On song Moneygall retain Intermediate crown

Moneygall retained the North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling with a comfortable final victory over a disappointing Portroe side on Saturday evening.

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

Moneygall 2-21

Portroe 0-11

Report: Liam Hogan in Dolla

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Joe Fogarty (Moneygall)

SCORERS - Moneygall: Joe Fogarty 1-11 (0-7 frees); Sean Kenneally 0-5; Bob Kenny 1-1; Tadhg Whyte 0-2; Sean Fogarty, Niall Maher 0-1 each.

Portroe: John Sheedy 0-7 (5 frees, 1’65); Jack Moloney 0-2; Michael Breen, Christopher O’Riordan 0-1 each.

Led by the brilliant Joe Fogarty and Sean Kenneally, there was no doubt about the outcome once Moneygall took the lead after thirteen minutes as a slicker, stronger, and all-round better-balanced side won their fourth divisional title since their drop to the intermediate grade in 2016.

Fogarty was the man of the match with 1-11, 1-4 from play, as well as doing much more in team play and workrate despite the best efforts of the energetic Jack O’Callaghan.

Michael Breen picked up Sean Kenneally on the edge of the square and the Tipperary forward gave the Portroe full back a testing time. Breen moved outfield after half time and county colleague Robert Byrne was tasked with keeping an eye on him and kept him at bay for a while but Kenneally picked off three second half points, finishing with five in total.

It was far from a two-man show however as Tadgh Whyte put in another good shift, as did Bob Kenny with Sean Fogarty and Mark Fanning contributing much to the cause.

Both Adam Hogan and Aodhan Ryan were to the fore at midfield while Cathal Greene, Brendan Toohey and Cian Ryan did much to keep their back-line in check in front of Andy Hoolan, Jack Kirwan and Roddy Teehan who gave goalkeeper Ciaran Quinlan plenty of protection, but the Moneygall custodian still had one or two good saves to make.

For Portroe, this was a disappointing outing. Except for a positive opening quarter, they found it difficult to match the pace of the winners. Few if any could feel happy with their performance except for Darren Gleeson in goal while William Flood, Robert Byrne and Jack O’Callaghan did their best to stem the tide in defence.

John Sheedy caused Moneygall a few anxious moments in the attack as the centre forward won plenty of possession from Darren Gleeson’s long puckouts. However, he was unusually off colour with frees, especially in the second half. Jack Moloney had a good game while Oisin Connors caused some problems but not enough to be a real threat in the overall scheme of things.

Portroe must regroup as they have a difficult task ahead of them as they face the county championship in the same group as Shannon Rovers, Arravale Rovers and Drom & Inch. Injuries and emigration has hit them much harder than any other club in the division.

Portroe were busy in the opening minutes. John Sheedy gave them the lead with a free in the first minute, quickly followed by a Jack Moloney point from play. Bob Kenny replied for Moneygall, but John Sheedy won Darren Gleeson’s puckout, was fouled and had Port two in front by the sixth minute.

Moneygall’s response was swift. Two frees by Joe Fogarty had the sides level by the eighth minute. One minute later, Adam Hogan drove forward and found Sean Kenneally who gave Moneygall the lead. Another John Sheedy free had the sides level before Joe Fogarty had his first point from play in the thirteenth minute to give Moneygall the lead again.

Seconds later, another Moneygall attack saw the Portroe defence in trouble. Tadgh Whyte drew the Port cover with Bob Kenny on hand to score the opening goal. Joe Fogarty’s free increased the lead to five after a foul on Kenneally as Moneygall were slowly gaining the upper hand.

John Sheedy’s point from play was welcome after John Moloney set him up but Moneygall hit three unanswered points through Fogarty (free), Kenneally and Sean Fogarty as they were confident enough to strike from any distance or angle.

For Portroe to reap a score much depended on Darren Gleeson’s long puckouts where John Sheedy could win ball. Sheedy’s accuracy from frees was good at the time as he bisected the posts with another free after 22 minutes. A well-taken Jack Moloney score followed two minutes later as Moneygall could afford the luxury of two wides in quick succession but in the 25th minute a lengthy free by Brendan Toohey reached Joe Fogarty who had little trouble in turning his man and scoring another point.

Seconds later, Tadgh Whyte went on the attack and had Joe Fogarty for assistance and Moneygall’s top scorer found the net for goal number two.

Portroe were in disarray as an unmarked Joe Fogarty scored again after Adam Hogan picked him out leaving John Sheedy’s 65 the final piece of the action as half time arrived. Moneygall 2-11 Portroe 0-8.

The second half was a minute old when Joe Fogarty picked off a brilliant point. Yet, Portroe found the energy to trouble Moneygall goalkeeper Ciaran Quinlan who produced two great saves as he denied Jack Moloney and Oisin Connors. This was an encouraging period for Portroe and Michael Breen’s point was at least some reward for their efforts.

But Sean Kenneally replied with a score from the wing in the 37th minute and Joe Fogarty added a free four minutes later which pushed them eleven in front. Meanwhile, Portroe brought Christopher O’Riordan on and he marked his return to action after long term injury with a point.

However, the game had lost much of its fervour by then as Moneygall moved at will and increased their lead to thirteen after points by Tadgh Whyte (2) and Joe Fogarty (free) with eight minutes remaining.

In the 54th minute, John Sheedy posted Port’s last score, but Moneygall kept the scoreboard ticking over and four more points followed through Joe Fogarty (free), Sean Kenneally, Niall Maher and Kenneally.

Moneygall captain Paddy Fogarty received the Fr Hewitt Cup as a fair size set of supporters looked on. It was an impressive display and they looked very much like a side that could go all the way to county honours.

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 (8), Seán Kenneally (8); Seán Fogarty (7), Mark Fanning (7), Tadhg Whyte (7).

Subs: Paddy Fogarty (Capt 6) for Fanning (45); Eoin Whyte (6) for Aodhan Ryan (49); Niall Maher (7) for T Whyte (53); Dylan Maher (NR) for J Fogarty (58); Gearoid Larkin (NR) for Teehan (58 inj).

Portroe: Darren Gleeson (8); William Flood (7), Michael Breen (6), Adrian O’Halloran (6); Cian Hogan (6), Robert Byrne (7), Jack O’Callaghan (6); Conor Byrne (6), Brian Keating (6); Conor O’Brien (6), Sam Madden (6), John Sheedy (Capt 7); Jack Moloney (7); Niall Gleeson (6), Oisin O’Connor (6).

Subs: Colm Gleeson (6) for O’Brien (20 inj); Christopher O’Riordan (6) for C Byrne (39); Eoin Quinn (6) for N Gleeson (53); Anthony Bourke (NR) for Madden (56).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess).