*Andrew Conheady commits a foul during the second half of Broadford vs Tulla. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Kilmaley and Broadford will clash in the U21 B hurling championship final following their semi-final victories over Feakle/Killanena and Tulla respectively in Saturday’s semi-finals.
Following a number of pitch inspections the games went ahead with the Broadford v Tulla game switching to Clareabbey after Dr Stuart Park, Ogonnelloe was ruled out due to a frozen surface following heavy frost and fog on Friday night. The final is set for next weekend.
Strong start leads Kilmaley to final
Kilmaley 1-14
Feakle/Killanena 2-10
Venue: Tubber
Kilmaley made the better start in this semi-final played at Tubber and they were helped by an early goal from full forward Colm Killeen.
With the last action of the half Keith Smyth blasted a free to the Kilmaley net to close the gap to four points and Kilmaley led 1-9 to 1-4 at the interval.
Smyth struck again midway through the second half when he drilled another free to the net and the pre match favourites had closed the gap further.
They battled hard to the finish but some good points from Cian Neylon and Colm Killeen kept Kilmaley in front and they emerged with the minimum to spare to seal their place in the final for the side managed by the McNamara brothers Kevin and Stephen.
Kilmaley: Ryan Murphy; Jack Warren, Kenneth Higgins, Luke McMahon; Enda Haren, Brian McNamara, James McGuire; Diarmuid Cahill, Thomas McGure (0-1); Sean Ronan (0-2), Padraic O’Dnoghue, Dylan Keane-Hayes; Tomas Clancy (0-1), Colm Killeen (1-4), Cian Neylon (0-6, 5f);
Sub: Conor O’Rourke for O’Donoghue
Feakle/Killanena: Liam O’Connor; Jamie Canny, Enda Madden, Conor McGann; Liam Hogan, Adam Hogan, Eoghan Daly; Darren McMahon, Ian McNamara (0-2); Sean Walsh, Ronan O’Connor (0-1), Seamus O’Donnell; Diarmuid McMahon, Keith Smyth (2-6, 2-3 frees), Gearoid Keane (0-1);
Subs: Oisin Clune for D. McMahon; Christopher Moloney for S. Walsh
Referee: John Bugler (Whitegate)
Broadford bounce into U21B final
Broadford 1-13
Tulla 2-8
Venue: Clareabbey
Helped by a number of positional switches made at half time which included the move of Niall O’Farrell to centre forward, Broadford finished strongly to account for Tulla in this well contested semi-final at Clareabbey.
Helped by a goal from Michael Ryan, Tulla led by four at the interval when the score was 1-5 to 0-4.
Farrell’s accuracy from frees and play played a key part in Broadford’s second half performance. Their goal came from Alan O’Brien and while Eanna Culloo found the net for Tulla, the physically stronger Broadford side finished strongly to take the spoils.
Broadford: Peter O’Farrell; Paul McNamara, David Boland, Cathal O’Sullivan; Conor O’Donnell, Paddy Donnellan, Cormac O’Brien; Niall O’Farrell, Gearoid Vaughan; Alan O’Brien, Oisin Kavanagh, Denis Fahy; Conor Phelan, Cian Mulqueen, James Vaughan;
Subs: TJ Dillon for McNamara; Sam Cooper for C. Phelan
Tulla: Aron Shanahan; Liam McInerney, Tony Leyden, Paul Kelleher; Fionn Ryan Jimmy O’Gorman, Dara Ryan; Dan Withycombe, Eanna Culloo; Sean Withycombe, Jack McSweeney, William Halpin; Colm Hogan, Andrew Conheady. Michael Ryan.
Referee: Kieran Liddane (Sixmilebridge)
