Templenoe 0-12, Oughterard (Galway) 1-12.

Unfortunately, a second trip to Croke Park in five years was just not to be for Templenoe after they were edged out by Oughterard in a tight contest played in difficult conditions at Killmallock last Saturday.

The match was played before a large attendance and Templenoe chose to play with the breeze for the first half, although the wind subsequently tended to change directions during the course of the game. Cian Hallissey opened the scoring inside the first minute, to get Templenoe off to good start, but Oughterard countered promptly with a pointed free from Matthew Tierney. However, the Munster Intermediate champions did have the better of the exchanges overall in the first half. Brian Crowley popped over Templenoe’s second point following a well worked team move involving Adrian Spillane, Sean Sheehan and Kieran O’Neill. Oughterard replied with Niall Lee slotting over a free. Then in the 10th minute, Stephen O’Sullivan looked to be in a great goal scoring position after been played through by Brian Crowley, but Oughterard just about got bodies back in time to divert the ball out for a 45, as Templenoe were advancing on goal. Teddy Doyle landed the resultant 45 between the posts to put Templenoe ahead by 0-03 to 0-02 after 11 minutes. Then Oughterard’s Ronan Molloy burst up the field from centre back to tie up the scores again, before Killian Spillane did well to fist the ball over the ball, despite close attention from the Galway side’s defence.

In the 19th minute, Oughterard almost capitalised on a Templenoe mistake at the back, but the Kerrymen adverted the danger and were soon three points ahead, with two scores in quick succession from Brian Crowley and Stephen O’Sullivan. The Oughterard half back line were impressive going forward throughout the contest and wing back Ryan Monaghan was next to prove his scoring credentials following a great solo run up the field, to reduce the margin back to two points. In the closing minutes of the first half, Teddy Doyle took on the Oughterard defence to fire the ball over the bar, although there was a glimmer of a goal chance. The Connacht Intermediate champions though were making sure Templenoe would not get away from them and Matthew Tierney added another free before the interval.

Half Time Score: Templenoe 0-07, Oughterard 0-05.

The game was all to play for and on resumption Oughterard showed their intent, with the other member of their half back line, Cian Monaghan venturing forward to get his first of two points. Stephen O’Sullivan had an effort saved by the keeper, before Killian Spillane went short with a sideline to Brian Crowley, who in turn swung the ball over the bar to add to his tally. Oughterard hit back with a score of their own, with Matthew Tierney finding the range from play. Between the 36th minute and the 43rd minute Templenoe did have chances to put day light between the sides, only to shoot 4 wides. This was to prove crucial in the finish. One of these wides was low shot at goal from Josh Crowley Holland after he received a pass from Killian Spillane, but his effort went narrowly and agonisingly wide of the post. Instead all Templenoe had to show for this dominant 7 minute spell for was just the one point from play by Killian Spillane. Then in the 47th minute came the turning point that was to set Oughterard on their way to victory, when Paul Walsh intercepted an attempted pass before burying the ball into the top corner of the net. This was a real sucker punch for Templenoe, and the game was now on a knife edge with Oughterard in front for the first time on a score line of 0-09 to 1-07.

Oughterard immediately followed up their goal with a point from play from Patrick Walsh. Templenoe were desperately trying to halt their opponents momentum with Gavin Crowley getting up the field to earn a free, which was converted by Stephen O’Sullivan. Oughterard though were determined to keep their grip on the game and a minute later Cian Monaghan got his second point to restore their two points advantage. Then Gavin Crowley got forward again to cut the deficit to the minimum and set up a grand stand finish. The ebb and flow nature of the closing minutes continued when Oughterard substitute Daniel Kenny split the posts to make the score 0-11 to 1-10 with six minutes of normal time remaining, before Killian Spillane grabbed another point to keep the contest in the melting pot. The tension in the stands was palpable at this stage, but it was the Galway men that seized the initiative as they moved the ball back down the field, to pop over two last points courtesy of Enda Tierney and Matthew Tierney. Templenoe with substitute Pat Spillane Jnr making an impact fought frantically to get a goal and right at the death and they did create a chance, but the Oughterard defence diverted a well struck shot from Adrian Spillane out for a 45. The Connacht champions had plenty of bodies back to deal with the resultant 45 and with that the referee blew the full time whistle.

Commiserations to all the Templenoe players and management, who did the Club very proud on getting this far in the competition. Best of luck to Oughterard in the final!

Final Score: Templenoe 0-12, Oughterard 1-12.

Scorers:

Templenoe: Brian Crowley 0-03, Killian Spillane 0-03, Stephen O’Sullivan 0-02 (0-01f), Teddy Doyle 0-02 (0-01 45), Cian Hallissey 0-01, Gavin Crowley 0-01.

Oughterard: Matthew Tierney 0-04 (0-02f), Paul Walsh 1-00, Cian Monaghan 0-02, Niall Lee 0-01 (0-01f), Ronan Molloy 0-01, Ryan Monaghan 0-01, Patrick Walsh 0-01, Daniel Kenny 0-01, Enda Tierney 0-01.

Teams:

Templenoe: Danny Cahalane, Michael Hallissey, Tadhg Morley, Kieran O’Neill, Gavin Crowley, Tom Spillane, Patrick Clifford, Sean Sheehan, Adrian Spillane, Teddy Doyle, Brian Crowley ©, Josh Crowley Holland, Stephen O’Sullivan, Killian Spillane, Cian Hallissey

Subs: John Spillane, Kieran McCarthy, Pat Spillane.

Oughterard: Jordan Waller, Ciaran Hanley, Eddie O’Sullivan, Liam Moran, Cian Monaghan, Ronan Molloy, Ryan Monaghan, Enda Tierney, PJ McGauley, Patrick Walsh, Matthew Tierney, Eric Lee, Brian Lambert, Niall Lee, Paul Walsh.

Subs: Daniel Kenny, Cian Harte.