Moyle Rovers answer critics to clinch last eight place in Tipperary SFC

FBD Insurance - County Tipperary Senior Football Championship - Group 4 Round 3

MOYLE ROVERS 2-17 BALLYPOREEN 0-14

The calculators were out at the conclusion of Sunday afternoon’s FBD Insurance County SFC Group 4 game between Moyle Rovers and Ballyporeen at sun-drenched Clonmel, a game that the Monroe side won comfortably by nine points, 2-17 to 0-14. 

With JK Brackens topping the group unbeaten after seeing off Rockwell Rovers, it came down to points difference between Moyle Rovers, Rockwell Rovers and Ballyporeen to see who would join the Mid side in the quarter finals and who would be relegated. All three ended on two points each.

With games involving Brackens not included in the arithmetic, it was a direct shoot-out between the other three. And Moyle Rovers, facing the very real threat of a relegation battle before kick-off, pulled off a remarkable escape to finish second and join Brackens in the quarter final.

With Brackens excluded in the equation, Moyle Rovers finished with a points difference of +7, Ballyporeen on -2 and Rockwell Rovers on -5, meaning that the New Inn side face a relegation play-off.

Moyle Rovers needed their best performance of the campaign to keep their season, and championship hopes, alive. Three points to no score down after just four minutes, they recovered in style, were level nine minutes later and took the lead midway through the half. They were never headed again and their impressive total of 2-17 proved crucial in the end.

Their first goal came eight minutes into the second half from Stephen Quirke, and the second vital green flag, in terms of score difference, came deep into injury time from a Liam Boland penalty. Ballyporeen were crest-fallen when the sums were eventually done. A win or a draw would have seen them into the knock-out stages, and as it finally panned out, a lower losing margin could also have worked in their favour.

Former Tipperary senior football captain Peter Acheson made a welcome return to action to help Moyle Rovers overcome Ballyporeen at Clonmel on Sunday last. Challenging is Ballyporeen's Thomas Vaughan. Pic: Michael Boland

Their hopes were raised four minutes from the end when a foul in the square on substitute Rian Hennessy – that earned Moyle Rovers defender Brian McKeown a black card – saw Darragh Brennan step up to take a penalty that was brilliantly saved by Shane Ryan.

But no blame could be attached to Brennan for the miss, as he kicked ten points over the hour, three from play and seven frees, in a brilliant display.

But the Moyle Rovers attack was a more potent threat, with Riain Quigley and Stephen Quirke superb, and Diarmuid Foley, Shane Foley, Rory Collins and Liam Boland all popping up with vital scores. Rovers also had a secret weapon on the day, the return of Peter Acheson, who was a powerhouse in midfield with Ben Owens.

And yet it was Ballyporeen who started the game in whirlwind fashion, with Darragh Brennan hitting three points in the first four minutes, two from play.  Moyle Rovers hadn’t settled until referee Derek O’Mahoney decided on a throw ball when Ballyporeen goalkeeper Mikey Sweeney delayed a kick-out. Rovers won possession and Liam Boland kicked their first point. Riain Quigley and Rory Collins followed up with scores to equalise and a Diarmuid Foley point put Rovers ahead for the first time after fifteen minutes. Christy English equalised from a mark a minute later but Ballyporeen were never on level terms again.

Their early composure deserted them, with stray passes proving costly, and the hugely impressive Quigley and Shane Foley kicked points in the space of thirty seconds to go two clear. Anthony Crotty hit a great point but Rovers went three ahead, 0-8 to 0-5, with points from Quirke and Liam Boland.

However, there was drama at both ends in between. Ballyporeen’s Tomas Vaughan had the ball in the net but it was disallowed for over-carrying. At the other end Moyle Rovers were awarded a penalty when Rory Collins was pulled down on a great run, but Liam Boland’s spot kick was well saved by Mikey Sweeney.

Rovers’ lead at the break was still three points, 0-10 to 0-7, with Quigley and Liam Boland from a free for Rovers, and Ballyporeen replying through John Martin and a Darragh Brennan free.

Stephen Quirke increased the lead to four just thirty seconds into the second half but Ballyporeen upped the tempo again as they chased a quarter final spot. Brennan pointed two frees before Peter Acheson put Quigley in the clear and his booming effort bounced over for a Rovers point after slamming against the crossbar.

But in the space of thirty seconds Ballyporeen had it back to a single point game, 0-12 to 0-11, with quick-fire scores from a Brennan free and Tomas Vaughan after a quick break. It was still all to play for but the next score proved crucial. Rovers went on a quick counter attack and Quigley fed Quirke to shoot low past Sweeney.

A goal at that stage was likely to prove crucial and even though Brennan replied with another free, Moyle Rovers hit the next three scores, from Diarmuid Foley, a Liam Boland free and Quigley, to leave it 1-15 to 0-12, with seven minutes left.

With Moyle Rovers likely winners, and score difference set to become a factor, Ballyporeen needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over and they got a great opportunity when substitute Rian Hennessy was hauled down by Brian McKeown for a penalty. Darragh Brennan had been flawless from his freetaking but he couldn’t make the penalty count, with Shane Ryan pulling off a great save.

He did manage to point a free a minute later, but Rovers substitute Dean English hit back quickly with a fisted point. And the points difference got worse for Ballyporeen two minutes into added time when substitute Dara Ryan was fouled in the square and Liam Boland atoned for his first half penalty miss with a brilliant spot kick past Sweeney.

Brennan from his seventh free and Liam Boland with his third point from play completed the scoring before word finally came through on the scoring permutations. Moyle Rovers’ nine points win over Ballyporeen, and two points defeat to Rockwell, gave them a +7 difference that was enough to see them progress to the quarter finals. Ballyporeen had been seven points winners over Rockwell but this heavy defeat to Moyle Rovers proved costly.

Moyle Rovers – Shane Ryan, Cillian Crowe, Conor McGrath, Jack Harney, Cathal McKeown, Luke Boland, Brian McKeown, Peter Acheson, Ben Owens, Diarmuid Foley 0-2; Stephen Quirke 1-2; Rory Collins 0-1; Riain Quigley 0-5; Liam Boland 1-5, 1-0 penalty; 0-2 frees; Shane Foley 0-1. Subs – Dara Ryan for Shane Foley, Dean English 0-1 for Diarmuid Foley, Cian Crowe for Conor McGrath.

Ballyporeen – Mikey Sweeney, Seamus O’Callaghan, Oisin Brennan, Noel Vaughan, Charlie English, John O’Callaghan, James Barry, Riain O’Callaghan, Dean Finn, Tomas Vaughan 0-1; Daragh Lyons, Christy English 0-1; Anthony Crotty 0-1; John Martin 0-1; Darragh Brennan 0-10, 0-7 frees. Subs – Rian Hennessy for Anthony Crotty, Evan Hickey for Christy English.

Referee – Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan).