Toomevara back and hungrier than ever

Toomevara 2-19 Moneygall 0-16

Few neutrals gave Moneygall a chance against their powerhouse north county neighbours, but for three-quarters of this game they fought the good fight, took the game to their vaunted opponents, and led by a point, 0-14 to 1-10 in the 45th minute.

But in the last 15 minutes the underdog challenge just got weaker and weaker as Toomevara stepped up the pressure. With marksman Kenny Dunne on fire from the middle of the field, the victors went on to outscore Moneygall by 10 points.

Moneygall have not been seen at this level of competition since 1976, when they won the second of their two-in-a-row but began as though they’d never left the stage. They had two points on the board before Toomevara got off the ground. They led 0-9 to 0-8 coming into the final minute of the first period, courtesy principally of the accuracy from frees of midfielder John Doughan.

But it wasn’t all just a reliance on placed balls. Moneygall were playing some delightful hurling, using the diagonal ball well, which resulted in a well-worked brace from corner-forward Willie Greene, with full-forward and captain Mark Keeshan also getting on the scoresheet despite the close marking of veteran George Frend. But in the 30th minute of the first half Moneygall suffered the first body-blow of this contest, and it came from the most impressive of the many Toomevara heavyweights on view.

Despite the accuracy and generally tidy hurling of Doughan, it was the Dunne combination of brothers Terry and Kenny that dominated the midfield exchanges all through.

A Ken Dunne goal put Toomevara ahead at the break, 1-8 to 0-9.

On the restart, Toome extended that lead to three, before Moneygall had their best period of the game. Four points on the trot, the first three from Diarmuid Kennedy, Doughan and Keeshan before sub Denis Dwyer with his first touch since being introduced put his side into the lead and sent their strong support in the 5,000 crowd into ecstasy.

Unfortunately for them, didn’t last very long. With Tommy Dunne introduced to the corner for injured captain Michael Bevans, Kenny unerring from placed balls, Brislane causing problems on the edge of the square with his height and strength, Frend and Tony Delaney anchoring an increasingly-mean defence, Toomevara upped the ante and Moneygall were unable to respond.

Scorers: K. Dunne 1-9 (0-5 frees 0-1 65); E. Brislane 1-0; P. O’Brien 0-3 (0-1 s/l); F. Devanney 0-2; J. O’Brien 0-2; W. Ryan, Terry Dunne, Tommy Dunne, 0-1 each.

Moneygall: J. Doughan 0-6 (0-5 frees); E. McCormack 0-2; M. Keeshan 0-2; W. Greene 0-2; D. Kennedy, E. Fanning, P. Whyte, D. Dwyer 0-1 each.

TOOMEVARA: J. Cottrell; B. Dunne, G. Frend, P. Shanahan; P. Hackett, T. Delaney, D. Young; Terry Dunne, K. Dunne; P. O’Brien, E. Brislane, F. Devanney; M. Bevans (c), J. O’Brien, W. Ryan.

Subs: Tommy Dunne (Bevans inj. 49); blood-sub D. Kelly (Bevans 20/24).

MONEYGALL: S. McCormack; M. Ryan, S. Kennedy, D. Guilfoyle; Eamonn Troy, Eoin Troy, M. Bergin; J. Doughan, P. Whyte; N. Ryan, E. Fanning, D. Kennedy; W. Greene, M. Keeshan (c), E. McCormack. Subs: D. Dwyer (N. Ryan 43); T. Toohey (Eamonn Troy 59).

Referee: W. Clohessy (Drom & Inch).