Sarsfields advance despite late defeat to Moyne-Templetuohy

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 3

Moyne-Templetuohy 1-16

Thurles Sarsfields 1-15

Report: Michael Dundon at Pairc Shilean, Templemore

Elation and deflation in equal measure followed Moyne-Templetuohy’s dramatic win over Thurles Sarsfields in round three of County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday.

Gearoid O’Connor’s goal from a 20-metre free on the hour got Moyne-Templetuohy over the line by the minimum margin.

It was their first success in the group but the one point win was not enough to get them into the knock-out stages, nor did it save them from getting caught up in the relegation play-offs.

While by no means a classic, this was nevertheless an absorbing encounter with the stakes high for both teams. Moyne had the better of the early exchanges, with Cormac Deegan accurate from frees (4), Gearoid OConnor prominent in attack (2), and Conor Bowe a dominant figure at the heart of the defence.

Jack Lanigan’s free-taking (2) and Cillian Minogue’s accuracy from play (2) bulked Sarsfields tally but at the break, Moyne led 0-10 to 0-7, late points from Bowe and Deegan stretching their advantage after a closely contested first half.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Rory Purcell and Jack Lanigan in particular were spearheading the Thurles bid to make up the lee-way but Gearoid O’Connor’s free-taking for Moyne kept them at arm’s length. However, three unanswered Lanigan points from frees brought Sarsfields level with time running out, 0-15 each but now came the real drama.

Firstly, Mossie McCormack was hauled to the ground, Jack Lanigan belted the penalty to the net to give Sarsfields what looked like a winning lead on the hour.

Moyne didn’t panic; Gearoid O’Connor opted for a point from a free but a minute later he was presented with another 20-metre free, unleashed a blistering shot to the net for the lead and victory.

Moyne-Templetuohy delight was tempered by the realisation that a one point win was not enough, but they will be heartened by their best display of the campaign as they face into the relegation play-offs.

They were without injured goalkeeper Paul Maher and captain and fullback Ciaran Lloyd but will be hoping to have the latter back for their next fixture.

County man Conor Bowe was a towering figure at the heart of their defence while his Tipp colleague Gearoid O’Connor was the target man in attack. Goalkeeper Liam Butler, Pierce Meade, Eanna Guilfoyle, and Tom Meade also contributed handsomely to the Moyne challenge.

Losses to the senior squad have taken their toll on Thurles Sarsfields but they are still formidable opponents who could yet have a big say in the destination of honours.

They lost Seosamh Ryan to a leg injury early and he was missed. David Corbett and Jack O’Mara battled hard in defence in front of an in-from Kevin Bracken. Jack Lanigan’s free-taking was a big asset for whom Rory Purcell, Mossie McCormack, and Aidan Ryan also made a big impact.

Player of the Match: Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy)

Moyne-Templetuohy: Liam Butler (7); Shane Lowe (6), Eoin O’Gorman (6), Danny Moore (6); Pierce Meade (7), Conor Bowe (0-1, 9), Eanna Guilfoyle (7); Cathal Guilfoyle (6), Paudie Gleeson (6); Gearoid O’Connor (1-7, 1-4f, 8), Sean Hayes (0-1, 6), Tom Meade (0-1, 7); Cormac Deegan (0-6, 5f, 6), Tossy Hamill (6), Ben Ryan (6).

Subs: Ben Moore (6) for Deegan (44); Diarmuid Fogarty (6) for Hayes (45); Diarmuid Leahy (6) for C Guilfoyle (49); Finn Jones (6) for Hamill (53).

Thurles Sarsfields: Kevin Bracken(7); Seosamh Ryan (7), Jack O’Mara (7), Kieran Moloney (6); James Armstrong (6), David Corbett (7), Jack Derby (6); Michael Purcell (6), Daniel Rossiter (0-1, 7); Rory Purcell (0-3, 7), Conor Lanigan (6), Mossie McCormack (7); Cillian Minogue (0-2, 7), Jack Lanigan (1-8, 1-0 pen, 0-6f, 7), Michael O’Brien (6).

Subs: Paul Noonan (6) for Ryan (22 inj); Aidan Stakelum (6) for C Lanigan (HT); Aidan Ryan (0-1, 7) for M Purcell (36); Michael Russell (6) for O’Brien (56).

Referee: Johnny Butler (Upperchurch/Drombane)