Moloney inspired Tynagh / Abbey to first minor A title

Date Published: {J}

Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry 2-15

Athenry 1-14

CIARAN TIERNEY AT PEARSE STADIUM

TWO goals in a blistering three minute spell just before half-time inspired the boys of Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry to a first ever county minor ‘A’ title despite spirited late resistance from reigning champions Athenry in anentertaining curtain-raiser at Salthill on Sunday.

There were joyous scenes at the end of this final as the East Galway youngsters embarked on a lap of honour around the pitch after they had held off a late rally from Athenry, who put fierce pressure on goalkeeper Michael Fahy in the closing minutes.

The fear beforehand was that the challengers would not have the all-round strength to match the champions, with an over-reliance on the heroics of Shane Moloney, Padraig Breheny, and Paul Killeen, the boys who starred in Galway’s All-Ireland final win over Dublin in September.

But, while Moloney produced a Man of the Match performance at centre forward, Killeen was rock solid in defence, and Breheny had a storming second half, there were heroic performances too from corner back Paul Hodgins, midfielder Brian Conroy, corner forwards Kevin Farragher and Niall Moloney, and goalkeeper Fahy during a historic day for the club.

Every one of their full-forward line of Farragher, Moloney, and Brian Fahy found the target; their combined tally of 2-3 and a superb haul of nine points from Shane Moloney putting them far enough ahead to withstand Athenry’s late fightback.

This was an awful lot more than a ‘three man show’, the strength and determination of the challengers evident in the conviction shown by Niall Moloney and full-forward Brian Fahy in striking home those hugely significant goals.

Tynagh led by 2-8 to 0-6 at the break, and by 2-14 to 1-10 with just seven minutes to go, but full credit to Eugene Cloonan’s Athenry side for refusing to give up the fight and battling so hard in the closing minutes.

Perhaps the outcome would have been different if the title holders had managed to stage a rally at an earlier stage, but they found it difficult to make much headway against a Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry full-back line in which Killeen and Hodgins were outstanding.

In many ways, Tynagh enjoyed a dream first half. They settled brilliantly into the game and did not register a single wide in the opening period, while the two goals must have provided a massive boost to the confidence levels in their dressing-room at half-time.

Half of the Athenry team had the experience of winning the title 12 months earlier and they went in front when big full-forward Jack Carr, their only county minor, picked up an Oisin McLoughlin clearance and lodged a mighty point between the posts after 40 seconds.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.