Stunning victory as Fethard shade thrilling south Tipperary Under 19 A football final

Fethard 2-10 Moyle Rovers 0-14

Team captain, man of the match and free-taker supreme – that was Mark Neville’s role in a stunning victory for Fethard in an enthralling Sureprint South Tipperary Under 19 A Football Championship final at Cahir on Wednesday evening.

Outplayed by Moyle Rovers for much of the game, the Blues came good when it mattered most and their doggedness and resilience saw them claim their second divisional title in three years.

Two goals from Charlie Walsh, in the fifth and 31st minutes, were equally crucial to the win, but the main drama came in the last four minutes of normal time and five minutes of added time.

Inspired by phenomenal kicking from John Cronin, Rovers went three points ahead, 0-14 to 2-5, in the 53rd minute with a two-point free from Cronin – he had earlier kicked a brace of two-pointers from play in a display that didn’t deserve to have him on the losing side.

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However, his kicking was matched by that of Mark Neville, who then pointed four frees in a row – the last one, and the winning one, a two-pointer in the 65th minute that required nerves of steel, with the title on the line.

After struggling to impose themselves on the game for long periods, Fethard suddenly took over with midfield domination and winning crucial kickouts.

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Neville’s first free came after heroic Rovers’ defence had initially thwarted a goal chance; his second after a foul on Charlie Walsh, with Noah O’Flynn involved in the build-up; the third an easy one in front of the posts after Rovers were penalised for failing to keep three players in the opposition half; and the fourth five minutes into added time following a foul on John Lacy.

From outside the arc, on the standside, Neville split the posts to start wild celebrations from the players and supporters, as referee Declan Hickey blew the final whistle following the kickout.

Team manager Tommy Sheehan was one of those celebrating.
“Moyle Rovers were excellent all through but we stuck to the belief that we had the quality on the field and the longer it went on, and if we kept within three points, that we were always there with a chance. It was looking bleak with a couple of minutes to go but we got a grip in the middle of the field, going one-on-one on the kick-outs, and we started to dominate,” he said.

Sheehan was also delighted with his captain. “We won a couple of frees, and the late free to win it, an excellent score with Mark under huge pressure. But we couldn’t have had a better chap to take it, an excellent free-taker, well able to kick a ball, and when he’s on his day kicking there’s probably not a better player in the county”.

But he accepted that Moyle Rovers were the better team for long periods.
“We came into the game as favourites and justified that tag by the skin of our teeth at the very end. We struggled a bit at times, but nine of that team are playing intermediate football, as well as intermediate hurling, so they are out every Wednesday and Saturday for the last seven weeks, so there’s a bit of fatigue starting to come into them.

“But late in the game, when they needed to dig in, they showed the quality that they have. Resilience was key, they are a young team and we are cutting our teeth all the time. We won’t measure success in trophies but in how players are developing and I think we are developing a good team for the future”.

The game was a contrast in styles, Moyle Rovers patient and methodical in their build-up, trying to create the openings, with Fethard quick on the break and using their pace through the centre. A quick move saw Charlie Walsh and Mark Neville create the chance for Danny Barry to open the scoring in the second minute.

Conall Morrisson equalised for Rovers two minutes later but Fethard’s threat upfront was evident less than a minute later when Charlie Walsh struck for their first goal, shooting low to the net past Peter Boland.

However, Fethard didn’t score again for another sixteen minutes, as Moyle Rovers dominated possession. Luke Foley was orchestrating a lot of their best moves, and then burst through himself for a fine point. John Cronin then pointed a free following a foul on Fred Perry.

Foley and Cronin were proof that the apples don’t fall far from the tree, both sons of Rovers legends Derry Foley and Liam Cronin.

Rovers continued to own the ball, with Cronin pointing another free following a foul on Briain Morrisson after a clever run, and then kicking a two-pointer from play for a 0-6 to 1-1 lead after twenty minutes.

Fethard hit back with a fine point from Ryan O’Sullivan, with Conal Morrisson replying to maintain Rovers’ two-points lead.
And that remained the margin at the break, 0-8 to 1-3, with both sides converting 45s, Charlie Walsh for Fethard and goalkeeper Peter Boland for the Monroe side.

Within seconds of the restart Fethard struck for their second goal, winning possession from the throw-in and Mark Neville setting up Charlie Walsh to find the Rovers net again.

However, Fethard failed to build on that momentum, with Fred Perry fisting over for the Rovers equaliser, and they went three ahead with a lovely point from Briain Morrisson and a superb two-pointer from Cronin.

Fethard were just about keeping in touch, with Mark Neville from a free scoring their first point of the second half midway through the half. Noah O’Flynn added another within two minutes, but when Luke Foley was fouled on a quick break from defence, and Cronin pointed the free from outside the arc, Rovers went into a three points lead, 0-14 to 2-5, with just seven minutes remaining.

But then their intensity dropped, with the winning post in sight, as Fethard upped theirs. And a combination of surrendering midfield superiorty, and the concession of too many frees, allowed Fethard – and Mark Neville in particular – to kick the last four scores of the game for a cherished victory.

Fethard; Ben Allen, Jonah McCarthy, Michael Dempsey, Rory O’Mahoney, Liam Kiely, Noah O’Flynn 0-1; Luke Lacy, Gavin Neville, John Lacy, Andrew Connerton, Mark Neville 0-6f, 1 2pt; Jack Davey, Ryan O’Sullivan 0-1; Charlie Walsh 2-1; Danny Barry 0-1.

Subs: Oisín Ryan for Jack Davey, Jack Stokes for Danny Barry.

Moyle Rovers: Peter Boland 0-1 45; Conor O’Gorman, Michael O’Reilly, Cian Flaherty, Fred Perry 0-1; Mark O’Meara, Harry O’Keeffe, Luke Foley 0-1; Brian Hurley, Aaron McAndrew, John Cronin 0-8, 2 2pt, 0-4f, 1 2pt; Cianan Power, Briain Morrisson 0-1; Cathal O’Gorman, Conall Morrisson 0-2.

Subs: Cillian Morrissey for Cathal O’Gorman, Tadhg Buckley for Aaron McAndrew.

Referee: Declan Hickey (Ballyporeen).