TIPPERARY STAR
Saturday 20th September 2003

Gortnahoe-Glengoole falter as Rovers take title

County Tipperary Minor A Football Final 2003

by Noel Dundon

Moyle Rovers 1-13, Gortnahoe-Glengoole 1-5

• Gortnahoe-Glengoole's dreams of capturing the County Tipperary Minor A football title were dashed at Fethard on Saturday evening last when they encountered an excellent Moyle Rovers outfit.
  
  The South champions laid the foundation for their success in the first half when they opened up a large 1-9 to 0-3 interval lead, playing sublime football. Their passing was crisp and incisive and they laid off the ball with real skill in the first half as they ripped through the heart of the Gortnahoe-Glengoole defence. Only two of those first half scores came from frees and the attacking flair of Brian Mulvihill and Keith Fortune in particular caused huge problems for the Gortnahoe-Glengoole men who to their credit battled as hard as they could to contain the swell.
  
  Interestingly, it was the Mid champions who took the first score of the game through Shane Long in the 4th minute. They played into a stiff breeze and tried to take the game to the South men. However, Moyle Rovers, once they settled down, took control. Points from Fortune and Mulvihill in the 9th minute set them on their way and when Mulvihill pounced to score a fine individual goal after taking on the defence in the 10th minute, a lead was opening up.
  
  By the 20 minute mark the lead stood at 1-6 to 0-1 - Mulvihill and Fortune hitting a brace apiece as the South champions started to dictate the play. Neville Melbourne and Paul Johnson at midfield were doing a lot of hard work while Michael Mulcahy and Jim Ryan set up an amount of attacks as well from defence.
  
  Moyle Rovers extended their lead to 1-9 to 0-3 with scores from Keith Fortune and Mulvihill (2) and they were in complete control at this juncture. Despite this, Gortnahoe-Glengoole did manage to tack on vital points from Patrick Skehan and Keith Dwyer - these scores could have been vital in the second half if the Mid men could get themselves back into the game. And, considering that they would be playing with the aid of the breeze after the turnaround they fancied their chances of being able to get a foothold of some kind.
  
  The big difficulty facing Gortnahoe-Glengoole would be quelling the Moyle Rovers supply of ball to the forwards. They attacked with real flair from midfield and halfback and each and every player seemed comfortable on the ball. They were certainly a well-drilled side and they used every ball very well. Gortnahoe-Glengoole on the other hand were not as fluent and their passing was not as crisp and accurate as their rivals.
  
  Moyle Rovers had obviously been warned about the possibilities and they reacted immediately upon resumption. A point from Kevin Harte extended their lead, but credit to Gortnahoe-Glengoole they attacked with real gusto and nearly found a way through on goal on a number of occasions - they even struck the woodwork and forced a great save from keeper Ian Browne in the 12th minute
  
  They got their just rewards in the 16th minute when Shane Long expertly tucked away a penalty to cut the deficit to eight points. Jeff Brennan and Shane Long again added points and they began to believe that perhaps a comeback was on the cards. However the champions stemmed the tide and Kevin Harte added his second point to out Moyle Rovers back in the driving seat again.
  
  Try as they did, Gortnahoe-Glengoole just could not get back at the Moyle Rovers. The south champions played with real cunning and managed to kill the game at the right time. When Gortnahoe-Glengoole had their tails up. Moyle Rovers upper the ante and regained the initiative.
  
  Defeat was disappointing for the Mid champions after such a fine campaign. They will be disappointed that they failed to live up to their potential in this game. They played well below par, but they will be hoping that the experience can help them in future. On the night Shane Long, John Coleman, Niall Teehan, Stephen Bourke and Keith Houlihan were best while Michael Heffernan also had his moments.
  
  Moyle Rovers will delight in this victory and rightly so. They are worthy champions and the vast array of silken skills they displayed were unmatched on the night. Brian Mulvihill (1-5) and Keith Fortune (0-5 from play) were the heroes in attack while Neville Melbourne, Shane Dolan, Jim Ryan, Michael Mulcahy, Danielle Lynne and Martin Dunne were also very prominent for them.
  
  The future looks bright for Moyle Rovers. They have a number of very promising players and if they can keep the nucleus of this side together, they will take beating in the adult ranks in years to come again. Credit to their mentors for their efforts this was a well-trained and well organised side.
  
  Moyle Rovers: I Browne, D Conway, D Lynne, A Kelly, M Mulcahy, J Ryan, M Dunne, P Johnson, N Melbourne, S Dolan, A Foley 0-1, K Harte 0-2, K Fortune 0-5, P Kelly, B Mulvihill 1-5. Subs: T Barry; P Ryan.
  
  Gortnahoe-Glengoole: D Mockler, K Kenny, E Stokes, K Hickey, S Bourke, N Teehan, M O'Dwyer, J Brennan 0-1, M Heffernan, J Coleman, S Long 1-2, P Skehan 0-1, K Houlihan, P Phelan, K O'Dwyer. Subs: S Lahart, M Maher.