Combination proves too strong for gallant Burgess in North U19B hurling decider

Ger Gavin North Tipperary U19B Hurling Championship Final

Moneygall/Clonakenny 1-22  

Burgess 3-12

By James Hayden

Moneygall/Clonakenny staved off a late, late Burgess rally to capture their first ever North Tipperary U-19 ‘B’ hurling title following an absorbing decider at a blustery MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Sunday afternoon last.

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Playing with a strong gusting breeze an experienced Moneygall/Clonakenny side took the game to Burgess right from the throw-in with a Dylan Sayers point after just ten seconds. Burgess responded with a cracking David Nealon effort but with no less than five of Moneygall/Clonakenny's side having lined out recently for Moneygall's Premier Intermediate hurlers the combination outfit proved formidable opposition for Pat Gibson's charges.

Tadhg Whyte provided Cormac Hoolan with the opportunity for Moneygall/Clonakenny's second before an impressive Burgess build-up provided full-forward, Paul Cahalan with the chance for Burgess’ second point after seven minutes. Seconds later Cahalan fired Burgess into the lead after he gathered a neat Charlie Cairns pass and bisected the uprights with ease.

Burgess coped well with the Moneygall’s dangerous attack in the opening quarter refusing to allow the combination side to build up any head of steam but you could sense momentum was building for the pre-match favourites. Moneygall/Clonakenny edged two clear after a quick Sean Stapleton sideline to Shay Gleeson resulted in a booming point from the rangy centre-back.

Moneygall/Clonakenny added a fourth point on the bounce mid-way through the first half with Eoin Doughan knifing over a close-range free after Conor Grace was pinged for picking the sliotar off the ground. Doughan added another from play seconds later as Moneygall/Clonakenny began to impose themselves on the game.

Burgess refused to allow Moneygall/Clonakenny to pull clear though and a neat David Nealon effort on 21 minutes brought Burgess back to within four. Within seconds Moneygall/Clonakenny responded with Shay Gleeson linking up extremely well with the in-form Eoghan Doughan before firing over his side’s ninth point from range.

With a strengthening breeze at their backs, worth at least six or seven points, Moneygall/Clonakenny knew they had to rack up the scores before the interval. Tadhg Whyte, who was well held for the majority of the opening half, opened his account with a 23rd minute point before Eoghan Doughan added a third point from a placed ball to fire the combo into an 0-11 to 0-4 lead.

Moneygall continued to keep the scoreboard moving with Eoghan Doughan (free) and Cormac Hoolan both on target before Odhran Ryan pulled off a fine save from a Sean Stapleton snapshot. Ryan was on hand minutes later again to deny Stapelton from even closer range after Oisin O’Dwyer found Stapleton all alone on the edge of the square with a delightful crossfield ball.

Diarmuid O’Donoghue fired over Burgess’ fifth point on 29 minutes to keep Burgess ticking but Moneygall added two from Cian Ryan and Tadhg Whyte deep in time added on to ensure they held a 0-15 to 0-5 lead at the break.

With the squally rain now making conditions more than difficult Moneygall continued where they finished off in the first half, working hard to win the rucks and winning hard-earned possession.

Both sides traded points in the opening ten minutes with Paul Cahalan and Michael Ryan on target for Burgess while Tadhg Whyte and Eoghan Doughan raised white flags for the Moneygall/Clonakenny men.

Moneygall maintained their interval advantage right to the 40 minute mark before Eoghan Doughan arrowed over a close range free after Tadhg Whyte was pulled to the ground by Keith O’Donoghue as he bore down on the Burgess goals.

Michael Ryan fired over his second and Burgess’ eighth point on the 44 minute mark before a booming long-range effort from John Grace from the toes of the MacDonagh Park stand served to boost Burgess' hopes.

Moneygall/Clonakenny hit back with what eventually proved to be a hugely influential goal after Cian Ryan’s searching free out of defence found Tadhg Whyte in space and he rattled the Burgess net in the 49th minute with a cracking low drive.

Burgess retorted with a Paul Cahalan goal, a delicious effort which nestled neatly in the back of the Moneygall net and credit to the men in green and gold they kept battling hard to whittle down Moneygall/Clonakenny’s ten-point lead.

Two points on the bounce from the stick of David Nealon (one free and one from play) cut the deficit to eight points but goals were badly needed at this juncture. 

Burgess virtually laid siege to a teak-tough Moneygall/Clonakenny rearguard in the closing stages with Alex Gleeson denying Burgess an almost certain goal with his boot deep in injury time. However, a last gasp close-range free from David Nealon 90 seconds from the whistle narrowed the gap to seven before Paul Cahalan netted with virtually the last puck of the game after a late 65’s came down off the Moneygall/Clonakenny upright.

It proved too little too late for Burgess though as Moneygall/Clonakenny deservedly held out for a hard-fought four-point victory to capture the Nealon Trophy for the very first time.

Impressive for Moneygall/Clonakenny were Shay Gleeson, Cormac Hoolan, Eoghan Doughan Doughan, Cian Ryan and Tadhg Whyte while John Grace, Diarmuid O’Donoghue, David Nealon and Paul Cahalan caught the eye for Burgess.

Scorers: Moneygall/Clonakenny: Eoghan Doughan (0-8, 0-6f), Tadhg Whyte 1-5, Cormac Hoolan 0-3, Cian Ryan, Shay Gleeson 0-2 each, Dylan Sayers, Oisin O’Dwyer 0-1 each.

Burgess: Paul Cahalan 2-4, David Nealon (1-4, 1-1f), Michael Ryan 0-2, John Grace, Diarmuid O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

Moneygall/Clonakenny: Paddy McCormack; Alex Gleeson, Adam O’Brien, Joe Stapleton; Brian Toohey, Shay Gleeson, Sean Maher; Cormac Hoolan, Dylan Sayers; Sean Stapleton, Eoghan Doughan, Sam Carey; Oisin O’Dwyer, Tadhg Whyte, Cian Ryan.

Subs used: Tim Cleary for Carey (HT).

Burgess: Odhran Ryan; Jack O’Sullivan, Keith O’Donoghue, Thomas Duffy; Thomas Ryan, John Grace, Conor Gorman; Conor Grace, James Dillon; Charlie Cairns, Diarmuid O’Donoghue, Michael Ryan; David Nealon, Paul Cahalan, Luke Power.

Subs used:  Michael Grace for Gorman (34); Jamie Dorris for Dillon (44).

Referee: Christy McLoughlin (Nenagh Éire Óg)

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