By: Mary Dunne
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior B Hurling Final
Clodiagh Gaels: 0-17
Seir Kieran: 0-16
Despite living on their wits for the final ten odd minutes, Clodiagh Gaels within the space of seven days added the Senior B Hurling Title to the Junior A Football Crown, following a tight battle with Seir Kieran in Saturday afternoon last in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
While the hurling was not right out the top drawer it was extremely passionate nonetheless as Clodiagh Gaels made their own little piece of history, in a game that came right down to the final whistle.
It was a titanic battle that was played on a knifes edge, no more than in the final ten minutes. It was nail biting stuff in the end, as Seir Kieran battled to get the equaliser as Clodiagh Gaels held on with every ounce of their souls.
It has been a marvelous week for the dual club and they now can certainly celebrate in style. The quick turnaround between the two finals meant that they didn’t really get to celebrate the football win, so I am sure they will make up for it in the coming days!
Seir Kieran certainly will be extremely disappointed not to bring it to a replay. They had plenty of chances in the dying minutes and to be fair in the final ten minutes they threw everything they had at Clodiagh Gaels.
The Senior B hurling championship once again has been a huge contest this year with some extremely competitive and top class performances on show and in the end it really was no wonder that Clodiagh Gaels and Seir Kieran faced off in the final decider.
This was the sides second such meeting of the year and with nothing separating the sides in the group game, the meeting of the sides was always going to be an extremely interesting affair.
On one side, you had Seir Kieran the side who came down from top flight hurling in 2026, having lost out to Kinnitty in a relegation battle bidding to get back to top flight hurling after just one season, while on the other side Clodiagh Gaels, who are aiming to get back to top flight hurling for the first time since 2021.
The dual club with no less than 9 starting players who had lifted the Junior A Football Title in the previous seven days on their starting fifteen, they certainly were aiming to bring home a second title in the space of the week, in what without doubt would be a massive achievement for the Killeigh/Killurin amalgamation.
It was a game that failed to spark to any major life in the opening half and with almost as many wides as scores by the 20th minute, the game needed something to drive it on.
It was quiet a stop-start affair and while at times there were glimpses of some good hurling, it was Clodiagh Gaels who were playing all the hurling, with Seir Kieran in the opening half relying heavily on frees from Sean Carey for their scores.
Seir Kieran, playing into the Park Avenue ended started very well and by the 3rd minute, they were 0-2 to no score to the good thanks to a brace from the Carey Brothers Sean and Luke.
Eoin Dunne, who moved to the half forward line in a switch with Liam Langton, hit over what would be three scores for him for the half on the 4th minute, but a free from Sean Carey brought it back to two, 0-3 to 0-1 five minutes in.
Clodiagh Gaels, while they weren’t setting the world on fire, they did start to mold into the game and with three scores on the bounce from Eoin Dunne and a brace from Liam Langton, they were in front 0-4 to 0-3.
It was a lead however, that wasn’t set to last and with the next three scores on the bounce from Sean Carey either side of a fine score from Darragh Guinan, and they were back in front 0-6 to 0-4 with twenty three on the clock.
Indeed Clodiagh Gaels were right to argue that they had a score in that sequence of play, but Liam Langton’s free was waved wide, despite the linesman on the stand side rightly calling it over the bar. Upon consultation with his umpires, the referee deemed it was still wide, despite the protests of Clodiagh Gaels.
It was a game that switched hands a number of times and once again it was Clodiagh Gales who regrouped and from the 24th to 32nd minutes they outscored Seir Kieran by six points to one.
Liam Langton who really was inspirational for Gaels led the charge and with three of the six, he had his side right in it, before scores from Eoin Dunne, Sean Brady and Cathal Brady left them 0-10 to 0-7 clear, with Seir Kieran’s seventh coming from Sean Carey.
the half, however wasn’t over and Seir Kieran came again, but with Kevin Kinahan pulling off a vital save from Luke Carey, the most Seir Kieran got from the attack was a ’65 from Sean Carey to leave two between the sides 0-10 to 0-8 at the break.
In reality Clodiagh Gaels really should have pushed on from there, but on the resumption two fine scores in quick succession from Sean and Luke Carey had the sides level at 0-10 each a minute into the restart.
Clodiagh Gaels ability not to panic was extremely evident and with four more scores from Liam Langton, his fourth in particular a spectacular shot from out near the middle of the field. It was coolness personified and with thirty eight on the clock they lead by four 0-14 to 0-10.
They really should have closed it down from there but for the remainder of the game, they retreated into themselves somewhat, and their defence now had to take up the mantle.
Adrian Hynes and with further scores from Sean Carey and Tom Dooley with a cracking score had it back to a one point game, 0-14 to 0-13 with forty seven on the clock.
Liam Langton steadied the Clodiagh Gaels nerves with a much needed score from play and with a follow up free from the same player, they were three clear 0-16 to 0-13 as fifty two ticked over on the clock.
Luke Carey responded and with another score from his bother Sean, we had a one point game and it was the Clareen men who were doing all the attacking.
Cometh the man, cometh the hour when he was needed again Liam Langton was there and with his 11th of the game, he gave ‘Gaels a two point cushion as we ticked into the final three minutes.
The dying minutes and injury time were frantic to say the least. Sean Carey left one between the sides on the 58th minute.
For the remainder of the time Clodiagh Gaels hung on for dear life as Seir Kieran rained pass after pass on top of their defence, but in the end they held on for a historic win. The final scores reading 0-17 to 0-16.
The Scorers
Clodiagh Gaels: Liam Langton 0-11 (0-5 Frees), Eoin Dunne 0-3, Kevin Kinahan 0-1 (Free), Sean Brady 0-1, Cathal Brady 0-1.
Seir Kieran: Sean Carey 0-10 (0-8 Frees, 0-1 ‘65), Luke Carey 0-3, Darragh Guinan 0-1, Adrian Hynes 0-1, Tom Dooley 0-1.
The Teams
Clodiagh Gaels: Kevin Kinahan; Caolan Flanagan, Clint Horan, Conor Berry; Ruairi Dunne (Capt.), Aaron Flanagan, Dylan Hyland; Liam Langton, Diarmuid Walsh; Emmet Curley, Eoin Dunne, Joey Keenaghan Cathal Brady, Mark Dillon, Sean Brady.
Subs: Sean Rattigan for Mark Dillon (38 mins), Conor Langton for Emmet Curley (49 mins), Sean Dunne for Sean Brady (inj. 59 mins).
Seir Kieran: Joseph Connors; Noelie Bergin, Kieran Connors, Stephen Gilligan; Conor Dooley, Barry Kealy, John Coughlan; Michael Gilligan (Capt.), Thomas Connors; Darragh Guinan, Adrian Hynes, Sean Dooley; Sean Carey, Kevin Dunne, Luke Carey.
Subs: Tom Dooley for Luke Carey (Half Time), Barry Bergin for Sean Dooley (38 mins).
Referee: David McLoughlin (Shinrone).
