Watergrasshil  2-15

Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry   0-18

THE storm clouds had gathered over Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry by half-time of Sunday’s All-Ireland Club Intermediate Hurling Final at Croke Park.

For there was a sense of inevitability about the outcome as the Galway champions trailed by four points – they were lucky it wasn’t more – to slicker, sharper if wasteful Watergrasshill opponents from Cork.

But by the end of an absorbing battle, one’s heart went out to Mattie Kenny’s men as they were desperately unlucky not to have at least forced extra-time after a stirring second half display.

No wonder, many of the Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry players slumped to their knees in dejection at the final whistle. They had been heroic over that closing 35 minutes, including stoppage time, only to come just up short in a fluctuating decider.

Given little chance of success against a Cork outfit which contained three players from divisional side Imokilly – winners of the county senior title last year – Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry had Watergrasshill on the rack for long periods of the second half, but though edging a point ahead on three occasions, they crucially couldn’t put any more daylight between the teams.

The central figure in their admirable comeback was Shane Moloney who reminded us why he was mentioned in the same breath as Joe Canning during his juvenile days. Moloney had a brilliant third quarter after being switched from midfield to wing forward on the resumption.

He lofted over four superb points from play and converted a mighty sideline cut from 55 yards to help turn the final on its head. Moloney, however, was starting to struggle with damaged ribs and that may have accounted for a couple of wayward frees during the same period.

If the 2015 All-Ireland semi-final matchwinner had been the catalyst for Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry’s revival, Ben Moran was the player who stood out in the closing stages, nailing two frees and also spitting the posts with a couple of crackers from play which looked as though they might be enough to get the Galway challengers over the line.

Unfortunately, Tynagh/ Abbey-Duniry were hit by a sucker punch in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Watergrass midfielder Anthony Cronin delivered upfield and though there appeared enough defensive cover, the ball broke to Sean Desmond and he surged through open territory before planting the sliotar past Brendan Lynch.

In that moment, Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry’s hopes of All-Ireland glory vanished. It was a cruel outcome in the circumstances, but for periods of the match their last line defence and goalkeeper Lynch had been jittery. It didn’t help them either that none of the starting forwards – Moloney began in midfield – scored until Niall Moloney split the posts in the 55th minute.

Ultimately, Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry had their problems at both ends of the field, but that can’t take away from a noble effort which saw Paul Killeen – another player with an injury issue – producing a fine first-half performance in a deep-lying role, making his switch to the attack on the resumption a little baffling.

There were no big-day nerves from Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry early on. They flew out of the blocks and had established a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after just seven minutes. Defenders David Jordan and Kevin Moloney picked off excellent points, Shane Moloney added another and also converted a free.

Pictured: Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry’s Johnny Conroy breaking away from Shane O’Regan of Watergrasshill during the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Hurling Final at Croke Park on Sunday. Photos: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.