Moneygall/Clonakenny narrowly see off Roscrea to claim North U21 final success

North U21B Football Championship Final

Moneygall/Clonakenny 1-10

Roscrea 2-6

By James Hayden

Moneygall/Clonakenny landed the North Tipperary U21B football title thanks to a last-gasp Tadhg Whyte free following a cracking decider in Roscrea on Sunday afternoon last.

The combination side were crowned champions after fighting back from a six-point second-half deficit to overcome a Roscrea side seeking to secure a hurling and football double at this grade.

With just thirteen minutes of normal time remaining Roscrea, minus the services of Dylan Hogan and Kenny Lee, led by six and after Moneygall/Clonakenny missed a 50th-minute penalty following a tremendous Joe Brooks save all seemed lost for the combination side. Cathal Greene fired Moneygall/Clonakenny right back into contention though with a 52nd minute goal before Harry Fleming brought the sides level with a sweetly struck 45’ right on the stroke of full-time.

Roscrea were afforded the chance to snatch victory deep in injury time but Jamie Boland’s effort from a close-range free skewed off his right boot and over the end line.

From the kick-out Moneygall/Clonakenny surged back upfield and with virtually the last attack of the game corner-forward, Aodhan Ryan broke through Ros’ cover before being unceremoniously pulled to the ground by corner-back Josh Morarity.

Referee, Peter Carroll had no hesitation in awarding a free right in front of the goals for the all-important winning point.
With little or no breeze to contend with the home side proved a slicker outfit in the opening quarter.

Centre-back, Luke Seacy was instrumental in numerous Ros’ attacks, and with Lee Doran and Conor Shanahan getting forward at every opportunity it wasn’t long before they opened the scoring thanks to a Jamie Boland free. Conor Shanahan had the ball in the Moneygall/Clonakenny net on nine minutes but his hand-pass failed to receive a required touch despite the best efforts of full-forward Jamie Ryan.

Although Moneygall/Clonakenny registered a slow start they were off the mark on eleven minutes thanks to the trusty boot of freetaker, Tadhg Whyte. Ros’ responded with a cracking Sam Dooley goal mid-way through the half but by this stage Moneygall/Clonakenny were growing in confidence and successive points from Tadgh Whyte brought them back to within a solitary point with just ten minutes remaining to the interval.

Roscrea responded with a Leigh Loughnane effort but despite securing possession from the majority of kickouts they failed to make their possession count on the scoreboard.

The closing five minutes of the half saw Moneygall/Clonakenny secure a firmer grip on proceedings and a 27th-minute Tadgh Whyte free coupled with another deep in time added on ensured both sides went in level at the break, 1-2 to 0-5.

Roscrea were quickly back into their stride following the restart and should have really netted early on after Jamie Ryan found Conor Donovan unmarked in front of the Moneygall/Clonakenny goal. Credit to David Toohey and his defence though who converged quickly and deflected Donovan’s effort for a 45’.

Toohey was again involved to deny Sam Dooley a second goal in the 34th minute but his parried effort was subsequently flashed over the bar by the inrushing Dooley.

Moneygall/Clonakenny responded with a well-taken Harry Fleming 45’ but efforts from Lee Doran and Jamie Ryan edged Ros’ two clear before a 45th-minute Jamie Boland penalty was scorched high over the crossbar.

Now leading by three points Ros’ quickly doubled their lead after Conor Hoctor bundled the ball to the net from close-range after Jamie Ryan’s close-range effort was blocked by David Toohey but Hoctor was on hand to fire Roscrea into a seemingly unassailable 2-6 to 10-6 lead.

Moneygall/Clonakenny regrouped though and were awarded a penalty on 48 minutes after Conor Shanahan’s effort was foot blocked on the Roscrea line. Tadhg Whyte’s effort was excellently saved by Joe Brooks in the Roscrea goal and the combination side came away empty-handed.

Moneygall/Clonakenny refused to let their heads drop though and they received a timely fillip on 52 minutes when Cathal Greene found the back of the Roscrea net with a superb strike.

Greene’s goal proved the catalyst for a Moneygall/Clonakenny resurgence and as Roscrea’s challenge waned point from Tadgh Whyte (free), Cian Ryan and Harry Fleming (45’) brought Moneygall/Clonakenny level before a dramatic injury-time period resulted in the visitors securing a fully deserved victory by the slenderest of margins.

Moneygall/Clonakenny: David Toohey; Jack Ryan, Michael Ryan, David Madden; Dylan McCormack, Kevin McCormack, Andy Hoolan; Cameron Fleming, Harry Fleming (0-2, 0-1f, 0-1 45’); Cian Ryan (0-1), James Carroll, Cathal Green (1-0); Stevie Maher, Tadhg Whyte (0-7, 0-6f), Aodhan Ryan.

Subs used: Oisin O’Dwyer for Maher (41); Cormac Murray for Madden (53); Mark Fogarty for J. Ryan (53).

Roscrea: Joe Brooks; Lee Doran (0-1), Eoin Larkin, Josh Moriarty; Leigh Loughnane (0-1), Luke Seacy, Conor Shanahan; Conor Dooley, Conor Donovan; Sam Dooley (1-1), Diarmuid McLoughlin, Brian O’Rourke; Conor Hoctor (1-0), Jamie Ryan (0-1), Jamie Boland 0-2, 0-1f, 1-0 pen).

Subs used: John Donovan for McLoughlin (55).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess)