Moneygall bow out to gritty Éire Óg

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

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill 2-22

Moneygall 3-13

Report: Noel Dundon in Littleton

Fancied Moneygall bowed out of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday afternoon when they came a cropper against a dogged and resolute Éire Óg Annacarty/Donohill side which produced their best performance of the campaign so far.

Billed as the battle of the Ballinahinch brothers – Cormac McGrath, coach to Moneygall, and his brother Shane, coach to Éire Óg Annacarty – it was the former All-Ireland senior hurling medal winner with Tipperary who had the last laugh as he watched his side double their half time three-point advantage to win by six in a very accomplished second half.

Éire Óg had played with the breeze in the first half but their 0-12 to 1-6 advantage didn’t seem like much considering the extent of the elements. They were chasing the game from the very off, with a Sean Kenneally goal for Moneygall in the first minute, after a long run from Joe Fogarty, really setting the tempo.

However, by the time Moneygall raised a second flag, it was to be a levelling one from Fogarty, as Éire Óg back hit Dinny Crosse, Donal O’Dwyer, Paudie Bradshaw and Aidan Griffin points to gain control of the game.

Moneygall hit back with Adam Hogan and Bob Kenny scores, but Kevin Fox, who caused all sorts of problems for the Moneygall defence, Aidan Griffin, Fox again and Griffin again (2) shoved the westerners into a 0-9 to 1-4 lead.

Eoghan Doughan had two for Moneygall before the break to go alongside a Bob Kenny point, but Éire Óg Annacarty saw Connie Bradshaw, Conor O’Brien and Paudie Bradshaw all score to leave them 0-12 to 1-6 in front.

While Éire Óg Annacarty were probably hoping to have had a stronger interval advantage, they had played with real purpose and used the ball very well. They could have goaled in the 14th minute also, but Paddy McCormack saved well from Kevin Fox to keep the Moneygall net intact.

Two points soon after resumption from Dinny Crosse and Donal O’Dwyer proved that Éire Óg were not going to walk away from this battle. But, with the wind at their backs Moneygall too began to find their range with Eoghan Doughan hitting two fine scores from play and one from a free, while Tadgh Whyte was also on target.

Still, Annacarty/Donohill were able to keep the scoreboard moving with Dan Kelly and an incredible point from the sideline from Kevin Fox keeping them in the driving seat. Aidan Griffin too hit one from play while two in quick succession from Darragh Kelly shoved their lead out to five points with ten minutes to go.

Moneygall, though having the breeze behind them, often did not have a full forward line in place at all and this was causing much frustration in the stands where their supporters were urging them to stay inside.

Éire Óg Annacarty mopped up everything in that sector and when Aidan Griffin blasted a 53rd minute penalty to the net after Darragh Kelly was fouled, it was game over, especially as Darragh Mooney saved brilliantly from Kenneally immediately afterwards and then beat away the follow up as well – heroic stuff from the former Tipp man.

Moneygall, to their credit, battled to the very end and managed to create two 21-yard frees late on which Eoghan Doughan dispatched to the net. However, the green flags served only to enhance the look of the scoreboard as Connie Bradshaw goaled for Éire Óg Annacarty in the 58th minute to seal the victory.

Moneygall also saw Darragh Mooney made another double save before the end and it was curious that, though he was beaten on three occasions, Mooney had a marvellous game between the sticks for Éire Óg Annacarty.

Eoghan Doughan was the most dangerous forward for Moneygall for whom Sean Kenneally and Joe Fogarty were also prominent. However, they just did not have the cutting edge up front and the Éire Óg defence dealt with their threat with a fair degree of comfort – a fact which will disappoint the Moneygall camp. Veterans Conor O’Brien and Brian Fox were very much to the fore in this department while the Bradshaw’s at midfield also hurled up a storm.

Moneygall’s disappointment was very evident on the pitch afterwards. They will be very unhappy at having bowed out of the campaign without reaching their potential. They had designs on going much further in this championship but in Éire Óg Annacarty/Donohill they met a resilient, experienced and resolute side which refused to yield and which made the most of each and every opportunity which presented during the course of the game.

TEAMS - Éire Óg Annacarty/Donohill: Darragh Mooney (8), Paul Devlin (7), Conor O’Brien (7), Matthew Bradhsaw (6), Brian Fox (8), Dan Kelly (6), David Fox (6), Connie Bradshaw (8), Paudie Bradshaw (7), Dinny Crosse (7), Tom Fox (7), Donal O’Dwyer (7), Aidan Griffin (8), Kevin Fox (8), Darragh Kelly (8).

Subs: Liam Og Dwyer (NR) for Crosse (58); Darragh O’Brien (NR) for O’Brien (59).

Moneygall: Paddy McCormack (7); Jack Kirwan (6), Brendan Toohey (6), Roddy Teehan (7); Eoin Whyte (6), Shay Gleeson (7), Andy Hoolan (7); Sean Fogarty (8), Adam Hogan (7); Bob Kenny (7), Cormac Hoolan (6), Joe Fogarty (Capt 7); Sean Kenneally (7), Eoghan Doughan (8), Tadgh Whyte (7).

Subs: Aodhan Ryan (6) for C Hoolan (33); Cathal Greene (6) for Kirwan (49); Cian Ryan (6) for Kenny (55); Mark Fanning (NR) for T Whyte (59).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).