Kilkenny IHC- No stopping Mooncoin in classy display against Tullogher

A sublime second half display saw Mooncoin overcome Tullogher-Rosbercon in a high quality South Kilkenny derby in Mullinavat on Sunday.

Mooncoin have very much had the indian sign over Tullogher in recent meetings and helped by a second half goal from Oisin Henebery they finished very strongly to win out by nine points in the end.

Last year’s beaten county finalists had 10 different players on the scoresheet as they blew away Tullogher in the second 30 minutes and based on this display they will take a bit of beating as the competition enters the latter stages.

Played in front of a big attendance in Mullinavat, the first half was a compelling affair with neither side gaining any dominance for a significant period.

Tullogher had looked the stronger in the early minutes when they raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after Cian O’Donoghue and Conor Hennessy scored two points apiece.

Mooncoin battled back through efforts from Liam Hogan, Stephen Crowley and Killian Hogan and the game remained nip and tuck all the way until O’Donoghue knocked over successive frees to give Tullogher a narrow 0-9 to 0-8 lead going into the break.

Mooncoin quickly turned the tide after the second half commenced and within minutes of Gavin Quilty recommencing the action, Liam Hogan and Paul Henebery pushed Brendan Cahill’s team ahead.

Danny Glennon had a fine second half despite the defeat for Tullogher and he briefly stalled the Mooncoin surge but it only delayed the inevitable.

Mooncoin could have even had a bigger margin of success as Paul Henebery had a penalty saved by Davy Walsh in the 40th minute after Oisin Henebery was brought down in the square.

Oisin’s time would come though as he netted the only goal of the game inside the final quarter as Tullogher’s resistance eventually wilted.

O’Donoghue, Danny Glennon and Walter Walsh kept at it for the beaten side but Mooncoin were just too fluent and classy on the afternoon with subs Kevin Crowley and Mairtin Gannon even getting in on the act before the end.

A 1-22 to 0-16 victory over Tullogher is no mean feat under any circumstances and Mooncoin will hope to get a big upturn in belief as they look ahead to the semi-finals the weekend after next.

Teams and Scorers

Mooncoin - Liam Hogan (0-8, 0-6 frees); Oisin Henebery (1-3); Paul Henebery (0-4, frees); Stephen Wall, Adam Croke, Ciaran Quilty, Killian Hogan, Stephen Crowley, Mairtin Gannon, Kevin Crowley (0-1 each).

Tullogher-Rosbercon - Cian O’Donoghue (0-7, frees); Conor Hennessy, Danny Glennon (0-3 each); Lar Murphy, Marty Murphy, Walter Walsh (0-1 each).

Mooncoin - Donnacha Hogan; Aidan Doyle, Cormac Daly, Ryan Carroll; Jim Delahunty, Paul Henebery, Martin O’Neill; Killian Hogan, Stephen Crowley; Liam Hogan, Oisin Henebery, Adam Croke; Ciaran Quilty, Cormac Kinsella, Stephen Wall.

Subs: Mairtin Gannon for Kinsella, h/t; Kevin Crowley for Wall, 60 mins.

Tullogher-Rosbercon - Davy Walsh; Richie Gill, Donncha O’Connor, Sean Murray; Lar Murphy, Pat Hartley, David Kennedy; Jamie Lyng, Colman O’Sullivan; Marty Murphy, Walter Walsh, Conor Hennessy; Andrew Murphy, Cian O’Donoghue, Danny Glennon.

Subs: Michael Handrick for A Murphy, h/t; Anthony O’Connor for Lyng, 50 mins.

Referee: Gavin Quilty (Slieverue).