Long overdue success for Moneygall
Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
Moneygall 2-14
Kiladangan 0-13
Report: Liam Hogan in Borrisokane
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Brendan Toohey (Moneygall)
SCORERS – Moneygall: Adam Hogan 0-7 (4 frees); Bob Kenny 1-1; Sean Fogarty 1-0; Joe Fogarty, Conor Ryan 0-2 each; Brendan Toohey (65), Ger Kirwan 0-1 each.
Kiladangan: Bryan McLoughney 0-7 (6 frees, 1’65); Paddy Coen, Darragh Egan (frees) 0-2 each; John McGrath, Eoin Gleeson 0-1 each.
Moneygall produced the goods in the second half to bridge a gap of 28 years to deservedly win the North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship title by defeating Kiladangan in the final on Saturday.
The victory looked far from possible at half time when Moneygall, helped by the strong breeze only managed to take a 0-9 to 0-6 lead. Shooting ten wides didn’t help but the tide changed and two goals in the middle period of the second half put them in command.
As well as the goals the dismissal of Kiladangan’s Paddy Coen for an off the ball tussle with Willie Greene gave them a numerical advantage but in truth Moneygall deserved their victory because simply they were the better team all round.
No doubt Kiladangan would be very disappointed. They entered the game as favourites following their big win over Moneygall in the final group game in the county championship two weeks previous. That defeat meant Moneygall had to win the North title to get back into the county championship race.
Moneygall made three changes following the semi-final win over Shannon Rovers with Cathal Kennedy returning from suspension to replace Ger Ryan with Phil Fanning in at full back in place of Donal Carroll while Brendan Teehan took over from Niall Maher at wing forward.
Kiladangan’s had to alter their team following their recent wins over Borrisokane in the North semi-final and Moneygall, which put them in a confident space but the loss of Dan O’Meara through suspension dented their hopes but John McGrath was a reliable replacement.