Carrig-Riverstown end super year with heads held high as Tullogher-Rosbercon show superiority

WHILE a defeat is always a defeat and there is no such thing as a “nothing to lose” game, Carrig-Riverstown's demise in the Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship final in O'Connor Park on Saturday afternoon did not come as a surprise to them or anyone else.

Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship final

Tullogher-Rosbercon 2-14

Carrig-Rivertsown 0-8

As expected Kilkenny junior champions, Tullogher-Rosbercon had too much fire power, pace and quality, pulling away in the second half for a comprehensive win but it could have been a lot worse and Carrig-Riverstown can hold their heads very high.

The Offaly intermediate champions won't spend too much time regretting this one over the festive season. A provincial cup would have been a great addition to their sideboard but it was not to be and they were too young, too inexperienced on the day.

The defeat, however, in no way detracts from a super year for them. Winning the Offaly intermediate title was their only target at the start of the year and they achieved that in considerable style. Everything after that was a bonus and they can be very proud of the way they focused on the Leinster campaign and reached the final by winning three games.

Kilkenny opposition were always likely to be too strong for them at this stage and with a long time county stalwart, Walter Walsh in their ranks, Carrig-Riverstown were under no illusions about the task facing them.

As it was, the game was over at half time when they trailed by 1-7 to 0-7 after playing with a strong wind. It was at least a five-six point wind and a half time deficit of three points meant that this game just could not be won in the second half.

Asmall rural parish on the Wexford border near New Ross, Tullogher-Rosbercon were a very good side, with a lot going for them, and are clearly well equipped to give the All-Ireland a real lash.

As you would expect, Walter Walsh was a pivotal figure in this game, scoring 1-1 in the first half and having anothe few assists as Tullogher-Rosbercon laid a powerful early foundation.

Walsh raced through for a sensational goal after just fifteen seconds, breaking a tackle and driving a high shot to the roof of the net in a nightmare start for Carrig-Riverstown. Even at that early stage, the more realistic among their supporters knew there would not be another magical evening of celebration.

It was 1-2 to 0-1 after five minutes and the closest Carrig-Riverstown could get was one point.They were 1-2 to 0-3 behind after 12 minutes and a Brendan Hoctor free made it 1-3 to 0-5 after seventeen minutes.

The winners were always the better team, capable of upping the ante at a moment's notice and they were 1-6 to 0-5 and 1-7 to 0-6 ahead before another Brendan Hoctor free left three in it at the break.

Carrig-Riverstown needed a lot more on the board but Lee Hogan missed two scoreable frees for them in the first half and they never really threatened a goal, apart from a couple of half chances. In fact, Tullogher-Rosbercon could have been further ahead as a Marty Murphy goal was questionably ruled out after a '65'dropped in.

Carrig-Riverstown needed something special to happen but within minutes of the restart, they required the type of miracle that very seldom occurs in games. The outstanding Marty Murphy got in for a 33rd minute goal to give them a 2-8 to 0-7 lead and the losers were on a damage limitation exercise. Corner back Thomas Hogan had made a diving save to deny Danny Glennon a goal just before that as Tullogher-Rosbercon went for the jugular.

With the wind dragging the ball out to the right and holding it up if not sending it back out, C-R were very much swimming against the tide and scoring proved a huge ordeal for them. In fairness to them, they really knuckled down and it is to their credit that the floodgates did not open, as it had for Tullogher-Rosbercon in some of their earlier games.

They tackled tenaciously, worked hard and made the winners work for their scores. As defeats go, it was certainly not in the brutal category and they have nothing to be embarrassed over.

At the same time, a victory was never a remote possibility in the second half. It was 2-13 to 0-8 after fifty minutes with C-R's only point coming from a Brendan Hoctor free in the 36th minute – that was their only point in the second half, though in fairness to them they could have got a few more points if they weren't trying to manufacture goals.

It dwindled out quite harmlessly from here as Carrig-Riverstown went hunting for a consolation goal.

Tulloghey-Rosberson did not exactly embark on a early victory procession but they were content to defend and didn't attack with the intensity that they might have if the game was under any doubt. They were a bit sloppy and had a few poor wides as they went 12 minutes without scoring at one stage but their superiority was never in doubt and there was no question about the merit of their win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Marty Murphy (Tullogher-Rosbercon): All the contenders were in the black and amber of Tullogher-Rosbercon. Pat Hartley was immense at centre half back, Colman O'Sullivan put in a great shift at midfield and Walter Walsh stamped his quality on the game in the first half. The choice is Marty Murphy. He scored 1-3, worked very hard on and off the ball and ensured an uncomfortable hour for the Carrig-Riverstown defence.

The Offaly club had a lot of players who gave it everything they had and a twelve point defeat could have been a lot worse.

THE SCORERS

Tullogher-Rosbercon: Cian O'Donoghue 0-7 (5f, 1'65' and 1 sideline), Marty Murphy 1-3, Walter Walsh 1-1, Conor Hennessy 0-2, Danny Glennon 0-1.

Carrig-Riverstown: Brendan Hoctor 0-4 (4f), Lee Hogan 0-2 (2f), Peter King and Joe Hoctor 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

CARRIG-RIVERSTOWN: Liam Hoare; Thomas Hogan, Ross Connaughton, Dylan Hogan; Cathal Hanlon, Patrick Bergin, Michael Fitzgerald; Cathal King, Peter King; Joe Hoctor, Brendan Hoctor, David Egan; Conor McDowall, Daniel England, Lee Hogan. Subs – Conor Hanamy for English (HT), Kian McDowall for Fitzgerald (42m), Andrew Coakley for Lee Hogan (54m).

TULLOGHER-ROSBERCON: Davy Walsh; Richard Gill, Donncha O'Connor, Sean Murray; Lar Murphy, Pat Hartley, Cathal Mooney; Jamie Lyng, Colman O'Sullivan; Marty Murphy, Walter Walsh, Jason Shiely; Danny Glennon, Conor Hennessy, Cian O'Donoghue. Subs – Michael Handrick for Shiely (42m), Stephen Lawlor for Lyng (58m), Anthony O'Connor for Marty Murphy (61m), JJ Ryan for Gill (62m)

Referee – Matthew Redmond (Kildare).

REFEREE WATCH

Matthew Redmond had a good game and was not a factor in the result at all.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Walter Walsh's goal after a few seconds was an absolute disaster for Carrig-Riverstown as they needed to hit the ground running with the wind on their backs and they never recovered from it.

VENUE WATCH

A strong breeze meant that the O'Connor Park pitch was in tip top shape, bone dry after a busy year. There was a small crowd,mainly comprising of partisans from the competing clubs, and the game was well hosted.It was great to see a large turnout from Crrig-Riverstown, who have clearly relished this competition, many of them sporting distinctive blue and white Santa hats.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tullogher-Rosberson go into the All-Ireland series.

STATISTICS

Wides: Carrig-Riverstown - 8 (5 in first half); Tullogher-Rosberson - 7 (2 in first half).

Yellow cards: Carrig-Riverstown – 1 (Peter King); Tullogher-Rosbercon – 2 (Lar Murphy and Pat Hartley).

Red cards: 0.