Extra-time glory for Tullogher Rosbercon in senior football league final

The JJ Kavanagh Senior Football League title went the way of Tullogher Rosbercon after they claimed a thrilling extra-time win over Thomastown.

Points from Donnacha O’Connor and Lar Murphy sealed the win during the extra period for the South Kilkenny outfit who had huge displays from the likes of Danny Glennon and Walter Walsh.

On the overall state of play, they just about deserved to emerge victorious.

Thomastown midfielder Brian Staunton led the charge in defeat with a pair of two pointers while Rory Connellan and Jonjo Farrell also stood out with goals.

Danny Glennon got the scoring underway with a point from play in the fourth minute before Thomastown took control with the next six points on the trot.

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Rory Connellan and Thomas O’Hanrahan knocked over frees either side of a Brian Staunton two pointer as Derek Hayden’s men took control on the scoreboard.

Zach Bay Hammond added to the Thomastown tally before Tullogher got a lifeline when Eddie Donnelly was awarded a black card for a foul on Danny Glennon inside the square.

Donnacha O’Connor made no mistake in converting a penalty and before Thomastown even got a chance to refocus, the Tullogher men nabbed another goal when Danny Glennon shot past Robbie Barron from the next attack.

Walter Walsh and Anthony O’Connor added on further points but a Thomastown riposte from Rory Connellan and Brian Staunton ensured there was nothing between the teams at the break.

Tullogher made a run for home at the start of the second half when former Kilkenny hurling star Walter Walsh registered a quickfire 1-2 to move the winners five points clear (3-5 to 0-9)

After Danny Glennon and Brian Staunton exchanged a pair of points, Tullogher still looked on track for victory but after Kevin Hennessy was awarded a black card, the ‘Town made full use of the extra man.

Like Tullogher in the first half, Thomastown scored twice in the space of a minute with Rory Connellan and Jonjo Farrell both finding the net to edge them in front.

The ‘Town still led entering stoppage time and even though Hennessy was subsequently sent off on a second bookable offence, Tullogher still found a way to draw with Anthony O’Connor converting a 66th minute free.

Tullogher maintained that surge in extra-time with early scores from Donnacha O’Connor and Lar Murphy ensuring Thomastown were chasing and ultimately they held on to secure the title.

Teams and Scorers

Tullogher-Rosbercon - Walter Walsh (1-4); Donnacha O’Connor (1-3, 0-3 frees); Danny Glennon (1-3); Anthony O’Connor (0-2, frees); Lar Murphy (0-1).

Thomastown - Brian Staunton (0-8, 2tp and 0-2 frees); Rory Connellan (1-2, 0-2 frees); Jonjo Farrell (1-0); Zach Bay Hammond, Davy Prendergast (0-2 each); Thomas O’Hanrahan (0-1, 1f).

Tullogher-Rosbercon - David Walsh; Kevin Hennessy, Eoin Kennedy, Tony Conway; Lar Murphy, Jamie Lyng, Sean Murray; Pat Hartley, JJ Ryan; Anthony O’Connor, Cathal Mooney, Conor Hennessy; Danny Glennon, Donnacha O’Connor, Walter Walsh.

Subs: Brian Walsh for C Mooney, 52 mins; Niall Mooney for Conway, 70 mins.

Thomastown - Robbie Barron; Ciaran Coone, Ned Kirwan, Darragh Dack; Sean Denieffe, Peter Connellan, Oisin O’Reilly; Brian Staunton, Eddie Donnelly; Zach Bay Hammond, Rory Connellan, Cian Farrell; Thomas O’Hanrahan, Davy Prendergast, Conor Monks.

Subs: Conor Barcoe for Coone, 38 mins; Cian Doherty for Monks, 44 mins; Jonjo Farrell for O’Hanrahan, 46 mins; Eanna O’Keeffe for C Farrell, 54 mins; Naoise Dempsey for Denieffe, 65 mins.

Referee - Peter Burke (Emeralds).