Slick Moneygall power past depleted Shannon Rovers

Reigning champions Moneygall proved far too strong for an understrength Shannon Rovers in what proved to be one-sided North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

GAA: Kelly’s of Fantane North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Moneygall 8-25

Shannon Rovers 2-10

Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Seán Kenneally (Moneygall)

SCORERS – Moneygall: Joe Fogarty 2-11 (0-7 frees, 0-1 65); Sean Kenneally 3-5; Tadhg Whyte 2-1; Adam Hogan 0-4; Mark Fanning 1-0; Bob Kenny 0-2; Sean Fogarty, Eoin Whyte 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers: Conal Moran 1-5 (0-3 frees); Andy Byrne 1-3; George Hannigan 0-2.

Four first half goals, including three in the space of two minutes between the 12th & 14th minutes, provided Willie Greene’s side with the necessary impetus for what in the end was a landslide 33-point victory over at outclassed Shannon Rovers side.

A man of the match performance also from their scorer-in-chief Seán Kenneally, who bagged a whopping 3-5 from play, was hugely influential in Moneygall’s impressive victory.

The Rovers were dealt a blow just before throw-in when experienced defender Alan Hannigan failed to come through the warm-up but credit to them, they stuck with the task in hand despite being outplayed for the most part of the game.

Last year’s county semi-finalists have drafted in the services of Kiladangan’s Dan Hackett to bolster their backroom team and with club stalwart Willie Greene taking over the hot seat of the men in red and black were eager to set down an early season marker.

Within minutes of the throw-in, the impressive Joe Fogarty had rattled the Rovers net while also knocking over his first of eight points from placed balls. Adam Hogan added a second for Moneygall and even at this early juncture the writing was on the wall for an under-pressure Shannon Rovers side.

Moneygall led 1-4 to 0-2 with ten minutes elapsed before a three-goal salvo in the space of two minutes blew the Rovers clean out of the water. Mark Fanning, Tadhg Whyte and Seán Kenneally all raised green flags before a shell-shocked Shannon Rovers side hit back with a goal of their own from the stick of Conal Moran.

The pick of Moneygall’s goal was Mark Fanning’s with a quick Ciaran Quinlan puckout worked quickly through the lines by Brendan Toohey and Joe Fogarty before Fogarty found Fanning and he finished with absolute aplomb.

Moneygall were proving far too slick in attack for the Rovers and were also scoring at will at this stage with three points on the bounce from Joe Fogarty (65’ and a free) and Seán Kenneally ensured they led 4-7 to 1-2 by the 22nd minute mark.

Shannon Rovers hit back with their second goal seconds later with George Hannigan setting up Andy Byrne for a cracking major, but it was to be their final score of the half as Moneygall tacked on five further points without reply with Joe Fogarty and Sean Kenneally firing over two each and Tadhg Whyte chipping in with a sublime score of his own from the stand side touchline.

Moneygall took an extremely comfortable 4-12 to 2-2 lead to the dressing room and in reality the sixteen-point gap should have been even wider with Moneygall squandering at least two further clear-cut goal chances as the half drew to a close.

Credit to Shannon Rovers they battled for all they were worth following the resumption with the impressive Conal Moran adding two further points to his side’s tally while George Hannigan chipped in with a fine effort on the forty-minute mark.

Moneygall were still running the show though with Adam Hogan and Aodhán Ryan dominating in the middle of the park while Cathal Greene, Jack Kirwan and Brendan Toohey were all impressive in defense. It was in attack, however, where Moneygall were running riot with Kenneally, Joe Fogarty, Bob Kenny and Tadhg Whyte all making their mark on the game.

Adam Hogan enhanced Moneygall’s tally with his side’s sixteenth point on 41 minutes before Seán Kenneally raided again for his second goal, a beautifully struck finish on 44 minutes after the county man evaded the attentions of the Rovers rearguard.

Shannon Rovers responded with a brace from Andy Byrne, but Moneygall continued to heap pressure on the Rovers defence with Kenneally netting his third goal on 50 minutes.

Further points from Bob Kenny, Kenneally, Joe Fogarty served to pile further misery on the Rovers as their challenge now began to noticeably peter out.

Moneygall refused to take their foot off the gas though and with little or no mercy shown the continued to rack up the goals with Tadhg Whyte and Joe Fogarty both rattling the Shannon Rovers net in the closing stages to ensure a wholly deserved victory for the holders.

TEAMS - Moneygall: Ciaran Quinlan (7); Andy Hoolan (7), Jack Kirwan (7), Roddy Teehan (7); Brendan Toohey (7), Cathal Greene (7), Cian Ryan (7); Adam Hogan (8), Aodhán Ryan (8); Joe Fogarty (8), Bob Kenny (7), Seán Kenneally (9); Seán Fogarty (7), Mark Fanning (7), Tadhg Whyte (8).

Subs: Eoin Whyte (7) for S Fogarty (45); Conor Ryan (7) for Hoolan (45).

Shannon Rovers: John Flannery (7), Oisin McMahon (6), Conor Ryan (6), Marcus Esmonde (6); Jack O’Sullivan (7), Matt Tierney (7), Emmet Moran (7); Eamon Hough (7), Andy Byrne (7); George Hannigan (7), Austin Tierney (7), Derek Horan (5); Cathal Hogan (6), Conal Moran (7), John O’Meara (6).

Subs: Michael Tierney (6) for Horan (15); Tom Hogan (6) for C Hogan (HT); Sean Hough (6) for O’Meara (45); Shaun Belfry (NR) for E Hough (53).

Referee: Ger Fitzpatrick (Roscrea).