Gritty Moneygall edge past Annacarty

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Final

Moneygall 1-19

Éire Og Annacarty/D 0-20

Report: Noel Dundon in Drombane

In a battle of wits and will-to-win, Moneygall staved off Éire Og Annacarty/Donohill in this County Premier Intermediate Hurling preliminary quarter final on Sunday to emerge victorious in what was a cracking contest.

The North men mostly led from gun to tape and though Éire Og Annacarty got back to level terms on two occasions, the initiative was certainly with Moneygall for the lion’s share of the contest.

Crucially, when Éire Og put together a series of scores in the second half playing with the aid of the breeze, Moneygall were able to keep the scoreboard moving at their own end, and this was to prove vital in the overall outcome.

The breeze aided Moneygall in the first half, but they failed to really capitalise and went in just three points to the good – 0-10 against Éire Og’s 0-7. The sides were level at 0-2 each, 0-5 each and at 0-6 each, but scores from Eoghan Doughan (3) and Adam Hogan helped Moneygall to the lead, with only an Aidan Griffin point in response from Éire Og Annacarty.

Griffin accounted for five of the Annacarty scorers, with Donal O’Dwyer and Kevin Fox grabbing the others. On the other side, Eoghan Doughan had five to along with Tadgh Whyte, Adam Hogan (2), Shay Gleeson and Sean Kenneally scores.

It was a contest which offered much by way of close, hard-hitting hurling and the exchanges were certainly of the brisk variety as both sides went about their business with real intent.

The North men knew that they had a battle on their hands in the second half and set about putting further scores on the board upon resumption – Doughan (2) and Joe Fogarty obliged, against Conor O’Brien and Aidan Griffin scores for Éire Og Annacarty.

Moneygall were four in front when Sean Kenneally plucked a high ball from the sky and turned it into the Éire Og Annacarty net to give his side a real boost.

They certainly needed that score as Éire Og came back strongly and had the score wiped out in moments – Connie Bradshaw, Conor O’Brien and Aidan Griffin cancelling the three-pointer.

Doughan and Adam Hogan traded points with Donal O’Dwyer, and Griffin (2), while O’Dwyer again and Joe Fogarty also swapped scores to leave Moneygall four in front with ten minutes to go.

A grandstand finish was on the cards and for a while it looked as though extra-time might be needed.

Aidan Griffin (2) and Connor Bradshaw pointed for Éire Og Annacarty, but crucially Eoghan Doughan had a fine point to keep his side in front.

A Griffin free left just one in it as injury time loomed, but Adam Hogan came good to double the Moneygall advantage and Éire Og really needed a goal to steal the tie.

That goal did not come though, and the defending of Brendan Toohey and Andy Hoolan resulted in attack after attack being repelled, while Joe Fogarty dropped deep as well and cleared an amount of ball.

Éire Og Annacarty/Donohill just could not get the scores needed despite the best efforts of the likes of Tom Fox who was excellent, Donal O’Dwyer, Aidan Griffin, Brian Fox and Daniel Kelly.

They found the Moneygall side a resilient lot and their ability to just pick off scores on the break, and then defend efficiently, proved the difference between the sides with Eoghan Doughan, Adam Hogan, Joe Fogarty, Andy Hoolan and Kenneally, their most prominent influencers in what was a solid showing from them.

Player of the Match: Tom Fox (Éire Og Annacarty/Donohill)

Moneygall: Kevin McCormack (7); Shay Gleeson (0-1, 7), Brendan Toohey (7), Roddy Teehan (6); Jack Kirwin (6), Andy Hoolan (7), Cian Ryan (6); Joe Fogarty (0-2, 7), Aodhan Ryan (6); Paddy Fogarty (6), Adam Hogan (0-4, 1f, 7), Bob Kenny (6); Eoghan Doughan (0-10, 7f, 8), Tadgh Whyte (0-1, 6), Seanie Kenneally (1-1, 7).

Subs: Sean Fogarty (6) for Aodhan Ryan (41); Eoin Whyte (6) for Kenny (52).

Éire Og Annacarty/Donohill: Darragh Mooney (7); Darragh O’Brien (6), David Fox (6), Mixie Bradshaw (6); Brian Fox (7), Tom Fox (9), Daniel Kelly (6); Connie Bradshaw (0-2, 7), Seanie Ryan (6); Donal O’Dwyer (0-3, 8), Conor O’Brien (0-2, 7), Paul Devlin (6); Darragh Kelly (6), Kevin Fox (0-1, 6), Aidan Griffin (0-12, 9f, 8).

Subs: Paudie Bradshaw (6) for Ryan (50); Eoin Bradshaw (6) for Kelly (56); Conor Devlin (NR) for K Fox (57).

Referee: Shane O’Neill (St Mary’s).