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Daniel Collins and Jack Sheridan starred for their respective teams today. INPHO

Kerry and Kildare winners set up historic All-Ireland club hurling final meeting

Kilmoyley and Naas are heading to Croke Park.

All-Ireland intermediate club hurling semi-final results

  • Kilmoyley (Kerry) 2-15 Banagher (Derry) 1-12
  • Naas (Kildare) 0-18 Tooreen (Mayo) 0-13

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THERE WILL BE a novel All-Ireland hurling final meeting involving the Kerry and Kildare club champions after today’s semi-final successes for Kilmoyley and Naas.

The two clubs, competing at the All-Ireland semi-final stage for the first time this afternoon after their respective historic Munster and Leinster triumphs, will meet in the intermediate final at Croke Park on the weekend of 5-6 February.

It will mark the first time that a club from Kerry and Kildare have contested an All-Ireland hurling final.

Two goals from Maurice O’Connor inspired Kilmoyley to victory over Ulster champions, Banagher from Derry, to victory by 2-15 to 1-12 at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan. Daniel Collins (0-9) and Jordan Brick (0-4) were also in exceptional point-socring form for the winners.

Kilmoyley suffered an early setback when Collins saw his penalty effort saved but they recovered to lead 1-2 to 0-3 at the water break and 1-5 to 0-6 by half-time, O’Connor raising his first green flag. 

But the Derry champions enjoyed a brilliant start to the second half with a Stefan McCloskey goal helping them lead 1-8 to 1-5 as they played against the wind. Then Collins stepped up for Kilmoyley with four points in a row to restore their advantage by the second water break. They pushed on in the final quarter with Brick excelling and O’Connor netting for the second time, although the ending to the game was marred for Kilmoyley by a red card for forward Adrian Royle.

Jack Sheridan was in superb form for Naas as he fired 0-9 in their success by 0-18 to 0-13 against Mayo’s Tooreen in Duggan Park in Ballinasloe.

Tooreen, competing in their third All-Ireland semi-final, made a bright start as they went ahead 0-5 to 0-3 by the 20th minute, but Naas fought back to go front 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time. Tooreen cut the gap to a single point twice in the third quarter, but Naas hit five points without reply to move ahead 0-16 to 0-10 entering the last ten minutes.

They were able to protect their winning position from there, Sheridan pointing the way and Brian Byrne scoring 0-3 overall. Shane Boland (0-6) and Cathal Freeman (0-2) were top scorers for Tooreen.

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