Moyne Templetuohy are Mid U19B Football champs after goaling their way past Loughmore

Mid Tipperary U19B Football Championship Final

Moyne Templetuohy     6-8

Loughmore Castleiney   2-5

By Ronan Loughnane 

In reaching last year’s County Minor A football final Moyne/Templetuohy displayed a great knack for scoring goals and that continued in Templemore on Wednesday night last as they fired a half dozen past Loughmore to claim the Mid U19 B football crown. 

In truth, they could have had more but some sloppy finishing let Loughmore off the hook. The opening point came courtesy of Loughmore captain Eoin O’Connell when he pointed from play in the second minute. Moyne Templetuohy had to wait until the sixth minute for their opener, a fine goal from Eoghan Sumner. 

Oran Sweeney in the Loughmore goal denied Finn Jones a goal in the eighth minute with a smart save before Tomas Larkin pointed for Loughmore with an excellent kick. Good work from Cathal Guilfoyle in the 20th minute set up Jones and this time he made no mistake to fire Moyne’s second goal. He quickly added a point, Sumner fisted another and Moyne led 2-2 to 0-2 after 22 minutes. 

Loughmore were struggling up front but an excellent point from Richard Morris in the 25th minute got them moving and Eoin O’Connell slotted another from a free in the 28th minute. But the game was won in first-half injury time when Jake Bowe and Conor Campion both netted for Moyne following some excellent approach play on both occasions. O’Connell closed the first half scoring with a pointed free to leave Moyne Templetuohy 4-2 to 0-5 ahead at the short whistle.

The Loughmore defence were regularly in trouble in the opening half and Oran Sweeney was called on again within two minutes of the restart to deny Sumner a second goal. Diarmuid Campion kicked a great point for Moyne in the 34th minute to stretch their lead but Loughmore got a badly needed boost in the 38th minute when Morris pulled first time on a loose ball to billow Kevin Ryan’s net. 

But Moyne responded immediately when a cracking run from wing back James McBrearty saw him cut right through the Loughmore defence for goal number 5. That ended the game as a contest with Jones adding his second goal on 44 minutes. 

The game petered out after that with Loughmore substitute Henry Meade grabbing a consolation goal in the 49th minute. The hard-working Cathal Guilfoyle kicked two good points for Moyne and Jones landed another to leave Moyne well clear at the final whistle. 

They were far superior in their movement than Loughmore and time and again they easily found space behind the red and green rearguard. Captain Danny Moore was excellent at centre-back and deservedly received the player-of-the match award. He was ably assisted by Sean Lyons, Diarmuid Campion and all of the forwards who functioned well as a unit. 

Loughmore started reasonably well but once the goals went in they drifted out of the game. Despite conceding six Oran Sweeney had a decent game in the Loughmore goal while Tomas Larkin, Eoin O’Connell, Joey Quinn and Richard Morris all tried hard. 

Moyne Templetuohy: Kevin Ryan; Adam Jones, Sean Lyons, Martin Cleere; James McBrearty (1-0), Danny Moore, Jack Reddan; Diarmuid Campion (0-1), David Doyle; Ben Moore, Cathal Guilfoyle (0-2), Jake Bowe (1-0); Conor Campion (1-0), Finn Jones (2-4, 0-2f), Eoghan Sumner (1-1). 

Subs used: Frank Doyle for Conor Campion (50); Cody Doyle for Ben Moore (50); John Cleere for Reddan (50). 

Loughmore Castleiney: Oran Sweeney; Philip Connolly, Paul Cormack, Thomas Bohan; Daniel McCahey, Mikey Ryan, Tomas Larkin (0-1); Eoin O’Connell (0-3, 0-1f), Cathal Ryan; Colm Hickey, Joey Quinn, Billy Meade; Colm Gleeson, Ernest Bruzga, Richard Morris (1-1). 

Subs used: Henry Meade (1-0) for Bruzga (49); Kevin Kelly for Gleeson (55).

Referee: PJ Nolan (Killea)