Fogarty inspires Moneygall into semi-finals

County Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Moneygall 1-19

Ballingarry 1-16

Report: Thomas Conway in Templemore

Moneygall’s quest to regain senior status took another leap forward last Sunday as they overcame Ballingarry to book their place in the semi-finals of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship.

A pulsating and at times temperamental contest, the high quality of this quarter-final was reflective of two teams which both feel their rightful place is in the Séamus Ó Riain Cup.

Ultimately, a Moneygall goal three minutes into the second-half will be remembered as the critical juncture in this game, but that scorching Seán Kenneally effort was just one of a multitude of outstanding individual contributions, on a day in which Moneygall centre-forward Joe Fogarty dazzled spectators with his glistering point-scoring ability. Having featured on the successful Tipperary under-21 & under-20 panels of recent years, the soon-to-be 22-year-old Fogarty was the fulcrum of the Moneygall attack, producing a series of superb first-half points. He hit his first 38 seconds in, striding down the stand side before landing an elegant effort on-the-run from some 55 metres.

Ballingarry captain Dylan Walsh wasn’t overly prolific from play, but his uncanny accuracy from placed-balls proved crucial in terms of keeping the south side in the game, particularly in the early stages. Forced to cope with an uncompromising cross-blowing wind, the wing-forward seemed to miscue his first two frees while still dropping them over, but it quickly became clear that the low-trajectory of his strikes was completely intentional - designed to outsmart a wind which was blowing every high ball in the direction of the athletic track.

Three early frees helped Ballingarry to keep pace, though Ciarán Shelley did force one quick reaction from Moneygall keeper Mike Ryan at the near post, but aside from that Moneygall looked dominant, with Fogarty slotting a free and then clipping another over-the-shoulder, before his brother Paddy got in on the action with a point of his own. Corner-forward Adam Hogan was instrumental in many of those moves, floating liberally across the 45, while Kirwan and Kenneally were also dangerous in possession, and would both find the target before the half was out.

On 26 minutes, Shelley swept one over following an excellent delivery from sub Brian Norton, by which time Ballingarry had made a number of defensive readjustments, which seemed to close off some space behind the half-back line.

They trailed by 0-12 to 0-9 at the interval, very much still in the game despite a somewhat mediocre opening thirty minutes, but their prospects suffered a damning blow three minutes after the whistle, when Sean Kenneally blasted the ball past David Walsh and into the roof of the net. It was the culmination of a brilliant collective move, with centre-back Brendan Toohey plucking the ball from the air and sending it long to Willie Greene, who slipped Kenneally in with a clever hand-pass, allowing the corner-forward to take care of the rest.

That Moneygall goal was the cue for Ballingarry to up their game, something which they achieved through a combination of high pressing, grit, and most importantly, the unflinching free-taking composure of Dylan Walsh.

Moneygall still looked beyond reach, halting the Ballingarry momentum with a succession of points from Kenneally, Toohey, and Greene - until Walsh suddenly popped up with a late goal at the other end.

It came in the 59th minute, reducing the deficit to three, and while both sides would manage another point, the team in maroon were searching for another goal. They almost found it, the ball pinging off the posts following a wild scramble in the small-square, but Moneygall eventually emerged with possession - senior hurling still within their grasp.

Player of the Match: Joe Fogarty (Moneygall)

Moneygall: Mike Ryan (7), Liam Carroll (7), Cathal Kennedy (7), Cathal Greene (7), Jack Kirwan (7), Brendan Toohey (0-2, 1f) 8), Roddy Teehan (7), Conor Ryan (8), Paddy Fogarty (0-1, 7), Willie Greene (0-1, 8), Joe Fogarty (0-12, 6f) 9), Ger Kirwan (0-1, 7), Seán Kenneally (1-1, 8), Eoin Whyte (7), Adam Hogan (0-1, 8).

Sub: Mark Fanning (7) for Kirwan (49).

Ballingarry: David Walsh (7), Patrick Ivors (7), Ger Fennelly (7), Seán Doheny (6), Shane Fitzgerald (0-1, 6), Jack Fennelly (7), Conor Vaughan (7), Adrian Cleere (0-1, 8), Aidan Ryan (6), Dylan Walsh (1-11, 0-8f, 0-2 ‘65s) 8), Ian Ivors (7), Paudie Maher (0-2, 8), Michael Ivors (7), Ciarán Shelley (0-1, 7), Patrick Burns (7).

Subs: Brian Norton (7) for Doheny (22), Kieran Lyons (7) for Vaughan (36), Declan Hayes (7) for Maher (50), Stephen Donovan (7) for I Ivors (52).

Referee: Phil Ryan (Knockavilla Kickhams)