Seir Kieran – 0; Coolderry – 1 (Cathal Burke, 20 mins).