Iverk Produce Junior B Hurling League vs Thomastown (27-4-2007)

Mooncoin 4-3
Thomastown 0-14

Mooncoin rode their luck throughout this encounter and managed to hold on for victory, however Thomastown will certainly look back on this game as a missed opportunity. The game played in perfect conditions in Mooncoin, started with a point from a Gary Ryan free for Thomastown. However Mooncoin’s response was immediate with Sean Miley Walsh gathering a ball in the corner, dodging a few tackles before crashing the ball to the net. The home side failed to build on this advantage as Thomastown tagged on a series of points from the aforementioned Ryan, Sean O’Connor and James Hanrahan. However Miley Walsh was in top form and hit the net twice before the end of the half to give his side the lead at the break Mooncoin 3-0 Thomastown 0-8.

The visitors started the second period with renewed confidence and tacked on a few nice scores from the in form Gary Ryan, who was causing problems for the Mooncoin defence, Paddy Brannigan and William Hoyne to edge them in front. However they were unable to put this game to bed and a long free from Padarig Doody travelled through a forest of hurlies, eventually landing in the net to keep the home side in contention.

The introduction of John Phelan at midfield helped and he added a couple of points to maintain Mooncoin’s slender advantage. Thomastown fought back and it was points from Gary Ryan and Fergal Challenor, which levelled this game again as we headed for injury time. The home side never gave up and in the dying moments Kevin Law stepped forward to ensure a victory for Mooncoin much to the dismay of the Thomastown men.
It would be fair to say that the home team were rather fortunate to claim victory as Thomastown were by far the better hurling team. However it was there inability to play more direct hurling, which cost them at times.

The home sides defence were outstanding throughout and kept their team in the game for long periods, with Karol Phelan, Shane Walsh, Thomas Dunphy and Richard Hogan worthy of praise. The introduction of John Phelan at midfield steadied the ship while Kevin Law and Miley Walsh still managed to get the vital scores.

Thomastown has good performances from Damien Dempsey, Patrick Khan and William Cahill, until injured, in defence. The midfield pairing of Colm Mackey and William Hoyne worked hard throughout the hour while up front Paddy Brannigan, Fergal Challenor and Gary Ryan were a constant threat.

Scorers
Mooncoin: S. M. Walsh (3-0, 1-0f); P. Doody (1-0 f); J. Phelan (0-2); K. Law (0-1)
Thomastown: G. Ryan (0-7 2f); W. Hoyne & J. Hanrahan (0-2); S O’Connor, P. Brannigan & F Challenor (0-1)

Teams
Mooncoin: N. O’Hanlon; T. Dunphy; S. Walsh; R. Hogan; P. Doody; K. Phelan;
M. Jones; N. Delahunty; L. Kinsella; M. O’Hanlon; N. Hennebry; T. Curran; K. Law;
S. M. Walsh; R. Doyle
Subs: E. Doyle; Eamon Hennebry; J. Healy; J. Phelan; L. Dunphy
Thomastown: E. Ramsbottom; J. Forristal; D. Dempsey; S. O’Connor; P. Khan;
W. Cahill; J. Hoyne; C. Mackey; W. Hoyne; P. Brannigan; M. Coen; J. Hanrahan;
F. Challenor; E. Mahony; G. Ryan
Subs: J. Cullinane; K. Walsh