Wolfe Tones edged out in Leinster tie

Despite a brave fightback Wolfe Tones were knocked out of the Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship on Sunday afternoon when they came up against a determined Naomh Moninne side from Co. Louth.

By Deniese O'Flaherty

Wolfe Tones had started the game well and went in at the break leading by one point but Moninne turned that deficit into a six point gain in the opening quarter of the second half, scoring 1-4 without reply.

The Edgeworthstown side were handed a chance to get to within three points of the Louth side in the 47th minute but Paddy Cullen’s penalty was blocked on the line by Moninne full-back Pearse Doherty.

Although the penalty miss was a blow for Wolfe Tones they didn’t give up and in the final eleven minutes of the game fought back to close the gap to just one point with three minutes of normal time remaining, but the Louth Champions held on for the win.

The first-half was a tight affair with very little separating the two sides. Wolfe Tones made a bright start with Paddy Cullen hitting over two frees inside the opening five minutes.

Ronan Geoghegan, who was a threat throughout, replied with two frees in quick succession to level the scores in the eighth minute.

A nice move in the 12th minute involving Joe Dempsey, Kevin Shine and Cullen resulted in the corner-forward forcing a fine save out of Moninne keeper James Connolly. Four minutes later Cullen was to get on the scoresheet again with his third free of the game after a foul on John Newman.

But such was the nature of the opening exchanges Moninne were back on level terms in the 18th minute when Eddie McArdle pointed over a fine score. Two minutes later and another Geoghegan free edged them in front for the first time.

Five minutes from the break Longford dual star Seamus Hannon pointed over the score of the game. The midfielder made a burst through the Moninne defence and fired over a superb score to level the game for the third time.

Moninne thought they’d scored their fifth point just before the break but there was some controversy over it. From the sideline it looked wide but one of the umpires hesitated and waved the white flag before he was over-ruled by the linesman who had a better view.

Wolfe Tones went down the other end and Benny Stakem got his first point of the game but put the Longford champions in front by one point at half-time, 0-5 to 0-4.

Moninne made a fantastic start to the second half completely brushing aside the Wolfe Tones challenge. Two fantastic long-range frees from Diarmuid Murphy and a nice effort from Oisin Drum moved them two points ahead eight minutes after the restart. That lead was extended to five points when Geoghegan grabbed the only goal of the game.

Two minutes Geoghegan was on the mark again this time firing over another free to put six between the sides. In the 47th minute Wolfe Tones were handed a lifeline when referee Tom Anderson awarded a penalty.

Up stepped Paddy Cullen but his effort was blocked on the line by some excellent defending from full-back Pearse Doherty.

With the game entering the final ten minutes it looked like there was no way back for Wolfe Tones but credit to them they just didn’t give up and slowly started to cut into Moninne’s lead. Paddy Cullen led the charge with two frees and was also unlucky not to find the back of the net with a fine effort that just flashed wide.

Martin Coyle and Andrew Kelly were also on the mark as Wolfe Tones cut the gap to just two points with six minutes of normal time to go. They had a chance to come to within one point but they lost possession after Hannon made another burst through. With three minutes remaining Benny Stakem made sure it would be a nervy few minutes when he brought Wolfe Tones to within one point of Moninne.

As the game entered stoppage time Wolfe Tones went on the attack but lost the ball and Moninne were able to clear. Down the other end Wolfe Tones keeper John Nolan brought off a cracking save to deny the Louth side from grabbing their second goal of the game. Murphy fired over the resultant ’65 to leave two points between the sides at the end.

Naomh Moninne: James Connolly, Mark McGuinness, Pearse Doherty, Dermot Plunkett, Stephen Rafferty, Diarmuid Murphy (0-3,2f,’65), Ger Collins, Donal Rafferty, Oisin Drum (0-1), Andrew Mackin, Philip English, Padraig Murphy, Ronan Geoghegan (1-4,4f), Padraig Fallon, Eddie McArdle (0-1).

Subs used:- Stephen Ryan for Fallon 22min, Andrew McArdle for McGuinness 51mins, Darren O’Hanrahan for P Murphy 55mins.

Wolfe Tones: John Nolan, John Lynam, Thomas Stakem, Sean McNally, Mark Cassidy, Sean Browne, Joe Dempsey, Seamus Hannon (0-1), B Stakem (0-2), Kevin Shine, Martin Coyle (0-1), John Cullen, Andrew Kelly (0-1), John Newman, Paddy Cullen (0-5,5f).

Subs used:- Keelan Cox for Shine 40mins, James Carroll for J Cullen 49mins.

Referee: Tom Anderson (Offaly).

Copyright Longford Leader


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