Kilkenny IHL- 14-man Tullogher show steel in battling win over Mooncoin

Despite having Pat Hartley sent off in the second half, Tullogher Rosbercon showed their resolve to claim a six point victory over Mooncoin in front of a large attendance in Mullinavat.

With Andrew Murphy scoring 12 frees in total and Walter Walsh and Danny Glennon chipping in from play, the 2024 All-Ireland junior winners eventually got over the line but it was only in the final quarter that they took control.

Moocoin will look back on the contest with a bit of regret after they let the game get away from them in the second period.

The Group A intermediate league clash was a repeat of last year’s knockout championship meetiNg between the teams but on this occasion it was Tullogher who held the edge.

Tullogher almost found the net within seconds of the start after midfielder Colman O’Sullivan fired a shot into the side-netting.

Mooncoin then opened the scoring when Liam Hogan hit the first of 11 points in total with a converted free and from that stage on, it was nip and tuck throughout the majority of the first half.

The teams were level on nine different occasions in the opening 30 minutes and it wasn’t until a Walter Walsh score made it 0-10 to 0-8 that more than a point seperated the sides.

In advance of that Walsh effort, it was mainly a free-taking shootout between Liam Hogan and Andrew Murphy with both sharpshooters provig experts in front of goal.

Mooncoin came into their own towards the end of the first half with two more Hogan frees added to by efforts from play by Robbie Doherty and Paul Henebery but they still couldn’t take an advantage into the interval with a pair of Murphy scores leaving nothing between them at 0-12 apiece.

Hogan edged Mooncoin back in front at the start of the second period but in a sign of things to come, Tullogher soon took command and not only did a Walter Walsh free in his own half level up the game but the side in black and amber also kicked on with further efforts from play by Danny Glennon, Lar Murphy and Ryan Murphy.

A Liam Hogan free was Mooncoin’s only response during this spell as Tullogher led 0-17 to 0-14 heading into the final quarter.

Brendan Cahill’s outfit then looked like they received a lifeline when the experienced Pat Hartley was given a straight red card by match official Thaigh Morley.

Hartley got involved in an off the ball incident with Mooncoin’s Adam Croke and although the referee didn’t see what happened originally, he consulted the linesmen and his umpires before his final call.

An Andrew Murphy free quickly extended the Tullogher lead in the next attack before Mooncoin got their first score from play in the second half with centre back Paul Henebery finding the target in the 50th minute.

That stat said a lot about Mooncoin’s lack of an attacking threat in the second period and when Tullogher sub Conor Hennessy and Andrew Murphy made it a six point game, it looked a uphill batte for the defeated side.

Mooncoin did rally briefly with three points on the spin from Hogan, Adam Croke and Robbie Doherty leaving just a puck of the ball in it as we went down the stretch.

Tullogher didn’t relent however as they continued their ruthless scoring spell with Murphy, Danny Glennon, Walter Walsh and Anthony O’Connor all scoring before the end.

The significant time hold-up around the red card decision meant there was up to eight minutes added on and while Mooncoin’s only scores were through a pair of Hogan frees, they did have a glorious goal chance to give them a real chance but a close in shot from sub Mairtin Gannon was briliantly saved by Davy Walsh.

As a result Tullogher saw the game out with a great degree of comfort as they claimed a 0-26 to 0-20 success in the end.

Teams and Scorers

Tullogher Rosbercon: Andrew Murphy (0-12, 0-12fs); Walter Walsh (0-5, 0-1f); Danny Glennon (0-3); Ryan Murphy, Anthony O’Connor, Colman O’Sullivan, Jamie Lyng, Lar Murphy, Conor Hennessy (0-1 each)

Mooncoin: Liam Hogan (0-11, 0-9fs); Adam Croke (0-3); Robbie Doherty, Paul Henebry (0-2 each); Stephen Crowley, Martin O’Neill (0-1 each)

Tullogher Rosbercon: Davy Walsh; Niall Mooney, Richie Gill, Sean Murray; Lar Murphy, Pat Hartley, Cathal Mooney; Jamie Lyng, Colman O’Sullivan; Michael Handrick, Walter Walsh, Anthony O’Connor; Ryan Murphy, Danny Glennon, Andrew Murphy.

Subs: Conor Hennessy for Handrick, 38 mins; Kevin Hennessy for R.Murphy, 63 mins; David Kennedy for O’Connor, 65 mins.

Mooncoin: Donnacha Hogan; Jim Delahunty, Aidan Doyle, Ryan Carroll; Cormac Daly, Paul Henebery, Martin O’Neill; Killian Hogan, Stephen Crowley; Liam Hogan, Sean O’Dwyer, Adam Croke; Aidan Carroll, Cormac Kinsella, Robbie Doherty.

Subs: Mairtin Gannon for A.Carroll, 40 mins; Pauric Murphy for Crowley, 55 mins; Mark Kearns for O’Dwyer, 61 mins.

Referee: Thaigh Morley