Kilsheelan prove too slick for Moneygall

GAA: FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 3-19

Moneygall 1-13

Report: Liam Hogan in Littleton

Moneygall’s hopes of making the County Intermediate Hurling final were dashed as Kilsheelan-Kilcash overwhelmed them in this semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

Two injury time goals stretched Kilsheelan’s winning margin to twelve which is a bit unfair on Moneygall who, helped by the breeze, were on a recovery mission in their best period of the game. Perhaps they left it too late, but in all honesty played second fiddle to a Kilsheelan team that had too many stars all over the field with Mark Kehoe, Mark Stokes, Bill Maher, Emmett Butler, Barry Kehoe and Martin Gibbs playing with great confidence. Paul Maher was just immense at wing back as he kept Moneygall ace Joe Fogarty very much on the back foot.

But spare a thought for Moneygall. They have enjoyed a great year as two pieces of silverware sit pretty on the sideboard in the County League and North Championship.

Many might suggest that the wet conditions didn’t suit them. Injury problems, loss of form and illness didn’t help. Too many players didn’t step up to expectations except for Michael Ryan, Cathal Kennedy, Cathal Greene, Liam Carroll and Roddy Teehan. Teehan was excellent in the first half as he kept a close eye on Mark Kehoe but had to retire at half time due to sickness. Up front, Eoin Whyte posed danger every time he won possession but Joe Fogarty, Sean Kenneally and Adam Hogan lived on scraps.

Moneygall won the toss and elected to play against the breeze but in the opening minutes Kilsheelan took the game to them. Roddy Teehan’s policing of Mark Kehoe prevented the Tipp star at least two scoring chances.

With heavy rain falling for the opening minutes, scores were level at 0-2 each before midfielder Mark Stokes scored a great point in the eleventh minute from halfway and it signalled a three-point run with Martin Gibbs adding two more from placed balls.

Bill Maher’s only mistake of the day was a mis-hit side-line cut going astray and Moneygall built from halfway with Conor Ryan taking advantage by finding the target in the 14th minute.

With Joe Fogarty and Eoin Whyte vying to get Moneygall more involved, they were handed a gift of a point from a close range free by Fogarty after Kilsheelan goalkeeper Tadgh Lonergan was harshly penalised for handpassing the ball after his hurl was knocked out of his hand.

In response, Barry Kehoe scored a well-taken point before the sides took refuge at the first water break. When play resumed Kilsheelan really scored six unanswered points through a Gibbs free followed by scores from play from Emmett Butler, Mark Kehoe, Barry Kehoe, and a Mark Stokes brace to open a 0-12 to 0-4 advantage.

Three minutes from half time, Sean Kenneally emerged from a ten-man tussle to score a welcome point for Moneygall. However, his side received a huge blow when Mark Stokes picked out an unmarked Mark Kehoe with a brilliant fifty metre pass who finally broke clear of Roddy Teehan to goal leaving Kilsheelan 1-12 to 0-5 in front at half time.

Moneygall needed something to get back into the game but losing Roddy Teehan through illness at half time was a setback and to add salt to their wounds the Kilsheelan lead increased to twelve as Martin Gibbs and Emmett Butler scored a point each by the 34th minute.

Eoin Whyte created danger close to the Kilsheelan goal, but Paul Maher stood in the way before Gibbs increased his team’s lead with a close range free. Moneygall forced a 65 in the 39th minute which Joe Fogarty converted and a minute later his attempted close range free was saved but he made no such mistake with a similar effort before adding a point from play in the 46th minute.

Emptying the bench improved matters as Niall Maher, Mark Fanning and Bob Kenny were introduced with Maher picking up a score before the final water-break. On resuming play, Moneygall hit the ground running with Eoin Whyte scoring a spectacular goal after doubling on Mark Fanning’s handpass.

Barry Kehoe replied with his fourth point in the 48th minute but Moneygall had decided to take Kilsheelan head on as Adam Hogan punished them with three pointed frees in as many minutes.

Martin Gibbs interrupted the flow with a pointed free, yet Moneygall replied with two more Hogan frees leaving them within striking distance of the south men, six points in arrears. They needed a goal but there was no passing a well organised Kilsheelan defence where Bill Maher and especially Paul Maher were just excellent.

A goal did come but it was at the other end deep in injury time when Mark Stokes set Mark Kehoe on a run and the Tipp forward glided past the Moneygall cover before striking to the net.

The goal drained the blood out of Moneygall’s veins and Kilsheelan, now on a free run, saw Bill Maher venture up field before finding the net for their third goal. There was no way back for Moneygall and losing Ger Ryan to a red card only added to their misery.

Player of the Match: Paul Maher (Kilsheelan/Kilcash)

Kilsheelan-Kilcash: Tadgh Lonergan (7); Jason Madigan (7), Daire Brennan (7), Eoin Kehoe (7); Paul Maher (0-1, 8), Bill Maher (1-0, 8), Billy O’Connor (7); Cathal Kelly (7), Mark Stokes (0-3, 8); Barry Kehoe (0-4, 8), Martin Gibbs (0-8, 5f, 1 65) 8), Mark Kehoe (2-1, 7); Emmet Butler (0-2, 7), Jamie Roche (6), Sean Martin (6).

Subs: Sean Ryan (6) for Kelly (44); Conor Davin Murphy (7) for Roche (49); Kevin Guiry (NR) for E Kehoe (58); Adam Quigley (NR) for B Maher (60).

Moneygall: Michael Ryan (7); Cathal Greene (7), Cathal Kennedy (7), Liam Carroll (7); Jack Kirwan (7), Brendan Toohey (6), Rody Teehan (8); Paddy Fogarty (6), Conor Ryan (0-1, 7); Adam Hogan (0-6, 4f) 7), Eoin Whyte (1-0, 7), Joe Fogarty (0-4, 3f, 1 65) 6); Sean Kenneally (0-1, 6), Willie Greene (6), Ger Kirwan (6).

Subs: Phil Fanning (7) for Teehan (HT inj); Mark Fanning (7) for W Greene (44); Bob Kenny (6) for P Fogarty (44); Ger Ryan (6) for Toohey (45); Niall Maher (0-1, 6) for Kirwan (45).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).