Cumann na mBunscol Finals: Kiltale bridge 21-year gap

DIV 4 HURLING

Kiltale NS ended a 21-year wait since their last title when they claimed the Div 4 Hurling title following a pulsating final clash with Kill NS at Trim on Saturday morning.

Leading by seven points at half-time Kiltale were pegged back by the talented Rathmolyon side who were inspired by the excellent Tadhg Fagan. However, Kill's challenge was ended by a couple of late goals which restored Kiltale's supremacy.

Kiltale were much more efficient in the opening half as they took their chances well, while Kill hit six wides in that spell.

Sean Phelan opened the scoring after two minutes with an excellent point from play, but Kill proved they were a threat as Tadhg Fagan drove through the heart of the defence and blasted over an equalising point.

Phelan restored Kiltale's lead from a free and in the eighth minute they took a giant step towards the title when Frankie Gilsenan picked out Phelan with a superb pass and the Kiltale marksman produced a brilliant finish to the net to make it 1-2 to 0-1.

Jim Hayes capitalised on great play by Fagan to respond with a point for Kill, but they continued to be wasteful and Kiltale took full advantage with Phelan restoring his side's four-point cushion from another free.

Two minutes before the break Kiltale grabbed a fortunate second goal when Gilsenan's free from distance fell short to the net to ensure a 2-3 to 0-2 interval lead for Kiltale.

Despite not playing to their best in the first period, Kill were a transformed side after the resumption as the excellent Fagan inspirwed them.

Fagan landed a free three minutes after the break and when he burst through the heart of the Kiltale defence three minutes later to blast a brilliant goal - the comeback was on.

Jonas Dempsey fired over a rasper from a narrow angle to make it 1-4 to 2-3 and the deficit was down to the minimum with just eight minutes remaining when Jim Hayes' effort from distance dropped over the bar.

Kiltale looked under pressure, but with Frankie gilsenan and Phelan excelling they settled again with Gilsenan's brilliant pass picking out Ruairi McGrath for a fine goal.

Fagan forced Turlough Purcell into a fine save, but the game was still in the balance after Demposey tapped over a free.

However Gilsenan p;ut the issue beyond doubt when he found the net from a narrow angle to restore a four-point lead.

Fagan did grab a late consolation goal for Kill, but it wasn't to be as Kiltale held on.

Kiltale NS - Turlough Purcell; Adam Bannon, Harry Mulvany, Ruairí McGrath (1-0), Tadhg Purcell; Odhrán Phelan, Frankie Gilsenan (2-0 one free); Noelle Lawless, Seán Phelan (1-3 two frees), Meabh Gallagher, Billy Black. Subs - Ronan McMahon, Casey O’Connor, Kyle McCormack, Seán Maguire, Thomas McCormack, Jack O’Connor. Mentors - Colin McElroy, Úna McCormack, Catherine Fitzsimons.

Kill NS - Luke O’Malley; Nathan Doherty, Tadhg Callaghan, Nina Doherty, Daniel Smyth; Tadhg Fagan (2-2 one free), Jim Hayes (0-2); Adam Farrell, Lee Farrell, Jonas Dempsey (0-2 one free), Joshua Kelly. Subs - Méabh Regan, Jessica Tuohy-Doherty, Anthony Sheridan. Mentor - Paul Noonan.

Referee - Kevin Higgins (St Mary’s NS, Trim).,