Gortnahoe Glengoole powered to Mid U17B Hurling success on Sunday evening

Mid Tipperary U17B Hurling Championship Final

Gortnahoe Glengoole   2-18

Moyne Templetuohy   0-5

By Ronan Loughnane

A very impressive performance from full-forward Christopher Dunne led Gortnahoe to a comfortable victory in the Mid U17 B hurling final played at Templemore on Sunday evening. Having cruised through the round-robin stage the winners were strong favourites for this one having also comfortably defeated Moyne Templetuohy earlier in the campaign. 

It was the underdogs who were fastest out of the traps though with Conor Campion pointing after just 18 seconds. But they would have to wait until first-half injury time for their next score as wind-assisted Gortnahoe completely dominated proceedings. 

The impressive Lorcan Bourke opened their account with a point from play in the sixth minute and after three failed attempts Christopher Dunne finally opened his account with a point in the 10th minute. 

He swiftly followed with three more in the 11th, 14th, and 16th minutes before grabbing the game-opening goal in the 18th minute having burst onto the breaking ball. They added a further five points before the breakthrough Dunne (3), Michael Campion, and the impressive Aaron O’Dwyer. Campion added his second in the 32nd minute to leave Gortnahoe 1-10 to 0-2 ahead at the short whistle.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Turning to play with the strong breeze Moyne/Templetuohy needed a fast start but their failure to score in the third quarter put paid to any hopes of a fightback. Instead, it was Gortnahoe who continued to dominate and they tacked on 1-4 thanks to scores courtesy of Dunne (1-1), Billy Hogan, Michael Campion, and Adam Norton to lead 2-14 to 0-2 at the three-quarter mark. 

To Moyne Templetuohy’s credit, they never gave up and Campion added three further points in the closing stages. Lorcan Bourke added a nice point from distance in the 53rd minute before Dunne closed out the scoring with three-pointed frees.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         With a very impressive personal tally of 2-11, Christopher Dunne was easily the best player on the pitch but this was far from a one-man show. Adam Norton, Aaron O’Dwyer, and Billy Gleeson were solid in defense, Billy Hogan and Thomas Coady worked hard at midfield, while Lorcan Bourke and Michael Campion were busy as bees up front. 

They now face West runners-up Lattin Cullen Gaels in the county quarter-final and will quietly fancy their chances of going all the way. It was a tough day out for Moyne Templetuohy but they will have learned a lot from this campaign. 

Having struggled in the round-robin stages they re-grouped to record victories over Drom and Moycarkey to advance to the final and will have another day on Saturday when they face West champions Golden Kilfeacle. Sean Lyons, Jack Guilfoyle, Ben Moore, Frank Doyle and Conor Campion were best. 

Gortnahoe Glengoole:  Adam Hogan; Eamon Hayden, Daniel Teehan, Adam Norton (0-1); Billy Gleeson, Aaron O’Dwyer (0-1), Jack Gleeson; Billy Hogan (0-1), Thomas Coady; Mark O’Shea, David Stanley, Lorcan Bourke (0-2); Darragh Heffernan, Christopher Dunne (2-11, 0-6f, 0-1 ‘65), Micheal Campion (0-2). 

Subs used: Ronan Gleeson for Norton; Shane Gleeson for O’Shea; Cian Dwyer for Heffernan; Gavin O’Shea for Hayden; Patrick Brophy for Campion. 

Moyne Templetuohy:  Paddy Ely; Conor Cleary, Sean Lyons, Andrew Everard; John Cleere, Jack Reddan, Jack Guilfoyle; Leo Cleere, Conor Campion (0-5, 0-2f); Cody Doyle, Ben Moore, Frank Doyle; Rogan Lyons, Jack Noonan, Joey Doyle.

Subs used: Mark Campion for Rogan Lyons.

Referee:  Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)