Moneygall survive Ballingarry rally to claim county intermediate hurling title
FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
MONEYGALL 2-21
BALLINGARRY 4-14
Ten points ahead with ten minutes of normal time remaining, it appeared Moneygall were finally about to get their hands on the Michael Maher Cup as Tipperary intermediate hurling champions. However, a storming finish by a never-say-die Ballingarry had the northerners hanging on for dear life at the end; Moneygall hugely relieved to hear Kevin Jordan’s full-time whistle five minutes into added time.
Played at Templetuohy on Saturday last in perfect conditions in front of a packed attendance, both sides served up a hugely exciting winner-takes-all county decider. For the champions there was the cup to take back to the Barack Obama Plaza in County Offaly, and also an upgrade to the Seamus Ó Riain Cup for next year. But in the cruel and cold reality of sport, a one-point defeat sent Ballingarry homeward bound empty-handed, to go again once more at intermediate grade in 2025.
But huge credit to both sides who from the outset served up an all-action, high-energy county showpiece. On a mission, rank outsiders Ballingarry put it up to the 3/1-on favourites from the throw-in with their opening point inside 40 seconds from a Dylan Walsh free. In a statement of intent this was followed in the third minute by the game’s first of six goals. Ballingarry full-forward Paddy Burns, in full flight, nicked the sliotar off the turf 30 metres from goal, and holding off a challenge, rammed past Ciarán Quinlan from close range.
Two minutes later, the crowd knew they were in for a big final when Moneygall responded with a goal of their own. A diagonal crossfield ball from Aodhán Ryan was plucked from the sky over his marker by Sean Kenneally, and the Tipp senior rifled to the roof of the net giving Paidí Maher no chance.
A huge wind-assisted Eoin Whyte point from his own 65 levelled matters in the ninth minute, and the sides were still tied, at 1-2 apiece after 12 minutes, following a shared pair of frees from Dylan Walsh (after the referee overruled the umpires) and Joe Fogarty.
While Ballingarry were guilty of four wides in the early minutes, Moneygall were finding their range that bit better and three quick-fire points from Sean Kenneally (2) and Joe Fogarty put the northerners in front. The diagonal crossfield ball aimed at Kenneally again proving a fruitful tactic.
Dylan Walsh’s third free on 16 minutes was nullified immediately after the puck-out by a fine effort from Moneygall midfielder Adam Ryan to put his side three clear at 1-6 to 1-3, but not for long. A long delivery out of the Ballingarry defence by Cathal Greene was seized on by Thomas Walton and having beaten two challenges on his way towards goal, the Ballingarry midfielder rattled the back of the net for parity for the third time after 17 minutes of play.
Michael Ivors edged the Slieveardagh side ahead with a nice point just inside the upright a minute later. But before Sean Kenneally again levelled matters up with a point from the wing, Ballingarry had Paidí Maher to thank for a vital save when touching a low drive from Paddy Fogarty onto the bottom of the upright before clearing the danger.
With the crowd fully engaged, the combatants continued tit-for-tat, a Dylan Walsh free put the Maroons ahead again before Joe Fogarty capitalised on a poor Ballingarry clearance to level matters after 23 minutes. Another Joe Fogarty point from distance was instantly replied to by a superb effort from Walsh, 35 metres out on the sideline. Five minutes before the break the sides were locked level for the sixth time, 1-9 to 2-6.
Down the stretch towards the short whistle, Moneygall hit three without reply from the excellent Sean Kenneally (2) and Joe Fogarty, before a great run by Dylan Walsh made space for Ben Ivors to point for the Niall O’Donnell managed Ballingarry.
At half-time this county final was delicately poised, Moneygall just two points to the good at 1-12 to 2-7, having enjoyed the advantage of the breeze blowing away from the village.
Moneygall opened the second half with a point within 15 seconds, Bob Kenny setting up Tadhg Whyte to score, and they were soon four points to the good after Joe Fogarty won and sent over a free.
Ballingarry quickly settled with a free from Walsh after Paddy Burns was taken out in a yellow card high tackle, before Declan Hayes from 65 metres brought it back to a two-point game six minutes after the restart.
Ballingarry left a handy free behind them at this stage and were also guilty of four early second half wides, mirroring what they had done in the opening half. If there was a regret post-match it would be that they hit 11 wides and some of them, for sure, should have been converted.
The match-winning period of the game came between the 38th and 50th minutes when the North champions outscored their rivals 1-6 to 0-1, to go ten clear at 2-20 to 2-10 with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
A superb lung-bursting effort up along the wing in which he was forced backwards twice ended in a rousing Joe Fogarty point from 45 metres out on the sideline. The same player added another free a minute later when wing-back Cian Ryan was fouled late after delivering a clearance.
Midfielder Adam Hogan, off his left side from 40 metres, further extended the Moneygall lead to five before Dylan Walsh, doing everything possible to rally his side, sent over an excellent point from the sideline for Ballingarry.
Right on the three-quarters mark Moneygall put one hand on the Michael Maher Cup with their second goal. A move started by Eoin Whyte found Joe Fogarty and his pass inside was superbly finished to the net by his brother and team captain, Paddy, to make it 2-17 to 2-10.
Three further unanswered points from Joe Fogarty (65 and free) and Tadhg Whyte, after good work by Sean Fogarty, built what looked like, and ultimately proved to be, that unassailable ten-point cushion for Moneygall.
But Ballingarry are famed on the hurling fields for their fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude and they epitomised that once more at Templetuohy on Saturday last with a rousing fightback in the face of adversity.
Backs-to-the-wall now, they were thrown a lifeline in the 52nd minute when substitute Aidan Ryan pulled a goal back with a fast reaction under pressure. With five minutes of normal time still to play the deficit was back to just five points following another Dylan Walsh free and a point by Aidan Ryan, set up by Ben Ivors.
Three minutes from time Mark Fanning won a free converted by Joe Fogarty to make it six points again for Moneygall, but Ballingarry kept hurling and forcing the issue, with Dylan Walsh adding a 65 and a free in added-time.
Moneygall were then reduced to 14 men after Andy Hoolan’s second yellow card, and amazingly four minutes into the red time zone Ballingarry substitute Eoghan Pollard goaled to leave the margin at the minimum. Could this final yet go to extra-time?
In one final play from the referee, Ballingarry centre-back Simon Blackmore almost had a long-range shot away only to be blocked down and with it Moneygall had survived, deservedly county champions after a thoroughly enjoyable decider.
On the day the winners owed so much to the scoretaking of Joe Fogarty and Sean Kenneally who contributed 1-16 of the 2-21 tally. But the success was down to a huge team effort against teak-touch and never-relenting opposition. In defence, Cathal Greene, Cian Ryan, Brendan Toohey did huge work, while Adam Hogan and Aodhán Ryan had a right tussle with the Ballingarry pair. Up front while the aforementioned did the majority of the scoring, all six played their parts.
It will be a hard pill for Ballingarry to swallow, losing by a single point in a county final is never easy. To their credit they contributed magnificently to the final and won many friends with their always-honest efforts. Paul Butler and Simon Blackmore held the defence together, Jack Fennelly cleared some great ball. Thomas Walton and Conor Vaughan gave their all at midfield while Dylan Walsh was heroic in his ten-point contribution while Aidan Ryan impressed on his introduction.
Moneygall: Ciarán Quinlan, Andy Hoolan, Jack Kirwan, Cathal Greene, Cian Ryan, Brendan Toohey, Eoin Whyte (0-1), Adam Hogan (0-2), Aodhán Ryan, Joe Fogarty (0-11, 0-5F, 0-1×65), Sean Fogarty, Bob Kenny, Paddy Fogarty (1-0), Tadhg Whyte (0-2), Sean Kenneally (1-5).
Subs: Mark Fanning for T. Whyte (52 mins), Cathal Kennedy for E. Whyte (58 mins), Niall Maher for S Fogarty (59 mins).
Ballingarry: Paidí Maher, Ger Ryan, Paul Butler (capt), Jack Fennelly, James Burns, Simon Blackmore, Declan Hayes (0-1), Thomas Walton (1-0), Conor Vaughan, Dylan Walsh (0-10, 0-7F, 0-1×65), Michael Ivors (0-1), Ger Fennelly, Ben Ivors (0-1), Paddy Burns (1-0), Ian Ivors.
Subs: Aidan Ryan (1-1) for G. Fennelly (41 mins), Eamon Corcoran for Vaughan (46 mins), Patrick Ivors for Hayes (52 mins), Eoghan Pollard (1-0) for M. Ivors (62 mins).
Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).