Doyle goal the key score
TAGHMON-C’ROSS 2-14 OUR LADY’S ISLAND 1-14
TAGHMON-CAMROSS were struggling for the opening 20 minutes of the second-half until corner-forward Cathal Doyle struck for an excellent 50th-minute goal.
And this proved crucial in handing his side an eventual three-point victory over Our Lady’s Island in this Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group A game at Hollymount on Saturday.
When Our Lady’s Island were reduced to 14 players just on the break, when centre-forward Nicky Keane received a second yellow card, it looked as if Taghmon-Camross would take control on the resumption.
Credit is due to the Island though as they turned in a splendid second-half which came ever so close to bringing a result.
Indeed, few would have begrudged them a share of the points given their heroic effort despite being a player down for the entire period.
Taghmon-Camross looked dangerous once they got the quick delivery inside, and they had stormed into a 1-5 to 0-2 lead by the 20th minute.
Their goal was a splendid sixth-minute finish from Barry O’Gorman, while Cathal Doyle, Barry O’Gorman, Stephen O’Gorman and Ian Carty all chipped in with excellent points, with the Island response coming through Quinn Saunders and Dean Maloney (free).
Seven minutes before the break, Fintan Mullins hauled his side back into contention with an excellent goal, shaking off several defenders before blazing a shot to the opposite corner of the net, but the eventual winners still looked comfortable at the break as they led by 1-8 to 1-4.
This was always going to demand a huge effort from the Island, and they produced it through the second period, with Dean Maloney and Liam Kinsella on target with excellent long-range points.
And amazingly, by the 43rd minute, they had gone in front by 1-11 to 1-10 after Moloney fired over another free.
The sides were still deadlocked (1-11 each) entering the final quarter, but points from Stephen O’Gorman and Darren Carty edged the eventual winners back in front.
A Maloney pointed free left the minimum separating the teams, before Cathal Doyle struck for that splendid goal.
Winning posession some 25 metres out, he took on his man before beating ‘keeper Alan Kinsella with an explosive finish at his near post, giving his side a 2-13 to 1-12 lead.
And despite incessant Island pressure in the closing minutes, Taghmon-Camross managed to hold out for a hard-earned victory.
Taghmon-Camross: Jack Dunne; David O’Keeffe, Alan Nolan, Mark O’Gorman; Stephen Stafford, Ian Carty (0-2), Shane Doyle; Thomas Furlong (0-1), Darren Carty (0-1); Shane Lacey, Barry O’Gorman (1-2), Darren Hayden; Michael O’Gorman, Stephen O’Gorman (0-4), Cathal Doyle (1-4, 0-3 frees). Sub. - Stephen O’Keeffe for Lacey.
Our Lady’s Island: Alan Kinsella; Brian Moore, Eoin Kinsella, Rory Reville; Davy Corish, Liam Kinsella (0-3, 2 frees, 1 ‘65), Aaron Corish; Noel Dempsey, Fintan Mullins (1-0); Cian Meyler, Nicky Keane, Quinn Saunders (0-2); Colm Kinsella, Dean Maloney (0-9, 7 frees, 1 ‘65), Darragh Sinnott.
Referee: Aidan Foley (Shelmaliers).