THE NATIONALIST
Saturday 6th September 2003

Killenaule overcome serious inaccuracy to dismiss Cashel

County Senior Hurling Championship

Killenaule 0-18, Cashel King Cormacs 0-13

• Killenaule bounced back from their South semi-final defeat by Mullinahone seven days before to record a fully deserved five-point win over Cashel King Cormacs in the County senior hurling 'qualifier' at Fethard on Sunday last.
  
  The young Killenaule side delivered on their favourites tag but surely made heavy work of their mission. While they accounted for thirteen points of their total from play with all their forwards getting on the scoresheet, they indulged in wanton squandermania, chalking up a whopping fifteen wides in the process.
  
  The winners can thank goalie Conor O'Donnell for making a number of fine saves when the issue was still wide open, most notably one vital 'stop' from Cashel's chief score-getter Timmy Moloney five minutes into the second half, while excellent defender Keith Kennedy made a crucial block down on a shot from Seanie O'Donoghue in the 50th minute with the winners leading by only four points. Lion-hearted corner back Peter Kennedy also made an important clearance when the ball broke following another goal attempt by Timmy Moloney in the early stages of the second half.
  
  For all that, Killenaule held the upperhand for most of the game, their strength in defence epitomised by centre back Declan Fanning a big factor in their success. And while their forward lines need to address the huge tally of wides they amassed and need to score goals, they deserve great credit for the scores they put over. Michael Farrell, Joe Ceaser, Tony Doyle, and Patrick Kerwick got three apiece, while Jonathan Gleeson also made his contribution, while Tony Shelly was on target with five frees.
  
  It may have taken Killenaule a while to get going on Sunday after the disappointment of the defeat the previous week, but, they showed clearly that they are growing in confidence with every game. The county U/21 final success has been a massive boost to the team and it is gelling into a very promising unit. The side had ten of the U/21 team on duty and their displays to date has given them great encouragement for the future. Jonathan O'Dwyer missed the game through illness and his replacement Vinnie Hannigan did very well. In a defence that conceded few scores from play Kenneth Cleary had a fine game while Noel O'Grady worked hard too.
  
  Killenaule will not be carried away on the strength of this victory, however, and know only too well the enormity of the test that awaits them soon. After all, Cashel are the first to admit that they are struggling in transition right now, a fate that most clubs experience at one stage or another. With the loss of many household names on the county and club scene down through the years the club is now team building with a view to improving their fortunes.
  
  Hopefully, it will not be too long before the great traditional club, County and Munster champions in 91-92 season, are back a potent force again on the Tipperary scene. All credit to the team for a wholehearted effort on Sunday and their cause was not helped by the loss of Raymie Ryan, a great servant of the club, with a leg injury after forty nine minutes. He seemed to turn awkwardly and had to retire immediately. He was replaced by Ailbe Bonnar who worked hard.
  
  Ryan and TJ Connolly did much to keep Cashel in the hunt after Killenaule started more promisingly. Hard working Philip Blake won a free that gave Tony Shelly the first point of the game (free) after three minutes and while Timmy Moloney cancelled out matters Joe Ceaser pushed Killenaule in front again after eight minutes. However, Ryan inspired Cashel with two wonderful long range points, the first punished a misdirected pass, and by 12th minute they were ahead (0-4 to 0-2). Timmy Moloney adding their fourth score.
  
  Alert corner back Christopher Ryan saved a Michael Farrell shot on the line in 17th minute to give his side great heart, but, once Caesar levelled three minutes later Killenaule took control again outscoring their rivals 0-7 to 0-3 to lead by four points at the interval (0-11 to 0-7). Their lead should have been greater- they had seven wides to Cashel's two.
  
  Timmy Moloney and Joe Ceaser swapped points in the early stages of the second half and Cashel should have goaled after a number of chances had fallen to them. Despite Killenaule's dominance the issue was still very much in the melting pot at the three quarter stage, Seanie O'Donoghue firing over a good point and Timmy Moloney with a wonderful score from a difficult angle, cutting the deficit to two points (0-13 to 0-11). Cashel lost Raymie Ryan at the worst possible time and Killenaule getting their 'shooting' in order again dictated the closing stages goalie O'Donnell again denying them a goal chance in the dying minutes.
  
  Had Cashel greater scoring power they might have made life more difficult for the winners. They finished with a seven wides tally. Timmy Moloney ended up as the game's top scorer and the long serving campaigner showed that he still has plenty to offer the game, his two scores from play well taken. Philip Taylor also took a good point, and apart from Raymie Ryan and TJ Connolly, Joe O'Leary Christopher Ryan, and Liam Barron also worked very hard over the hour. Brian Minogue made some good clearances in the closing stages as Killenaule raided for a goal, while sub Gerard O'Dwyer also tried hard.
  
  Killenaule: C O'Donnell; V Hannigan, N O'Grady, P Kennedy; K Cleary, D Fanning, K Kennedy; J Grace, P Blake; T Doyle (0-3), J Ceaser 0-3), M Farrell (0-3); T Shelly (0-5) P Kerwick (0-3), J Gleeson (0-1). Subs: R Maher, D Gleeson, N Berry.
  
  Cashel King Cormacs: J Connolly; B Minogue, L Barron, C Ryan; J O'Leary, TJ Connolly, R O'Donoghue; T O'Dwyer, R Ryan (0-2); P Taylor (0-1), S Hickey, M Coleman; R O'Dwyer, T Moloney (0-9), B Moloney. Subs: S O'Donoghue (0-1), G O'Dwyer, K O'Sullivan, A Bonnar.