Moneygall and Shannon Rovers off to winning starts

North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Round-Up

By Liam Hogan

Shannon Rovers 0-22

Ballinahinch 1-18

Conal Moran’s was the match winner as Shannon Rovers defeated Ballinahinch in a highly exciting opening round contest in the North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship at Ballinderry Sportsfield last Saturday evening.

Scores were level twelve times, and it was parity for the second time when a John Foley goal made it 1-1 to 0-4 after eight minutes. Rovers responded immediately but Marcus Esmonde was denied by goalkeeper Donnacha McGrath.

Ballinahinch moved three clear, after eighteen minutes following Brendan Ryan’s third point. Conal Moran cut the lead to two a minute later just in time for the water-break and when play resumedMoran added a free before pointing a 65 after Alan Hogan’s penalty was saved by Donnacha McGrath.

Approaching half time, Rovers began to take charge and scored six unanswered points to go three clear after Alan Hogan’s great score from close to the sideline. Ballinahinch pulled back the deficit through John Foley and Brendan Ryan (free) to leave the minimum between the teams at half time, 0-11 to 1-7.

Scores were level for the ninth time as play approached the 40th minute before the Rovers scored three unanswered points with Jack O’Sullivan making it 0-18 to 1-12. Liam King replied for Ballinahinch before the final water-break arrived.

When play resumed Alan Kelly cut the margin to one. George Hannigan replied but further points by Alan Ryan and Alan Kelly made it 0-19 to 1-16 six minutes from time. From there, both Brendan Ryan and Conal Moran battled it out with the latter making it level 0-21 to 1-18 on the hour mark before grabbing the match winner in the second minute of added time.

Shannon Rovers: Vincent Mulvihill; Emmett Moran, Padraic O’Meara, Conor Ryan; Michael Slattery (0-1), Matthew Tierney, Jack Sullivan (0-2); Conal Moran 0-12 (6f, 1’45), Alan Hannigan; Andy Byrne (0-2), Eamon Hough, Michael Tierney (0-1); Marcus Esmonde, George Hannigan (0-2), Alan Hogan (0-2). Sub: Tom Hogan for Esmonde (47).

Ballinahinch: Donnacha McGrath; Frank Troy, Tom Grace, Cathal Ryan; Kevin Fitzpatrick, Dara McGrath (0-1f), Karl Kelly; Alan Ryan (0-1), Ger Grace; Kevin Mulcahy (0-3), Brendan Ryan (0-7, 6f), Brendan Hourigan; Liam King (0-1), John Foley (1-2), David Gleeson. Subs: Alan Kelly (0-3) for Foley (HT inj); Cathal Ryan (Bawn) for T Grace (47 inj).

Referee: Kieran Delaney (Toomevara).

Moneygall 2-22

Borrisokane 3-10

Joe Fogarty scored 1-9 to see Moneygall claim victory over Borrisokane in Moneygall on Saturday evening.

Fogarty scored 1-5 in the second period as Moneygall outscored the visitors 2-11 to 0-6 after half time to win by nine points.

Moneygall trailed at half time 3-4 to 0-11 but they outscored Borrisokane in terms of scorers with their eleven points shared by seven different players.

Their trouble was at the other end as Borrisokane found chinks in the Moneygall defence with goal,s the first from Liam Cleary in the fourth minute with Colm Larkin adding a second in the 16th minute, before Philip Austin grabbed a third nine minutes later.

When play resumed in the second half, Moneygall took charge with Joe Fogarty scoring 1-1 by the 32nd minute. Sean Kenneally stretched the lead to three but Oisin Larkin’s reply left two between the teams.

From there, Moneygall dominated the next ten minutes outscoring Borris 0-6 to 0-1 as Joe Fogarty (3), Eoin Whyte and Niall Maher each found the target. That phase gave the home side a seven-point cushion. However, Borrisokane refused to give up and points from Oisin & Colm Larkin brought them within striking distance. It was the closest they came as Moneygall held on with Sean Kenneally scoring Moneygall’s second goal close to full time.

Moneygall: Michael Ryan; Cathal Greene, Jack Kirwan, Liam Carroll; Brendan Toohey (0-1f), Phil Fanning (0-1), Roddy Teehan; Conor Ryan (0-1), Paddy Fogarty (0-1); Willie Greene, Eoin Whyte (0-4), Joe Fogarty 1-9 (0-4f); Niall Maher (0-1), Adam Hogan (0-2), Sean Kenneally (1-2). Sub: Cathal Kennedy for Hogan (52).

Borrisokane: Liam Gleeson; Eddie O’Dwyer, Shane Nevin, Jack Haugh; Roan Murphy, Conor Dooley, Andrew Austin; Liam Cleary (1-1), Dwayne Power (0-1); Philip Austin (1-0), Conor Ryan (0-1), Garry Ryan (0-1); Oisin Larkin (0-4, 3f), Colm Larkin (1-2), Conor Gavin. Subs: Kevin Cleary for Gavin (31); Conor Gavin for O’Dwyer (55).

Referee: Shane Hodgins (Knockshegowna)