Second half Devon Ryan goal swings result in Cashel King Cormac's favour

FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship - Group 2 - Round 2

Cashel King Cormacs      3-19

Moyne Templetuohy     0-19

By Ronan Loughnane

For three-quarters of this entertaining encounter, there was nothing to separate the sides, but Devon Ryan’s 47th-minute goal finally tipped the balance in Cashel’s favour and once in front they never looked back. Moyne Templetuohy brought plenty to this game and the final score certainly doesn’t do their efforts any justice. 

They began with the aid of a strong breeze but it was Cashel who opened the scoring through a Devon Ryan free following good work from Eoghan Connolly. Tuohy opened their account a minute later thanks to a good strike from Diarmuid Fogarty before Ronan Connolly and Gearoid O’Connor exchanged points from play. 

David McGrath nudged Cashel back in front before O’Connor went for goal from a ’21 in the 8th minute but his effort was blocked on the Cashel line. Anthony “Lar” Walsh proved a real handful for the Tuohy defence throughout the game and he pointed in the 9th minute. The West men were living slightly on the edge with Conor O’Dwyer, Oisin O’Donoghue and Paddy Fahy all yellow-carded by referee Seamus Delaney in the opening 18 minutes. 

O’Connor landed two pointed frees in reply to points from play from O’Dwyer and Eoghan Connolly to leave Cashel 0-5 to 0-4 ahead after the opening quarter. There was plenty of endeavour from both sides but the umpires weren’t overly busy with the sides sharing ten points in the second quarter. Aaron Browne saved smartly from Conor Bowe in the 17th minute with O’Connor popping over the rebound before adding a free two minutes later. 

Ryan tacked on two frees for Cashel before James Cummins and Eanna Guilfoyle swapped lovely points from play. A great puckout from Paul Maher found Bowe in the 27th minute for a Tuohy point to tie it up at 0-8 apiece. Cashel finished the half with points from Ross Bonnar and Ryan with Fogarty closing the first half by scoring with his second from play.

A point up and turning to play with the strong breeze Cashel were in a great position but Moyne played their best hurling in the third quarter. Pearse Meade stormed into the game and O'Connor was exerting an influence on the ’40. 

The latter pointed three times in the opening ten minutes, one from a free, another from play and a beauty from a line ball while the former hit another from distance and Tuohy were three to the good, 0-13 to 0-10. Cashel had plenty of chances but had to wait until the 11th minute for the opening point of the second half courtesy of “Lar”. 

That score settled Cashel and they landed three points in 90 seconds through Ryan, Bonnar and O’Donoghue to edge in front before a great point from Diarmuid Leahy tied it up once more at 0-14 apiece as we entered the final quarter. A fortuitous break of the ball in the 47th minute left Devon Ryan in a foot race with Paul Maher which the Cashel man won to land the game-opening goal which was followed by a great Ronan Connolly point to put clear water between the sides for the first time. 

The introduction of Finn Jones certainly brought some much-needed life to the Tuohy attack and he landed a fine point in the 49th minute. O’Connor missed a crucial free in the 51st minute as did Ryan a minute later but they both atoned in the 25th minute to leave four between them, 1-16 to 0-15, with five to play. It was game over in the 59th minute when Eoghan Connolly converted a penalty won by his brother Ronan. 

Substitute Cormac Deegan pointed for Tuohy but Cashel finished with a flurry with points from O’Donoghue (2), Eoghan Connolly and a goal from substitute Simon Delaney. Frees from Paul Maher and O’Connor were mere consolation as Cashel finished nine to the good. Captain James Cummins, the Connollys, Oisin O’Donoghue, Devon Ryan and Kieran O’Dwyer were all to the fore for Cashel. 

Cashel King Cormacs:  Aaron Browne; Con Bonner, Nathan Ryan, Kieran O’Dwyer; James Cummins (0-1), Conor O’Dwyer (0-1), Ronan Connolly (0-2); Paddy Fahy, Eoghan Connolly (1-1, 1-0 pen); Cathal Quinn, Devon Ryan (1-6, 0-6f), Anthony Walsh (0-2); David McGrath (0-1), Oisin O’Donoghue (0-3, 0-1 sl-cut), Ross Bonner (0-2). 

Subs used: Simon Delaney (1-0) for Conor O’Dwyer (38); Adrian Cummins for Walsh (60).

Moyne Templetuohy: Paul Maher (0-1f); Kieran Larkin, Tomas Hamill, Mark Ryan; Pearse Meade (0-1), Tomas Hassett, Ciaran Lloyd; Conor Bowe (0-1), Diarmuid Leahy (0-1); Eanna Guilfoyle (0-1), Gearoid O’Connor (0-10, 0-7f, 0-1 sl-cut), Diarmuid Fogarty (0-2); Sean Hayes, Martin Kelly, Shane Lowe.

Subs used: Tom Meade for Larkin (HT); Finn Jones (0-1) for Kelly (38); Cormac Deegan (0-1) for Leahy (56);  Danny Moore for Hayes (60).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens)