Kiladangan 1-21 Thurles Sarsfields 1-20
A Sean Hayes goal four minutes from time was decisive as Kiladangan hung on for a second Tipperary senior hurling title to defy Thurles Sarsfields in a nail-biting replay.
The merit of the Kiladangan win could not be questioned but they hit a staggering 17 wides over the hour to keep a struggling Sarsfields team in the hunt when the game should have been beyond them.
They also overcame a sluggish start as they trailed 0-01 to 1-04 after eight minutes. Paddy Creedon had the Thurles goal after two minutes and it looked as though a 37th title was on the way to Sarsfields.
However, Kiladangan, with Willie Connors an inspiring figure, settled and outscored their rivals nine points to four before the break, midfielder Tadhg Gallagher hitting three points.
Sarsfields goalkeeper Patrick McCormack denied them a likely goal when stopping a Sean Hayes effort after 18 minutes.
Sarsfields, relying heavily on Aidan McCormack's free-taking, still led at half-time 1-08 to 0-10, Paddy Creedon notching 1-02 for them.
Two great Connors points helped Kiladangan to a 0-14 to 1-09 lead after 37 minutes but Sarsfields came back strongly, four Aidan McCormack points helping to push them 1-16 to 0-15 clear at the start of the last quarter.
Once more Kiladangan rallied and scored the next five points to hit the front with six minutes to play.
Sarsfields levelled but then Sean Hayes (pictured) netted for Kiladangan in the 56th minute.
Sarsfields battled on with three points to Billy Seymour’s effort for Kiladangan but deep in injury time a Ronan Maher long-range effort to level for Sarsfields drifted narrowly wide leaving Kiladangan players and supporters delighted with a second Tipp senior hurling title.
Connors was the star for Kiladangan but the efforts of Billy Seymour, Declan McGrath, James Quigley, Sean Hayes and Alan Flynn were also critical to their success.
Sarsfields were so close but can have no complaints. They were struggling for long spells but still bungled a few point chances late on that could have saved the day.
Ronan Maher was again a towering figure for them in defence and Paddy Creedon the main threat in attack, with Michael Purcell, Cathal Moloney, Paul Maher, Aidan McCormack and Patrick McCormack others to have big games for them.
Kiladangan - B Hogan; W Connors (0-03), J Quigley, F Hayes; D Sweeney, J Gallagher (0-01), D McGrath(0-02); T Gallagher(0-03), A Flynn; D O Meara (0-01), B Seymour (0-09, 6fs), P Flynn(0-01); B McLoughney, S Hayes (1-01) A Loughnane; Subs – E Sharkey for McLoughney (43mins), C Byrne for D O Meara (49mins), D Moran for Loughnane (61mins);
Sarsfields – P McCormack; P Maher, D Maher, S Maher; J Armstrong, R Maher (0-02,2fs), M Purcell; C Moloney, Conor Stakelum; B McCarthy, S Cahill, P Creedon (1-03); D Stakelum (0-02), A McCormack( 0-13,9fs),E Purcell; Subs – D Corbett for Cahill (37mins), S Butler for McCarthy (37mins), Cian Stakelum for Moloney (57mins), C Lanigan for E Purcell (57mins);
Ref – J McCormack, Knockavilla Kickhams
