County champions face relegation dogfight as Moycarkey Borris pip Kilruane MacDonaghs

FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Championship - Group 2 - Round 3

Moycarkey Borris 1-23

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-21

By Liam Hogan

Kilruane MacDonaghs' reign as county championship maybe lost since their defeat to Roscrea two weeks ago but now, they have a real battle on their hands as they will have to contest a relegation semi-final following their two-point defeat to Moycarkey Borris in a great game played at Templederry last Saturday evening.

Moycarkey made wholesale changes from their defeat to Toomevara while Kilruane lined out without Eoin Hogan or Niall O’Meara with the latter out of commission due to concussion in a game that saw both teams contest with great zest.

Moycarkey were a different team to the one that lost to Toomevara but it wasn’t for the want of trying by Kilruane either as they kept in the game from first whistle to last and produced a great fightback in the second half after trailing by six points at halftime before almost snatching victory at the death but Cian Darcy’s effort from close in was poorly struck and saved by Rhys Shelly.

Indeed, Shelly was responsible for a number of saves which kept Moycarkey above ground level with two important saves in the first half. The first was a goal-line save in the 14th minute as he got over to Willie Cleary’s attempt from close in. The shot needed more pep to beat the Tipp custodian. The second came in the 25th minute when Eoin Carroll’s rasper from close in looked goal bound but Shelly saved at the expense of a 65.

His save came after Kilruane were in the throes of making up lost ground. At one stage they trailed 0-7 to 0-4 due to the excellent long-range shooting by wing-back Pat Molloy who had scored four brilliant points with his fourth giving them the said three-point advantage.

After Molloy’s latest score, Kilruane began to enjoy a period of dominance with Conor Austin pointing before Kian O’Kelly had Shelly beaten after an assist by Jerome Cahill in the 13th minute. Pat Molloy levelled and after Moycarkey added two more points, it was Molloy on target again, this time his sixth to make it 0-12 to 1-5 and nine minutes to half time.

Rhys Shelly’s wonderful save in the 25th presented a 65 and Willie Cleary scored and the score led to a flurry of scores approaching halftime with Kieran Morris moving Moycarkey four in front again before Mark O’Neill and Willie Cleary reduced the margin to two.
With Tom and Eoghan Hayes to the fore in the spine of the Moycarkey defence there was plenty of supply for Kiern Cummins and Kyle Shelly plus Rory Ryan to pose problems for Kilruane and they had the perfect tonic as Kyle Shelly’s goal somehow deceived Paudie Wiliams. Eoghan Hayes added a point soon afterwards but Seamus Hennessey’s point softened the blow before Joe Maher gave Moycarkey a six point advantage at half time 1-15 to 1-9.

Helped by the breeze, Kian O’Kelly’s point after fourteen seconds set the crowd alive with Kilruane producing a three point run with Willie Cleary adding two pointed frees. Moycarkey recovered with the impressive Rory Ryan scoring but points by Willie Cleary and the equally impressive Jerome Cahill bringing Kilruane within two of the leaders on forty minutes.

But Moycarkey had the ability to create scores and they were five in front after points by Kieran Morris (free), Kyle Shelly and a ninety metre free by Rhys Shelly. However, the concession of frees would pose problems for the Mid men and none better than Willie Cleary to take advantage with two more added to his increasing tally. Trouble is Kilruane needed more than Willie Cleary to find the scores and with Jack Peters, Kieran Cahill, Craig Morgan and Mark O’Neill becoming more prominent, the scores began to arrive.

But first, they had to get over a score by Kieran Cummins before the County holders were in the process of taking over and four unanswered points by Willie Cleary (three frees) plus a point from Aaron Morgan on the left wing had them level at 1-20 each and five minutes on the clock.

But Moycarkey were always dangerous and Kieran Morris had Moycarkey in front with a free followed by a long-range point by Kyle Shelly. Another Cleary free left the minimum between the teams with four to go as Kilruane came in search of an equaliser but the Moycarkey defence held firm before Kieran Morris did the needful with an injury time free in the second minute of added time.

There was more and a minute later Cian Darcy appeared to have the winner in his grasp but Shelly saved and Moycarkey survived with their delight somewhat softened when they learned that Roscrea had done enough to gain a place in the quarter finals leaving Moycarkey in third position.

Moycarkey Borris: Rhys Shelly (0-1f); Peter Melbourne, Tom Hayes, Chris McCullough; Stephen Walsh, Eoghan Hayes (0-1), Pat Molloy (0-6); Kieran Cummins (0-2); Jack Fallon; Kyle Shelly (1-3), Rory Ryan (0-2), Joe Maher 0-1; Bill Flanagan (0-1), Kieran Morris (0-6,0-5f), Liam Corcoran.

Subs used: Pat Ralph for Flanagan (59); Rory Darmody for Ryan (59); Johnny Bergin for Corcoran (59); Rory Regan for Molloy (63).

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paudie Williams; Aaron Morgan (0-1), Jack Peters, James Cleary; Kieran Cahill, Craig Morgan, Mark O’Neill (0-1); Conor Austin (0-2), Jerome Cahill (0-1); Seamus Hennessey (0-2), Conor Cleary (0-1), Kian O’Kelly (1-1); Eoin Carroll, Willie Cleary (0-12, 0-9f, 0-2 65s), Cian Darcy.

Subs used: Eoin Hogan for Carroll (26); James Williams for Hennessey (43); Martin Grace for K Cahill (59).

Referee: PJ Nolan (Killea)