Moneygall grounded by steely Burgess

GAA: Munster Solar North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Burgess 2-23

Moneygall 2-18

Report: Liam Hogan At Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Stephen Kirwan (Burgess)

SCORERS - Burgess: Stephen Murray 0-9 (5 frees, 1 ‘s-cut); Donal Nealon 1-2; Stephen Kirwan 0-4; Eoin Grace 0-3; Bill O’Flaherty 1-0; Johnny Mulqueen 0-2; Mikie Ryan, Diarmuid O’Donoghue, Kieran Grace 0-1 each.

Moneygall: Eoghan Doughan 0-10 (9 frees); Adam Hogan 2-1; Sean Kenneally, Bob Kenny 0-2 each; Jack Kirwan, Brendan Toohey, Cathal Greene 0-1 each.

The scoreline suggests it was a close run affair, but the truth is Burgess were in the winners enclosure long before the final whistle as they were much too good for 2024 County Intermediate champions Moneygall in the semi-final of the North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Tuesday evening.

It was the North Premier Intermediate winners against the North Intermediate winners of 2024 and the difference in the standard was obvious. Burgess were the more slicker as they gave Moneygall no time on the ball, particularly their defence where many of the scores were launched.

From the word go, Burgess meant business as they raced into a 1-2 to nil lead with Bill O’Flaherty scoring the goal in the second minute. The scores came fast and furious and by the 12th minute they were 1-9 to 0-3 in front as the reliable Stephen Murray scored three points with the ever-present Johnny Mulqueen adding two sublime points from the left wing while championship debutant Donal Nealon scored two more with Eoin and Kieran Grace also on target.

The Moneygall forward line, who delighted their followers so much in the last few years, were to make little impact such was the ferocity and close-marking of the Burgess rearguard but Sean Kenneally did his best with two superb points from the wing while full back Jack Kirwan added a third.

As the game began to settle down it was score for between the 13th & 20th minutes with Moneygall coming within six thanks to Eoghan Doughan with three frees while Bob Kenny adding a fourth on twenty minutes.

But Burgess are keen to retain their title and their fitness levels saw them ramp up the pace as their lead increased after Eoin Grace and Donal Nealon doubled their accounts in the midst of two pointed frees by the ever-dependable Stephen Murray.

Yet, Moneygall retained the challenge as Eoghan Doughan (free) and Adam Hogan scored from play but at the other end Mark Fanning denied Bill O’Flaherty with a good save on the stroke of half time as Burgess led 1-16 to 0-9.

The opening minutes of the second half saw Burgess raise the bar once more as they went eleven clear after Stephen Murray directed a fifty metre sideline ball straight between the posts.

However, Moneygall were looking that bit more lively and Joe Fogarty was denied by the butt of the upright in the 36th minute before Brendan Toohey followed up with a point, only to see Michael Ryan raid down the wing to pick off an excellent point for the green & gold.

Moneygall tried everything possible, but their attack was curbed every time as Joe Fogarty, while carrying a heavily strapped leg, found no leeway close to goal. Sean Kenneally fared no better and when scores arrived, they came further out the field where corner back Cathal Greene became the third defender to score.

But Burgess continued to keep out of reach as the impressive Stephen Kirwan scored from play (his fourth) and Stephen Murray added a free pointed either side of another Doughan free before the holders finally put the game to bed when Tony Dunne sent Donal Nealon for Burgess’s second goal thirteen minutes from time.

At 2-22 to 0-15 it was game over, but Moneygall continued to battle and in fact outscored Burgess 2-3 to 0-1 with Adam Hogan finally beating the excellent Ronan Tucker, who had up to then had produced a string of fine saves, but the Burgess netminder was beaten a second time as Adam Hogan scored his second goal on the stroke of full time.

TEAMS - Burgess: Ronan Tucker (8); Daire Hogan (7), Kieran Ryan (8), Willie Ryan (7); Keith Nealon (7), Michael Ryan (8), Johnny Mulqueen (8); Eoin Grace (7), Stephen Murray (8); Diarmuid O’Donoghue (7), Tony Dunne (8), Stephen Kirwan (8); Donal Nealon (7), Bill O’Flaherty (Capt) (7), Kieran Grace (6).

Subs: Eoin Hogan (6) for Murray (51); Conor Grace (NR) for K Nealon (60+1 blood).

Moneygall: Mark Fanning (7); Cathal Greene (7), Jack Kirwan (7), Roddy Teehan (7); Shay Gleeson (6), Brendan Toohey (6), Andy Hoolan (6); Adam Hogan (7), Aodhan Ryan (6); Eoghan Doughan (7), Sean Fogarty (6), Joe Fogarty (6); Paddy Fogarty (Capt, 7), Bob Kenny (6), Sean Kenneally (6).

Subs: Tadgh Whyte (6) for Aodhan Ryan (45); Niall Maher (6) for S Fogarty (49).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).