Three-goal Moyle Rovers march into Premier Junior semi-finals

FBD Insurance Premier Junior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Moyle Rovers 3-7

Borrisokane 0-13

A good weekend for Moyle Rovers as their Premier Junior side followed the club’s seniors’ example by securing a place in the FBD Insurance county semi-finals in their grade when seeing off Borrisokane in a keenly contested quarter-final at Holycross on Sunday last.

Borrisokane scored thirteen times to Moyle Rovers’ ten, but the crucial difference was that Rovers bagged three goals while Borrisokane, with enough chances, failed to raise a green flag. The concession of the goals meant that Borrisokane were playing catch-up much of the way, with Moyle Rovers doing just enough to fend them off.

Rovers’ first goal came after seven minutes, Dominic Walsh profiting from Anthony Phelan’s good work, for a 1-0 to 0-2 lead. Borrisokane were enjoying plenty of the ball and, with Gary Ryan on target three times, they were 0-5 to 1-1 ahead when Rovers struck again. This time, after thirteen minutes, Jake Forrestal cleverly created the space for himself under a dropping ball and finished confidently to the net.

The goals were enough to give Rovers a 2-5 to 0-8 advantage at half-time, but it was still very much anybody’s game, though Rovers were in the driving seat. Luke Gleeson had an early point for Borrisokane on resuming, but eight minutes into the second half saw the Clonmel team again expose frailties in the Borrisokane defence as they netted for the third time, Dee Foley applying the finish for a 3-5 to 0-9 lead.

Borrisokane did not panic and responded well. Gary Ryan kicked two points and Mike Heenan another as they cut the deficit to two points (0-12 to 3-5). The North lads piled forward, but Moyle Rovers defended resolutely. Gary Ryan’s pointed free in the fifty-fifth minute made it a two-point game, but Aaron McAndrew countered for Rovers, who held their nerve to go through to the last-four draw.

Having two teams in the county semi-finals in the two grades shows the strength in depth of the Moyle Rovers club and this team surely has the potential to make further progress. They are all comfortable on the ball, with a nice blend of experienced players to steady the younger set, and they are good in front of goal. Jake Forrestal was a big threat all through, operating at full-forward. Luke Delahunty, Anthony Phelan, Brian Morrisson, Brian Hurley and Nathan Croke were others to greatly influence the outcome.

Borrisokane gave as good as they got most of the way, but they never threatened to raise a green flag and in the end that cost them. They enjoyed lots of possession and used it well for the most part, but they will not be happy at how they conceded the goals. They had big games from Mike Heenan, Gary Ryan, Conor Ryan, Philip Austin, Ciaran Foley and Kevin Cleary and can be happy enough with a fine campaign that came up just short.

Scorers - Moyle Rovers: Jake Forrestal 1-2, Dominic Walsh, Dee Foley 1-0 each, Thomas Hill (0-3, 0-2f), Aaron McAndrew, Ronan Walsh 0-1 each.

Borrisokane: G Ryan (0-6, 0-3f), Conor Ryan 0-2, James Aherne, Philip Austin, Josh Chadwick, Luke Gleeson, Mike Heenan all 0-1 each.

Moyle Rovers: James O’Brien; Mark O’Meara, Anthony Phelan, Cian Flaherty; Sean Keating, Nathan Croke, Sean Hackett; Jake Forrestal, Luke Delahunty; Dominic Walsh, Cianan Power, Brian Morrisson; Thomas Hill, Dee Foley, Brian Hurley.

Subs used: Aaron McAndrew for Power (25); Jake Holohan for Keating (45); Ronan Walsh for Phelan (55).

Borrisokane: James Morris; Josh Chadwick, James Hough, Luke Gleeson; Kevin Cleary, Mike Heenan, Ciaran Foley; Philip Austin, Conor Ryan; Michael Kelly, Gary Ryan, Seosamh Cleary; James Aherne, Liam Cleary, Dylan Power.

Subs used: Joe Murphy for S Cleary (37); Denis Madden for Kelly (42); Gordon Harding for Power (47); Barry Ryan for Aherne (53).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens)