Mighty Moninne clinch Tain title
HURLING TAIN LEAGUE DIVISION 3 FINAL
Nh Moninne 0-20 Derrynoose 0-14
THE senior hurlers of Naomh Moninne rounded off their year by capturing the Ulster Tain League Div 3 title in impressive fashion with victory over Derrynoose (Armagh) in the final played in good conditions at the Cloghan Centre of Excellence, Monaghan on Saturday afternoon.
The opening half was keenly contested with the sides level on no fewer than six occasions throughout the half. Centre half forward Nigel Stanley responded to an early point for Derrynoose by top scorer David McCreesh with a point of his own.
The sides were still tied at 0-4 a piece on the quarter hour with Diarmuid Murphy (2) and Ronan Geoghegan grabbing the Moninne points.
A further brace of points from Derrynoose had them leading by two before the Dundalk side drew level again on 20 minutes with points from Stanley, again and Niall Cafferkey.
Derrynoose restored their two points lead with pointed frees from McCreesh. Moninne finished the half with good points from Tadhg Moore, Stanley, Diarmuid Murphy and Ronan Geoghegan to one for Derrynoose to lead by 0-10 to 0-9 at the break.
Two further pointed frees from David McCreesh in between which Oisin Drumm pointed for Moninne left the sides level at 0-11 a piece.
Moninne upped the tempo between the 42nd and 49th minute scoring five unanswered points from the sticks of Darren O Hanrahan, Tadhg Moore, Diarmuid Murphy (2) and Nigel Stanley, 0-16 to 0-11.
The sides shared the next four points before a point from the experienced Eddie McArdle had the black and amber outfit six points clear 0-19 to 0-13.
Free takers McCreesh and Murphy exchanged the final two scores of this entertaining clash as Moninne held out for a thoroughly deserving victory to the delight of players and supporters alike.
Afterwards the Naomh Moninne captain Andrew (Smiley) McArdle received the cup from the Ulster Council representative which he dedicated to his late brother Evan. NAOMH MONINNE: Paul Delaney; Paul Challoner, Chris Lennon, Daire Flanagan; Stephen Rafferty, Diarmuid Murphy (0-7 all frees), Andrew McArdle; Darren O Hanrahan (0-1), Tadhg Moore (0-2); Oisin Drumm (0-1), Nigel Stanley (0-5), Niall Cafferkey (0-1); Collins Connolly, Eddie McArdle (0-1), Ronan Geoghegan (0-2, 1 free). Subs – Stephen Ryan for C Connolly, Shane Connolly for D Flanagan.