Piltown 1-7
Mooncoin 1-4

This game began during a torrential downpour last Saturday in Piltown. However conditions did improve as the game continued with both sides eager to play a good brand of football. This game has plenty of effort but some of the basic skills were lacking from players on both sides.

It was the home team that adapted to the heavy conditions better early on. In the 4th minute Brendan McCarthy converted a penalty after he was fouled in the small square. This settled the home side and they added to their tally with points from Tommy O' Gorman in the 9th minute and Paul Kirby in the 11th minute to lead by 1-2 to 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. Keith Kirwin got Mooncoin's first score in the 20th minute with Cormac Daly converting a well worked move in the 21st minute to leave the scores 1-2 to 0-2. Tommy O' Gorman pointed a free before Paul Kirby had another point from play to extend Piltown's lead. Alan Walsh responded with a point for Mooncoin just before the break to leave the score 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.

Both sets of defences started the second half strongly and it took 12 minutes of the half before substitute Nicky Kenny added to Piltown’s tally with a well-taken point. The exchanges remained tough and hard with no quarter asked or given. Tommy O’ Gorman added a pair of points in the 27th and 28th minutes of the half to increase Piltown’s lead to 1-7 to 0-3. It looked all over at this point. However a minute of madness nearly cost the home side as Thomas O’Hanlon scored a point and with the next attack managed to raise a green flag to leave the score 1-7 to 1-4 with still time to play. But alas the home side held on for a merited victory.

In the truth Piltown seemed to play with greater cohesion and togetherness throughout the game but Mooncoin could still have snatched a draw right at the death. Piltown had good performances from Richie McCarhty and Joe Blackmore in defence, the midfield pairng were solid throughout while Brendan McCarthy, Paul Kirby and Mark Culleton worked hard in attack. Mooncoin had good performance from the Wall brothers, Ray and Sean, and Michael Grace in defence. Thomas O’ Hanlon gave his all at midfield while Cormac Daly, Kevin Law and Michael O’ Hanlon looked lively in attack.

Piltown: S. Ahearne; P. Maher; K. Brophy; R. McCarthy; J. Blackmore; J. Brophy;
P. McNamara; T. O’ Gorman (0-4); N. Kelly; E. Blackmore; P. Kirby (0-2); M. Culleton; F. Duggan; B. McCarthy (1-0 pen); J. Norris Sub: N. Kenny (0-1)
Mooncoin: J.Cody; S.Wall; D. Phelan; A. Walsh (0-1); J. Healy; R. Wall; M. Grace;
P. Kinsella; T O’Hanlon (1-1); K. Kirwin (0-1); C. Daly (0-1); P.J. Rowe; K. Law;
C. Hearne; M O’Hanlon
Subs: P. Doody; M. Fitzgerald; D. Purcell; N. Hennebry; C. Walsh; N. Dowling

Referee: M. Quilty (Slievrue)