Moyne Templetuohy     0-15

Silvermines                  0-19

By Mark Dunne PRO

Round 1 of the County Senior Hurling Relegation ended in disappointment for the men of Moyne Templetuohy as they suffered a four point defeat to Silvermines in Clonoulty on Saturday afternoon last.

Moyne Templetuohy began with a spring in their step; only two minutes in Thossie Hamill collected a high ball from midfield laid it out expertly to Captain Diarmuid Fogarty who struck for the first score of the game. The mines responded well though with midfielder Orrie Quirke slotting over for their first point of the match. This set the tone for the half with both teams looking for that vital score to edge them ahead. Thossie Hamill and Pierce Meade lead from the back showing real leadership when it mattered most. However a familiar foe soon haunted the Moyne Templetuohy team as a brace of frees brought Silvermines right back into game thanks to the accurate free taking of Jason Forde. With the half coming to a close the teams were level but a strong finish from the Moyne men with both Tom Meade and Martin Kelly shooting from distance gave Moyne Templetuohy a two point lead at the interval.

Silvermines came out after half time all guns blazing scoring a brace of scores to put them one to the good after 4 minutes of play. Martin Kelly then settled things once again for the Moyne men with a stunning score of his left to draw the team’s levels. Tempers then began to fray with hard challenges coming in from both sides but the luck of the green did not go with the Moyne Templetuohy men as they seemed to suffer the wrath of the referee more than the men from the Mines. A strong last quarter from Silvermines saw them put extra scores on the board which Moyne Templetuohy struggled to get back. A frantic end to the game saw Moyne Templetuohy down three points with minutes to play desperately searching for that goal to draw them level however Silvermines stood strong and sub Andrew Hayden put over the insurance score to give Silvermines their first win of the relegation series. Moyne Templetuohy now turn their attention to Knockavilla Kickhams in their next game. Positives though can be taken from the loss, a strong performance from Thossie Hamill, Robert Larkin and the Meade twins gave Moyne Templetuohy a basis to work on. Diarmuid Fogarty and Martin Kelly tried hard up front to get scores but at times it was not to be.

The belief and desire though from these players to remain a senior club is quite evident and they will give it all that they have to maintain this status.

Team and scorers: Paul Maher, Conor Quinlan, Robert Larkin, Louis Everard, Tom Hassett, Pierce Meade, Niall Russell, Thossie Hamill (0-01), Diarmuid Fogarty (0-01), Jack Fogarty, Martin Kelly (0-04, 0-04 frees, 0-01 sideline), Tom Meade (0-02), John Coughlan, Liam Butler, John Hassett (0-01). Subs used: Jason Bergin (0-01) for Jack Fogarty, Donnacha Dunne for Liam Butler, Eoghan Franks for Donnacha Dunne, Eoin Ryan for John Hassett.