14-man Golden/Kilfeacle reach county Tipperary Junior B football final

Golden/Kilfeacle 2-6 Fethard 0-8

Golden-Kilfeacle’s good season continues.

Their junior B footballers are through to the FBD Insurance county final thanks to a well-deserved but hard-earned victory over Fethard at Coolmore Morris Park on Thursday, a penalty goal at the finish setting the seal on their passage to the decider.

The West Tipp team enjoyed a greater share of the play in an encounter that at times got feisty but Fethard were never too far off the pace, trailing by just a point as the hour mark approached.

Golden were a man down at that stage, having had MJ Phelan sidelined for a second yellow card after 48 minutes, but were coping admirably.

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Harry Fogarty was grounded in a Golden attack and Lee Hayes confidently blasted home the resulting penalty to get them safely through to the decider.

At the outset, Golden completely dominated and had four points on the board after twenty minutes, with Fethard yet to score.
It ought to have been more but six Golden wides kept Fethard in the game. Andy Byrnes kicked two points for the winners, with Tom Byrnes and Ronan Hayes the other marksmen.

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In the last five minutes of the half, Fethard clicked into gear. Seanie Morrissey twice pointed for them and Kieran Bergin added another, as they cut the deficit to one point by the interval, 0-4 to 0-3.

Golden struck a massive blow on the re-start when a Fethard kickout went astray and Michael Coman, supporting his attack, took advantage for a crucial goal after eight minutes. Cian Lonergan added a point for a 1-5 to 0-3 lead after 43 minutes.

Fethard looked in big trouble but did not panic and a brace of points from Conor O’Meara and another from Jack Ward had them breathing down Golden necks. Golden then had MJ Phelan sidelined in the 48th minute before Tom Bynes landed a free to ease their situation.

With eight minutes to go Fethard rallied - Seanie Moroney pointed, followed by another from Kieran Bergin for a one-point game with the hour mark approaching. The possibility of extra-time loomed but in a Golden attack Harry Fogarty was fouled and Lee Hayes buried the penalty to guarantee their passage to the final.

Having got to the county semi-final at intermediate level, and having also won the county intermediate hurling title, Golden-Kilfeacle are on something of a roll and this display suggests that more silverware could be coming their way.

Tom Byrnes, Andy Byrnes, Cian Lonergan, Ning Brennan and Michael Coman were the key men in this win, with the winners of Galtee Rovers and Kilsheelan/Kilcash awaiting them in the final.

Fethard can have no complaints. They were on the back foot for a lot of the game but showed commendable courage in twice hauling themselves back into contention.

Willie Morgan, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Bergin, Seanie Moroney and Keenan Ahearne did most to further their cause and Conor O’ Meara also did well when introduced.

Scorers: Golden/Kilfeacle: L Hayes, M Coman (1-0 each); T Byrnes, A Byrnes (0-2 each), R Hayes, C Lonergan (0-1 each).
Fethard: S Moroney (0-3), C O’ Meara, K Bergin (0-2 each), J Ward (0-1 each).

Golden/Kilfeacle: Tyler Barry; Colin Tuohy, Jonathan Wade, Michael Coman; Brian Marnane, Cian Lonergan, Ning Brennan; Aidan Tuohy, Ronan Hayes; Harry Fogarty, Jamie Moloney, Lee Hayes; James O’Connell, Tom Byrnes, Andy Byrnes.
Subs: Kevin Hogan, Daniel Queally.

Fethard: Tommy Sheehan; Jack Stokes, Alan O’Connor, Joe Morgan; Michael O’Meara, Willie Morgan, Adam Ryan; Paul Moloney, Oisin Ryan; Jack Davey, Kieran Bergin, Keenan Ahearne; Seanie Moroney, Ross McCormack, Jack Ward.
Subs: MJ Phelan, Ciaran O’Meara, Conor Harrington, Peter Gough.

Referee: Seamus Delaney, JK Brackens.