12-man Cashel’s hold off Moyne

Cashel King Cormacs 1-13

Moyne-Templetuohy 0-13

Report: Noel Dundon in Holycross

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Cashel King Cormacs recorded a stirring win in the first round of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday evening as their twelve-men left standing saw off fourteen-man Moyne Templetuohy.

The quality of the fare was poor and while the drizzly conditions didn’t help, both sides will surely be asking themselves questions after this outcome. How indiscipline did not cost Cashel King Cormacs is something of a mystery; and how Moyne-Templetuohy didn’t put them to the sword is equally as puzzling.

Cashel were down to thirteen men by half time with Devon Ryan in the 23rd minute followed by Conor Moloney who accompanied Moyne Templetuohy’s Tom Meade to the sideline in the 31st minute. Then, minutes into the second half, Nathan Ryan also saw a straight red card and there could be few arguments made for any of the four early departees.

Yes, it was a niggly game with a bucket of yellow cards also being brandished by referee Keith Delahunty, but when it came down to the nuts and bolts of it, Cashel just had fire-power to get scores even allowing for their lack of bodies on the field, whereas Moyne-Templetuohy lacked any real impact up front without Gearoid O’Connor. Even when fellow county star Conor Bowe was despatched to the attack late on, Cashel dealt with his threat admirably.

The West men led from gun to tape as they raced into an early four point lead – Devon Ryan getting three to go along with a Ger Browne effort. Moyne-Templetuohy responded with two from Jack Taylor and by the time the first three sending’s off had occurred, Cashel were 0-6 to 0-2 in front with a brace from Eoghan Connolly giving them an edge.

Cashel had the breeze in the first half and their 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead hardly seemed enough to get them home – Ross Bonnar, Cathal Quinn and Eoghan Connolly firing the remainder of their first half scores, while Jack Taylor (2) and Diarmuid Fogarty had the Moyne-Templetuohy efforts.

The Mid men were back to within a point after just four minutes of second half play – Conor Bowe, Ciaran Lloyd, and Jack Taylor all on target. Ronan Connolly hit back for Cashel and when Nathan Ryan was red carded to leave Cashel with twelve men against fourteen, it was hard to see how they could win.

But somehow, they found a way and helped by a Cathal Quinn goal in the 44th minute off a sublime Ger Browne pass, they dug in and showed a lot of composure and resilience.

Moyne-Templetuohy hit back and points from Jack Taylor (3 frees) brought them back within a goal, but Cathal Quinn and Ger Browne found scores again to keep distance between them. Moyne sent Conor Bowe forward and though they managed Sean Hayes and Jack Taylor points, they never threatened the goal they required – hitting sixteen wides in the game didn’t do their prospects of getting back on terms any good either.

A bit of soul searching required from both sides then – Cashel King Cormacs will be without those three key players for the next round and if the indiscipline didn’t cost them in the first round, it could well do in the second.

As for Moyne-Templetuohy, they will have to sharpen up in front of goals and try to add timbre to their attack which is sadly lacking the influence of Tipperary hurler Gearoid O’Connor and is proving pretty ineffective at present.

Player of the Match: Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs)

Cashel King Cormacs: Aaron Browne (6); Padraic Brosnan (6), Nathan Ryan (5), Ciaran Quinn (6), Daniel Moloney (5), Eoghan Connolly (0-4, 3f, 8), Ronan Connolly (0-1, 7); Cathal Quinn (1-2, 8), Ger Browne (0-2, 7); Devon Ryan (0-3, 2f, 6), Ross Bonnar (6), Paddy Fahy (6); James Cummins (5), Conn Bonnar (0-1, 8), Anthony Walsh (6).

Subs: Jonathan Walsh (6) for Walsh (HT); Simon Delaney (6) for C Bonnar (41); Jack O’Connor (NR) for G Browne (60+2).

Moyne-Templetuohy: Paul Maher (7), Kieran Larkin (6), Eoin Gorman (6), Tommy Hassett (6), Thossy Hamill (6), Conor Bowe (0-1, 7), Ciaran Lloyd (0-1, 7), Shane Lowe (7), John Coghlan (6), Tom Meade (5), Jack Taylor (0-9, 7f, 7), Eanna Guilfoyle (6), Ben Ryan (6), Pierce Meade (6), Diarmuid Fogarty (0-1, 6).

Subs: Sean Hayes (0-1, 7) for Ryan (25); Paudie Gleeson (6) for Hamill (56).

Referee: Keith Delahunty (Moyle Rovers).