Tipperary club wins first leg of possible double of hurling titles in Castleiney

Mid Tipperary Junior Hurling League - Division 2 Final

Thurles Gaels 0-21

Moyne Templetuohy 2-12

Thurles Gaels produced a rounded performance in Castleiney last Friday evening to put paid to a stubborn Moyne Templetuohy effort in a game that never looked in doubt for the Gaels, despite a small winning margin that was maintained throughout.

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The three-point margin would indicate that there was a high degree of closeness and jeopardy heading into the closing minutes. However, it was a result that was never really in doubt, and it would be more reflective of the game to go by the 21 to 14 scores metric for Gaels, who had control of the contest from start to finish.

The Gaels started this game at pace and raced into an early 0-4 to nil lead after six minutes, with numerous personnel and positional changes from the official match programme.

David Fogarty and Alan Ryan were the scorers-in-chief for the Thurles team, with the former picking off an early score off his left after the throw-in, while the latter produced laser accurate freetaking all game long, picking off three in succession after the opening Fogarty point.

The teams went on a score trading burst in the next twelve or so minutes, with ten points being shared equally in that time; Moyne Templetuohy picking off fine scores via the sticks of Donnacha Dunne, Finn Jones, Gavin Ryan, Paudie Gleeson, and Cathal Guilfoyle while Gaels had responses each time thanks to Anthony Cooney, Sean Kenny, Alan Ryan, and a booming long range free from goalkeeper Michael Byran.

The Gaels were in front by five in the 24th minute after David Fogarty picked off a long-range score off his trusted left side and despite Moyne Templetuohy hitting their first score in succession (three) in the next four minutes to make it a two point game, Gaels struck two late points before the break through Ryan (free) and a second for Sean Kenny to take a deserved 0-12 to 0-8 lead into the second period.

Gaels extended their lead after the restart with fine points from play from Alan Ryan and Anthony Cooney but despite struggling in the attacking stakes, Moyne managed to pilfer a major after 36 minutes of play when Sean Hayes and Cathal Guilfoyle linked up brilliantly to send Finn Jones through a gap in the defence and rattle the net.

However, each time Moyne seemed to be getting a head of steam, Gaels always had a response. The Gaels re-opened a five-point lead with ten minutes to go, and despite Moyne striking a second goal after 55 minutes through Damien Cantwell, the eventual winners held their composure.

In the end, they picked off two more points in the dying few moments as Moyne tried to find the scores to get in front; Alan Ryan (free) and the excellent David Fogarty proving to be the match winners with scores in that time, cementing the result and crowning their team as Division 2 league champions.

Thurles Gaels: Michael Byran (0-1f); Morgan Lanigan, Paudie Fitzpatrick, John Ferncombe; Jamie Barry, Lorcan O’Toole, Curtis Ryan; Dylan Cotter, Anthony Cooney (0-2); Sam Cooney, David Fogarty (0-4), Sean Kenny (0-2); Cian Bourke, Alan Ryan (0-9, 0-7f, 0-1 65), Darren Fahey (0-1).

Subs used: Damien Grimes (0-1) for Bourke (HT); Sean Sheehy (0-1) for Kenny (49).

Moyne Templetuohy: Tony Cantwell; James Moloney, David Lowe, Brian Fanning; Eoin Ryan, Niall Russell, Sean Lyons; Donnacha Dunne (0-1), Paudie Gleeson (0-1); Sean Hayes, Liam Butler, Cathal Guilfoyle (0-6, 0-5f); Gavin Ryan (0-1), Damien Cantwell (1-1), Finn Jones (1-1).

Subs used: Martin Kelly (0-1) for G Ryan (39); Ben Moore for Dunne (42); Diarmuid Campion for D Cantwell (55).

Referee: John Lillis (Drom & Inch)

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