Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry U-21 hurlers come up trumps

Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry 1-19

Clarinbridge 1-17

(AET)

TYNAGH/Abbey-Duniry will be looking to go the distance after coming through extra-time for the second consecutive week last Saturday to book their place in the county under 21 A hurling final.

Following their win over Cappataggle after added time six days earlier, Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry needed the full 80 minutes again to account for Clarinbridge and set up a final meeting with Athenry.

The game swung on a critical period just before the end of the first period of extra time. With the sides level at 0-16 to 1-13 in normal time, Clarinbridge made a better start as points from Sean Kilduff, Niall Armstrong and Thomas Jakeman helped them into a 1-16 to 0-17 lead.

But two minutes before the break, Tynagh/Abbey struck their major and Clarinbridge lost a player as Shane Moloney finished off a move started by his cousin Niall Moloney to find the net. But while trying to deny the Tynagh/Abbey chief scorer, Ronan Keane’s challenge merited a straight red card from referee Christy Brown.

It was a game defining moment as Shane Moloney sent over another point before the change of ends for a 1-18 to 1-16 advantage and while both sides seeked to build on their tally in the second period, only frees from Kilduff and Moloney troubled the umpires as Tynagh/Abbey held on for a two point win.

The winners had opened strongly, taking a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after nine minutes.  This already looked like it would be a fruitful day for Moloney as he converted a free in the opening minute. Niall Moloney made it two before Kilduff got Clarinbridge off the mark. Shane Moloney’s first from play from Paul Hodgins’ long delivery put two between them again.

Clarinbridge made their first statement of intent inside the next three minutes as Ryan Ellis hit 1-1. A long delivery saw himself and Brian Moran cause problems before Ellis got the touch for the goal before he added a point on 12 minutes to make it 1-2 to 0-3.

The momentum was with Clarinbridge but Tynagh/Abbey proceeded then upped the pace and sent over the next five points unanswered. Moloney was quickly building his account balance with four, including a free from long range, while Joey McLoughlin took Kevin Farragher’s pass for the other.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.