Late goals power Moneygall past Rovers

A second half takeover saw holders Moneygall confirm their favouritism tag when they defeated Shannon Rovers in an entertaining North Intermediate Hurling semi-final last Friday.

GAA: Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Moneygall 3-21

Shannon Rovers 2-17

Report: Liam Hogan in Roscrea

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Joe Fogarty (Moneygall)

SCORERS - Moneygall: Joe Fogarty 1-10 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65); Sean Kenneally 2-4; Niall Maher, Eoin Whyte, Conor Ryan, Brendan Tuohy (free), Mark Fanning, Adam Hogan, Roddy Teehan 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers: Tom Hogan 0-8 (7 frees, 1’65); Eamon Hough 1-1; Jack O’Sullivan 1-0; Austin Tierney, Conal Moran 0-3 each; Michael Tierney, Andy Byrne 0-1 each.

A second half takeover saw holders Moneygall confirm their favouritism tag when they defeated Shannon Rovers in an entertaining North Intermediate Hurling semi-final last Friday.

In a repeat of the Division 4 County League final played two weeks ago, Moneygall, who at one stage trailed by four points in the first half, outscored a stubborn Rovers outfit 3-8 to 1-7 in the second period.

The nice sized crowd were highly entertained with the opening fifteen minutes producing a score a minute commencing with Sean Kenneally pointing after thirty seconds. Barely thirty seconds later Eamon Hough had the ball in the Moneygall net after he was put through by Austin Tierney.

A pointed free and a 65 from Joe Fogarty had Moneygall level before two quick points by Eamon Hough and Tom Hogan free had Rovers back in front before Niall Maher replied only to see Rovers go four thanks to another Hogan free quickly followed by scores from Conal Moran and Michael Tierney.

In the tenth minute, Joe Fogarty pointed a free, but the Rovers hit back through Austin Tierney from play before Fogarty added two points as prior to the water break, well-taken scores by Conal Moran and Eoin Whyte as Rovers led 1-7 to 0-8.

As Conal Moran and Andy Byrne increased Rovers lead to four once more, Moneygall responded with Fogarty adding another free. Brendan Toohey’s long range free brought Moneygall closer and by the 27th minute they would be in front as Kenneally found the target from the left wing closely followed by a Fogarty score after the wing forward had sliced through the Rovers cover. Not to be outdone Conal Moran did the same as he equalised in time for the changeover; Rovers 1-10 Moneygall 0-13.

Now backed by the breeze Moneygall introduced veteran Willie Greene into the action but it was the Rovers who scored first thanks to a Tom Hogan free within a minute of the restart.

Four minutes later the game reached a decisive moment when Rover’s keeper Vince Mulvihill was dispossessed by Joe Fogarty who managed to sweep the ball over an unguarded goal-line. Both Tom Hogan and Fogarty traded frees before Kenneally moved Moneygall three clear.

Rovers needed the crossbar to save them when Eoin Whyte’s rasper drifted wide having come in contact with the woodwork before Mark Fanning’s first touch resulted in a well-taken point. From there both Austin Tierney and Fogarty traded points and with the scoreline reading Moneygall 1-17 Rovers 1-13 the teams took refuge for the final water-break.

When play resumed Tom Hogan pointed another free. Sean Kenneally restored Moneygall’s four-point advantage before Hogan was denied by Michael Ryan at the expense of a 65 which he converted before adding a pointed free to leave Rovers two adrift.

However, Moneygall looked more dangerous, but their wides tally had been increasing. But that all changed in the 53rd minute when Sean Kenneally managed to break free of the tight marking Jack O’Sullivan to fire home Moneygall’s second goal.

Another Hogan free kept Rovers in the frame but suddenly the gaps were beginning to appear in the Rovers defence as Kenneally doubled his goal tally in the 58th minute and Roddy Teehan stepped up to increase his team’s lead to nine.

Rovers came in search of a goal and Jack O’Sullivan was on hand to do just that, but it was too little to late as Joe Fogarty completed the day with a point.

TEAMS – Moneygall: Michael Ryan (7); Cathal Greene (8), Jack Kirwan (7), Liam Carroll (7); Brendan Tuohy (7), Phil Fanning (7), Roddy Teehan (7); Conor Ryan (7), Cathal Kennedy (6); Adam Hogan (6), Eoin Whyte (6), Joe Fogarty (8); Niall Maher (6), Ger Kirwan (6), Sean Kenneally (6).

Subs: Willie Greene (6) for Maher (HT); Mark Fanning (6) for Kirwan (40); Niall Maher for Whyte (60).

Shannon Rovers: Vincent Mulvihill (6); Jack O’Sullivan (7), Padraig O’Meara (6), Emmett Moran (7); Oisin McMahon (6), Matt Tierney (6), Michael Slattery (6); Alan Hannigan (6), Michael Tierney (6); Andy Byrne (7), Eamon Hough (6), Conal Moran (7); Austin Tierney (7), John O’Meara (6), Tom Hogan (7).

Subs: Marcus Esmonde (6) for J O’Meara (40), James O’Sullivan (6) for P O’Meara (40); Sean Moran (NR) for Michael Tierney (54).

Referee: Ger Fitzpatrick (Roscrea).