Moyle Rovers lay down a marker in Tipperary football championship

Moyle Rovers 0-13 Loughmore/Castleiney 1-9

Moyle Rovers hit the ground running with a crucial win over Loughmore/Castleiney in the first round of the FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship at Boherlahan.

But even though they were the better team over the sixty minutes, and never trailed, they still needed an injury time winner from the outstanding Riain Quigley to claim both points.

Loughmore/Castleiney had drawn level for the first time in the 54th minute through Joey Quinn, and again in the first minute of added time through Ed Connolly, but within sixty seconds Quigley burst through the centre for the winner, and his third point of the game.

Resilience proved to be key for the Monroe side as they launched their championship campaign, as they bid to wrest the title from neighbours and keen rivals Clonmel Commercials.

After leading 0-3 to no score after 22 minutes, they saw their lead back to a single point at the break, 0-6 to 1-2. Then after going five clear ten minutes into the second half, 0-11 to 1-3, they were pegged back again, and any drop in intensity might have seen them draw the game or even lose it.

However, manager Liam Cronin will be delighted with the spirit shown to claim an opening day win in a competitive group that also includes Grangemockler/Ballyneale and Upperchurch/Drombane.

It has been a difficult first week for Loughmore/Castleiney in the club championships – a first round loss for the hurlers to Moycarkey/Borris followed by the footballers’ defeat on Friday night.

Yet despite missing key players, including John McGrath and Liam McGrath, they were on level terms with the south side entering added time until Quigley’s late winner.

They struggled in the first half and were 0-3 to no score behind after twenty minutes, with all the Rovers scores coming from county player Liam Boland, one from a free.

However, a well-struck penalty from Philip O’Connell helped to bring them back into contention and by half time they trailed by just a single point, 0-6 to 1-2.

Boland kicked all Rovers’ first half scores, including another two frees, one a two-pointer after he had been fouled himself. The Loughmore/Castleiney points came from a Joey Quinn free, following a foul on Eoin O’Connell, and Ed Connolly in added time.

Moyle Rovers started the second half in blistering fashion and had gone five ahead, 0-11 to 1-3 ten minutes in. Joey Quinn from a free had opened Loughmore’s second half scoring, but Rovers responded with five on the bounce.

They came from Paddy O’Keeffe after good play from Brian McKeown and Luke Boland before Quigley pointed with an assist from O’Keeffe. Quigley extended the lead before Richie Power set up Liam Boland. Then superb fielding from Killian Butler started a move involving O’Keeffe and Liam Boland for Brian McKeown to point.

But just when it looked like the game might be slipping from the mid side, they responded with two moments of magic – wonderful play from team captain Brian McGrath set up Joey Quinn for a superb two-pointer in the 41st minute, and sixty seconds later Noel McGrath did the same with a wonderful shot from outside the arc.

Ten minutes later they were level for the first time when the impressive Quinn was once again on the mark.

Rovers took the lead again three minutes from the end of normal time when substitute Luke Foley was fouled as he gathered a free from Liam Boland, and Boland duly pointed the free.

Loughmore/Castleiney and Moyle Rovers have enjoyed some close tussles in recent years and this game was now living up to its billing. Loughmore continued to press for the equaliser as the game entered added time, and they were rewarded when a fine move saw Tommy Maher provide the assist for Ed Connolly to kick the leveller.

The next kickout was vital and it was won by Rovers, and Riain Quigley burst clear to hit an outstanding winner.

It provided the perfect start to the championship for Moyle Rovers as they seek to become one of the main challengers to Commercials’ bid to retain their title.

Quigley was their star performer with three classy points from play, with Liam Boland and Paddy O’Keeffe adding to the considerable threat upfront. Killian Butler looked sharp at midfield on his return from his American sojourn, with Conor McGrath, Luke Boland and Graham Vaughan solid at the back.

The late winner was a cruel blow for Loughmore/Casleiney, who recovered from their slow start to make it a real contest. Team captain Brian McGrath was a powerhouse at midfield, with superb fielding, and along with brother Noel provided a platform for the side’s best plays.

Joey Quinn and Ed Connolly provided the main firepower upfront, with Philip O’Connell converting his penalty with aplomb. At the back, Willie Eviston and Tommy Maher impressed.

Loughmore/Castleiney will hope to build on the performance in the games to come against Grangemockler/Ballyneale and Upperchurch/Drombane, and showed enough on Friday to suggest that they can still be a force in the championship race.

Scorers: Moyle Rovers: Liam Boland 0-8 (3f, 1x2pt free), Riain Quigley 0-3, Brian McKeown, Paddy O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Loughmore/Castleiney: Joey Quinn 0-5 (1x2pt, 2f), Philip O’Connell 1-0 (penalty), Noel McGrath (1x2pt), Ed Connolly 0-2 each.

Moyle Rovers: Shane Ryan; Richie Power, Conor McGrath, Graham Vaughan; Cathal McKeown, Luke Boland, Brian McKeown; Rory Collins, Killian Butler; Cian O’Sullivan, Riain Quigley, Dara Ryan; John Cronin, Liam Boland, Paddy O’Keeffe.

Subs: Luke Foley for Collins (51), Shane Foley for Dara Ryan (51).

Loughmore/Castleiney: Shane Hennessy; Lorcan Egan, Eoin O’Connell, Willie Eviston; Tomás McGrath, Tommy Maher, John Meagher; Noel McGrath, Brian McGrath; Eamonn Connolly, Aidan McGrath, Darragh McCahey; Joey Quinn, Ed Connolly, Philip O’Connell.

Subs: Ciaran McCormack for Tomás McGrath (45), Conor Ryan for Eamonn Connolly (52).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan).