Moyne Templetuohy hit five goals in Division 2 Final victory over Drom & Inch

Doran Oil Junior Hurling League Final - Division 2

Moyne Templetuohy 5-15

Drom & Inch 3-17

By Mark Dunne

A brace of second-half goals helped Moyne Templetuohy claim Division 2 League honours after withstanding a late push from their opponents Drom Inch on Thursday evening last.

Played in sunny but bitterly cold conditions this game swung both ways before eventually the hosts had just enough to see of the visitors.

Drom & Inch on reflection will rue their fifteen points wide tally but Moyne Templetuohy proved goals are key at all levels bagging five all from play.

The game opened to a whirlwind start for the hosts with Finn Jones netting inside the opening 60 seconds. Aidan O’Meara pointed with his first of the evening, attacking a short line ball. The teams traded scores over the next ten minutes. Martin Kelly (Moyne Templetuohy) pointed on four occasions and his opposite number Aidan O’Meara kept the score board ticking for Drom.

With the aid of the stiffening breeze Drom attacked aplenty but missed crucial scores to narrow the gap. The ever-building pressure from the Drom Inch side paid off as TJ Kinnane expertly found captain Joey Maher on the edge of the square who climbed highest and batted passed Tony Cantwell in the Moyne Templetuohy net.

The game now level with 18 minutes on the clock, 1-6 apiece. Drom piled on the pressure and almost raised a second green flag with Jack Johnson eventually running out of room but Brian Moore was on hand to give his side the lead for the first time.

Sean Hayes responded before Drom put two more on the board, indeed it could easily have been four with a couple trailing off. Jones had a chance for his second goal by attacking the Drom defence but couldn’t find an opening and eventually pointing.

The sides traded scores a final time before the break, with Drom & Inch leading by the slenderest at the break 1-10 to 1-9.
During the half-time break, both sides made changes to find the extra percentage in play. With the breeze having dropped slightly at the break, both sides knew the game was there to be won.

Campion and Kelly pointed the opening points of the half pushing the home side in front once more. Aidan O’Meara pointed a good score on 33 minutes to tie the teams for the final time in the game.

The home side made use of the pace of Jones with the aforementioned scoring one and being fouled twice to give Martin Kelly two more for his card. A crucial passage of play emerged in the 45th minute.

A speculative shot into the Moyne attack slipped through the legs of the Drom & Inch defender straight to Martin Kelly who made no mistake, 3-14 to 1-13. The teams once again let chances go amiss with the wide tally rising for both teams.

Paul Kennedy and Brian Moore steadied the Drom ship with the next two points bringing the game back to four on 54 minutes. Substitute Ben Ryan found himself in similar circumstances to Martin Kelly when once again a weak shot to the forward found its way to Ryan who netted for Moyne Templetuohy’s fourth of the game.

Brian Moore responded well to the goal with a good score from the wing. Jones got his second goal on 59 minutes when he took on the Drom defence and roofed it to leave the score 5-14 to 1-14 with a couple of minutes to play.

Drom & Inch though responded with vigour, with centre-back Paul Bergin travelling up the field and pointing from a distance. Donnacha Dunne got his side's final score of the game on the hour mark to leave twelve between the sides. Drom Inch though refused to falter.

Brian Moore knocked over a 65m and a free to bring the game back to ten. Drom had a pep in their step now and a long ball in from Paul Bergin saw Joey Maher pull on the dropping ball and passed the Moyne Templetuohy keeper.

Drom attacked once more from the puckout and were awarded a penalty with Joey Maher brought down inside the small rectangle.

Up stepped Diarmuid Brennan who made no mistake and suddenly the game was down to four. Drom looked to build one more attack but with the clock on 65 minutes, referee Tom McGrath blew the full-time whistle.

Moyne Templetuohy: Tony Cantwell; Mark Ryan, David Lowe, Adam Jones; Danny Moore, Kieran Larkin, Brian Fanning; Bill Hogan, Jake Bowe; Donnacha Dunne (0-1), Niall Russell, Sean Hayes; Finn Jones (2-2), Martin Kelly (2-11, 0-8f), Diarmuid Campion (0-1).

Subs used: John Hassett for Jake Bowe; James Moloney for Adam Jones; Gavin Ryan for Bill Hogan; Ben Ryan (1-0) for Diarmuid Campion; Barry Ryan for Finn Jones.

Drom & Inch: David Kinnane; Cathal Flynn, Conor O’Meara, James Kennedy (0-1); Jack Costello, Paul Bergin (0-1), Diarmuid Brennan (1-0); Jack Johnson, Jamie Ryan; Brian Moore (0-7, 0-2f, 0-1 65), Joey Maher (2-1), Micheal Clohessy (0-1); TJ Kinnane, Aidan O’Meara (0-5), Sean Duffe.

Subs used: Paul Kennedy (0-1) for Sean Duffe; Andy Mullen for Cathal Flynn; Colm Kinnane for Jamie Ryan; Martin McGrath for Jack Costello; Liam Harty for Micheal Clohessy.

Referee: Tom McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)