Moneygall put poor Borrisokane to the sword in Intermediate North final

Kellys of Fantane North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Moneygall 3-15

Borrisokane 0-11

By Liam Hogan

An impressive Moneygall bridged a two-year gap when they regained the Kellys of Fantane North Tipperary with a 13-point win over Borrisokane at a very wet Toomevara last Sunday.

That winning margin was the third highest in the last twelve years with Silvermines winning by sixteen points in their 2011 win over Newport while Newport’s 15-point win over Ballinahinch came in 2014.

Whatever the margin, the destination of the Fr Hewitt Cup was well known after twenty minutes when Moneygall were 2-5 to nil in front before Borrisokane registered their first score through an Oisin Larkin score from play.

After Conor Ryan had opened the scoring inside 43 seconds the first of the goals came in the third minute when Sean Kenneally availed of an assist from Sean Fogarty before finding the net.

Conor Ryan added a point closely followed by a Paddy Fogarty score before the same player was on hand to score Moneygall’s second goal thanks to a weaving run in the tenth minute.

The one-way traffic and Moneygall’s direct ball continued and further points by Kenneally and Aodhan Ryan made it 2-5 to nil by the 17th minute. Oisin Larkin had Borrisokane’s first score from play and he added a free before Mike Heenan had their third unanswered score.

Another Sean Kenneally point kept Moneygall a distance away but Oisin Larkin kept Borrisokane somewhat in the picture when he secured his third point from a free to make the halftime score read 2-6 to 0-4.

As the driving rain continued the game had lost its intensity and became a battle of frees by Joe Fogarty and Oisin Larkin as both scored 0-4 each in the opening twelve minutes.

Then in the 43rd minute the game was put to bed when Sean Kenneally scored his second goal after Joe Fogarty’s high ball came back off the upright to give the winners a 3-10 to 0-8 lead.

There was never any doubt about the destination of the silverware from there on as Fogarty and Larkin fought it out.
Apart from the converted frees both sides had chances of goals with both goalkeepers earning their money especially Colm Larkin in the Borris goal. By the hour's end, Moneygall’s seventh title was safekeeping.

Joe Fogarty was the official man of the match. He scored 0-7 including six points from placed balls and contributed much more in general play. The decision must have been very tight with Sean Kenneally hot on his heels as the game’s top scorer on 2-3 from play.

There were others in the frame also as Conor Ryan, Aodhan Ryan, and Philip Fanning stood out. We cannot forget the work rate of the entire Moneygall team but Liam Carroll, Cathal Greene, Adam Hogan, Brendan Toohey, and Bob Kenny deserve a mention as does Ciaran Quinlan in goal.

If any Borrisokane man was in the frame then there would be one name and that was Roan Murphy. Murphy played well in his role as sweeper.

Always in the right position at the right time and when he moved up into attack in the last fifteen, he never gave up.

Moneygall: Ciaran Quinlan; Cathal Greene, Phil Fanning, Liam Carroll; Brendan Toohey, Adam Hogan, Andy Hoolan (0-1); Conor Ryan (0-2), Aodhan Ryan (0-1); Sean Fogarty, Bob Kenny, Seán Kenneally (2-3); Cathal Hogan, Paddy Fogarty (1-1), Joe Fogarty (0-7, 0-6f).

Subs used: Mark Fanning for Hoolan (48).

Borrisokane: Colm Larkin; Brian Dooley, Stephen Gavin, Shane Nevin; Jimmy Hough, Roan Murphy, Peter Collins; Liam Cleary, Jack Larkin; Conor Ryan (0-1), Dylan Power, Oisin Larkin (0-8, 0-7f); Philip Austin, Mike Heenan (0-2), Kevin Cleary.

Subs used: Garry Ryan for Austin (HT); Ciaran Foley for K Cleary (39); Seosamh Cleary for L Cleary (52); Liam Dooley for Oisin Larkin (63).

Referee: Christy McLoughlin (Nenagh Éire Óg)