Moyne Templetuohy          2-11

Thurles Gaels                   2-06

By Mark Dunne

Moyne Templetuohy were crowned Mid U14C Hurling Champions on Saturday last to add to their U14C Football title which they won early in the year however it was not as easy as the score line may suggest. A spirited Thurles Gaels performance nearly saw them grasp victory in the last couple of minutes however it was not to be.

The game opened at a frantic pace with both teams looking to get an early grasp on the game. Thurles Gaels pressed hard in the opening minutes and were rewarded with a super score from corner forward Michael Anthony McCarthy to give Thurles Gaels an early lead. Moyne Templetuohy then pressed hard looking for their opening score but the Gaels defence stood strong and it took over 7minutes for the Moyne men to register their first score of the day, a 21m free from Éanna Guilfoyle. The game ebbed and flowed for the next few minutes with both teams trading scores and then a killer punch came from the stick of Eanna Guilfoyle, superb defending from Brian Campion saw him pass the ball to captain Ciaran Llyod who opted for route one. Eanna Guilfoyle then climbed the highest, turned his man and placed the ball in the roof of net, to give Moyne Templetuohy a 1-03 to 0-02 lead after 12 minutes. The next few minutes saw Moyne Templetuohy take a foothold in the game with the ever impressive Eanna Guilfoyle working hard in the full forward line but it was the Thurles Gaels men who would strike next. A long ball in from Jack Murphy was not dealt with it and the ball trickled in over the line to draw the team’s level with half time fast approaching. Eanna Guilfoyle then landed a killer blow right on the whistle of half time with a well worked goal to send them in two points up.

The opening to the second half began like the first, both teams working hard to find crucial scores. Thurles Gaels were first off the mark when a surging run by the ever impressive Jack Murphy drew a free with Callum Fogarty then reducing the gap to one point. The second half was all about work rate as both teams gave us an exhibition in hooking and blocking throughout the field. Thurles Gaels last score of the day was worth waiting for. A cross field ball into the dangerous zone was superbly doubled on by Daniel McCormack to give Thurles Gaels a slender lead with 5 minutes remaining. However Moyne Templetuohy seemed to step up a gear scoring five unanswered points in the last five minutes to secure Mid U14C Hurling Trophy for 2016. A fantastic opening game was had with both teams going at the game head first in search of glory. Gaels can be hugely proud of their effort with Jack Murphy, Michael Anthony McCarthy and Daniel McCormack giving an excellent account of themselves. Moyne now advance to the County Semi-Final and will look to the likes of Ciaran Llyod, Eanna Guilfoyle, Cormac Deegan and Brian Campion to repeat the impressive performances they showed today.

Teams and scorers:

Moyne Templetuohy:

Jamie Kiely, Brian Campion, James Maher, Tomás Collier, Enda Ryan, Ciaran Llyod (C), Jimmy Gleeson, Dylan McLoughlin (0-01), Aaron McLoughlin, Patrick Collier, Gavin Ryan (0-01), Conor O’Sullivan, Conor Duffe, Eanna Guilfoyle (0-01 free, 2-06), Cormac Deegan (0-02). Subs: Bill Brolan for Gavin Ryan, Martin Cleere for Tomás Collier, Kian Dunne for Patrick Collier.

Thurles Gaels:

Neil Holland, Keith Power, Tom Reilly, Peter McCarthy, Ben Buckley, Eoghan Cleary, Sam Ryan, Jack Murphy (1-00), Adam Daly, Shane Turner (0-01 free), Jack Keogh, Stephan Carroll (0-01), Michael Anthony McCarthy (0-01), Daniel McCormack (1-01), Callum Fogarty (0-01 free). Subs: Sean Keane for Dominic Ryan, Tommy O’Donoghue for Callum Fogarty, Dominic Ryan for Keith Power.

Referee: Tom Loughnane (Gortnahoe)