Coogan's goals prove crucial as Trumera advance into Intermediate county final

Two goals from club legend Joey Coogan saw Trumera over the line against an in-form Mountmellick team in Mountrath on Saturday evening. 

The sides met in the Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final, Trumera are looking to bounce back to Premier Intermediate having been relegated last year, whilst Mountmellick are knocking on the door as they were the beaten finalists last year. 

TRUMERA 2-13

MOUNTMELLICK 1-12

After a horrific league campaign Mountmellick have been undefeated in this year’s championship and have looked the form team in the lead up to this game. 

The conditions were awful in Mountrath as the wind swirled up the field and the rain battered the grass. 

Trumera had the wind for the first half and they struggled to take full advantage as they saw a number of shots go wide of the posts. 

A late rally in the half from Mountmellick saw them take a one-point lead at half-time. A good result for them considering the gale force wind they were hurling against. 

They failed to shake Trumera off in the second half when they had the wind advantage and they were without star man Jimmy Hilliard for 10 minutes when he was getting treatment on the sideline, which didn’t help matters. 

Trumera brought on Joey Coogan early in the second half and like many times before he delivered for them with two vital goals to send them into the final. 

Jack Weston got the scoring underway for Mountmellick just seconds after the throw in but Trumera soon wrestled the lead off them with points from Cathal Brophy and Niall Sinnott. 

Jimmy Hilliard opened his account with a free for Mountmellick and the wides were already starting to stack up for Trumera. They began to find their range and would hit the next four to no response. 

The first of the quartet was an excellent score from Jamie Lewis on the wing and Paddy Hosey quickly followed after showing a great burst of speed to run into space. Dylan Lalor and Brophy completed the four with two tidy scores and Trumera held a four-point lead after the opening quarter. 

After a tough start Mountmellick got themselves back on the board through Hilliard once again and after on in response from Brophy they’d go on to control the remainder of the half. 

Finn Culleton got hit first of three points and immediately followed that with an assist for a Jimmy Hilliard goal. Culleton tore down the left wing before passing inside to Hilliard who rattled the net like he has done many times this year. 

Nigel Murphy and Hilliard added points in the aftermath of the goal and Mountmellick held a two-point lead. That was cut to just one before the break thanks to a Sinnott free, but they would have the wind for the second half so things were looking good for Mountmellick. 

Sinnott opened the second half with a pointed free for Trumera against the stiff breeze and rain but Mountmellick hit back with two from Hilliard and Culleton. 

Trumera found the net midway through the second half to give them a huge boost and surge of momentum. Sinnott hit a free towards the goals and the wind held it up in the air and Joey Coogan rose highest to bat it home to put his side a point ahead and send the Trumera crowd wild. 

Culleton and Hilliard fired again for Mountmellick but Trumera were coming strong at the right time and hit four points in a row. Brophy and Hosey landed one each either side of two excellent frees by Sinnott. 

Mountmellick got back to within two points thanks to Tadgh Culliton but the game was put to bed when the ball broke in front of the posts and Coogan was on hand again to bury it low and hard into the net. 

Trumera will now take on neighbouring Colt-Shanahoe in the final.