Monaleen 1-17
Tooreen 1-15
MONALEEN HAD THE strongest gallop down the final furlong of a fantastic AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship Hurling Final in Croke Park to overtake Tooreen in the final ten minutes.
The Limerick side hadn’t led the game all evening until the 53rd minute when Donnacha Ó’Dálaigh hit their 14th point of the evening and while Cathal Freeman did level the game up not long after that score, the wind was behind the Limerick men.
The first half saw Tooreen go into an early four-point lead but Monaleen stuck with them, and with 15 minutes gone, it was 0-6 to 0-3 to the Mayo men. However the first goal of the evening from Dan Power, who found himself free in behind the Tooreen defence, had the game all square on 18 minutes.
Liam Lavin netted for the Mayo side thee minutes before the break and a point from Shane Boland had Tooreen four to the good heading towards half-time, but Monaleen weren’t going away and points from the imperious Mark O’Dwyer and Andrew La Touche Cosgrave left their side trailing by just two at the turn around on a score of 1-9 to 1-7.
Tooreen hit two early second-half points to go four clear, but Monaleen through O’Dwyer and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh kept their cool and went about reeling in their opponents, which they finally did when Ó Dálaigh put the in front for the first time.
Freeman, who gave his all for the beaten Mayo side, did level it up with an inspirational score, but points from Ó Dálaigh and Joseph Fitzgerald pushed their side two clear as injury time approached.
Fergal Boland cut the gap back to a single point again and while Tooreen laid siege looking for a levelling score, the final say on the day was left to Ó Dálaigh who put his team two to the good with the last shot of the day,
Scorers for Monaleen: Mark O’Dwyer (0-7, 3f), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (0-5), Dan Power (1-0), Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (0-2), Ed Doyle (0-1), Luke Murphy (0-1), Joseph Fitzgerald (0-1)
Scorers for Tooreen: Shane Boland (0-4, 1f), Liam Lavin (1-1), Cathal Freeman (0-3), Fergal Boland (0-2), Eoin Delaney (0-2), Sean Regan (0-2), David Kenny (0-1)
Monaleen
1. Jamie Power
2. Simon Griffin, 3. Bryan Canny, 4. Jamie Porter
5. Leo Morrison, 6. Lorcan Lyons, 7. Ronan Lyons
8. Joseph Fitzgerald, 9. Lochlann McHale
10. Dan Power, 11. Mark O’Dwyer, 12. Luke Murphy
13. Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, 14. Ed Doyle, 15. Andrew La Touche Cosgrave
Subs: 24. David Maloney for Power, 22. Eoghan O’Driscoll for O’Dwyer
Tooreen
1. Bobby Douglas
2. Conor Henry, 3. Michael Morley, 4. Oisín Greally
5. Joe Boyle, 6. Stephen Coyne, 7. David Kenny
8. Seán Kenny, 9. Daniel Huane
10. Liam Lavin, 11. Fergal Boland, 12. Cathal Freeman
13. Shane Boland, 14. Seán Regan, 15. Eoin Delaney
Subs: 23. Kenny Feeney for Ruane, 21. Gary Nolan for Henry
Referee: Colum Canning (Antrim)
What an amazing achievement by a tiny Mayo village where hurling was almost unknown 60 years ago. In the early 1960s I played with Tony Henry and Eamon Freeman in St Mary’s college Galway when the game was just getting off the ground in Tooreen. Both were very skillful hurlers and , brother of Tony played Railway cup for Connacht on several occasions. Great to see both families represented on today’s team. I feel so proud of you guys.
Cracking match fair play to both teams
As a Galway man I was rooting for Tooreen. The Henry’s were exceptional hurlers. I played golf with Tony on many occasions in Ballyhaunis GC , his brother represented Connacht on many occasions in the old days of The Railway Cup. It would have been great for hurling the Mayo if they won, unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
Toureen were the better side for 60% of that game. They certainly used the ball much better than Monaleen did in the first 40 odd minutes. Think Toureen started to run out of steam from around the 50 minute mark. They started dropping ball, especially in the backs and hit a number of stupid wides.
Monaleen’s superior fitness/conditioning along with the ability to convert more of their chances, ultimately won it for them down the home straight. Donnacha Ó Dálaigh was unmarkable in the second half, some of his point taking was first class.
But it’s a game that was certainly there for the taking for Tooreen and I’m sure they’ll have a few regrets, they were more than good enough.
Congrats to Monaleen and comisserations to the Mayo men on a fine effort.
Great Game, well done Monaleen, was hoping Tooreen would pull it off , they were close, a good team of Hurlers from Mayo, Kildare last year, Mayo this year, pump vthe money into these Hurling counties, eventually they will win a senior All Ireland