Moyle Rovers underline credentials with hard-fought win

Moyle Rovers 2-18 Ardfinnan 2-14

Two goals in the first eight minutes of the second half, from Luke Foley and Dean English, set Moyle Rovers on their way to victory over Ardfinnan in the all-south FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship quarter-final at Clonmel Sportsfield on Saturday.

Rovers led 0-9 to 0-6 at the interval, and even though Michael Barlow from a free opened Ardfinnan’s account in the first minute of the second half, Rovers quickly seized the initiative.

First, Luke Boland threaded a superb pass for Luke Foley to run onto, and the teenager finished with aplomb to the top corner of the Ardfinnan net.

In the next minute, Riain Quigley shot a lovely point. Ardfinnan responded with a Barlow free, but the Monroe side struck for their second goal, John Cronin and Luke Foley involved in the build-up before Dean English shot to the net past Cian O’Mahoney. O’Keeffe then added a point for a 2-11 to 0-8 lead.

Rovers were never headed again but neither could they rest on their laurels, as a battling performance from the Village pushed them all the way. They scored two goals of their own in the final six minutes, the first from Billy Hewitt who fisted to the net from close range in the 54th minute, to reduce the Rovers lead to three points.

However, Rovers justified favouritism with a blistering response. Quigley hit a sweet point before substitute Liam Boland knocked over a two-pointer from 45 metres just minutes after coming on – Boland replaced another sub, Shane Foley, who took a nasty knock when he fell against the metal railing surrounding the pitch.

Boland didn’t start, having also missed the final group game through injury, but the county player showed his importance to the side when he followed up with another point to extend the lead to seven.

Ardfinnan will take heart that they fought to the end from a losing position, and were rewarded with a second goal from Jack O’Neill in the closing seconds.

It was job done for Moyle Rovers and a return to full fitness for Liam Boland would be a huge boost for the semi-final. In his absence until the closing minutes, Paddy O’Keeffe, Riain Quigley and Dean English led the attack in style, scoring 1-11 from play between them. Meanwhile, Luke Foley is now justifying his regular starting role, with a clinical finish for his goal.

At the back, Richie Power had another immense performance, with Cian O’Sullivan and Luke Boland also showing up well.

Ardfinnan knew the task that faced them against group winners Rovers but they left everything out on the pitch in their best performance of the campaign. Robbie Condon and Sean Nagle were resolute in defence, county player Jack O’Neill impressed around midfield, with Michael Barlow, Gerry Cronin, Billy Hewitt and Shane Ryan lively in attack.

A Barlow two-pointer was a first half highlight, bringing a three points Rovers lead back to one after 20 minutes. Rovers looked strong in the first quarter, with two points from Quigley, one a free, two pointed frees from O’Keeffe, and one from play from English, with Barlow pointing a free and Shane Ryan from play for Ardfinnan.

A Shane Ryan free drew Ardfinnan level before three in-a-row for Rovers, two from O’Keeffe, one a free, and another from English, gave them an edge approaching half time. A Shane Ryan free, and an O’Keeffe point from play, left it 0-9 to 0-6 at the interval.

The early second half goals from Foley and English set Rovers on their way to the semi-final, but their inability to close out the game earlier after such a bright start to the second half might cause manager Liam Cronin some concern.

Ardfinnan were facing an uphill battle at 2-11 to 0-8 by the 38th minute, but with the stiff breeze now behind them, four in-a-row gave them renewed vigour – two Barlow frees, Shane Ryan from play and one from Luke O’Brien brought the margin down to five. It might have been closer if a flowing move involving Darragh O’Leary, O’Neill and Hewitt produced the goal that it threatened.

Quigley for Rovers and Barlow for Ardfinnan exchanged points, before two in-a-row from Quigley and O’Keeffe gave Rovers a little more daylight between them. Hewitt’s goal then asked further questions of Moyle Rovers, but they answered in emphatic fashion with Liam Boland’s late cameo performance.

Scorers: Moyle Rovers: Paddy O’Keeffe 0-7 (3f), Riain Quigley 0-6 (1f), Dean English 1-2, Liam Boland 0-3 (1x2pt), Luke Foley 1-0.

Ardfinnan: Michael Barlow 0-8 (1x2pt, 5f), Jack O’Neill 1-1, Shane Ryan 0-4 (2f), Billy Hewitt 1-0, Luke O’Brien 0-1.

Moyle Rovers: Shane Ryan; Richie Power, Graham Vaughan, Cathal McKeown; Cian O’Sullivan, Luke Boland, Brian McKeown; Killian Butler, Rory Collins; Riain Quigley, Luke Foley, Dara Ryan; Paddy O’Keeffe, Dean English, John Cronin. Subs: Cillian Crowe for Cathal McKeown (28), Conor McGrath for Brian McKeown ((42), Ger O’Sullivan for Cronin (52), Shane Foley for Cian O’Sulivan (52), Liam Boland for Shane Foley (59, inj).

Ardfinnan: Cian O’Mahoney; Darragh O’Brien, Robbie Condon, Shane Keating; Darragh O’Leary, Sean Nagle, Johnny English; Jack O’Neill, Ronan Myles; Conor Makim, Michael Barlow, Gerry Cronin; Luke O’Brien, Billy Hewitt, Shane Ryan. Subs: James Murphy for Makim (19), Aaron Lonergan for Keating (37), James O’Mahoney for Ryan (54).

Referee: Brian Tyrrell (Clonmel Commercials).