They dont come more dramatic! With a penchant for goals Roscrea led by two points as many minutes from the end of normal time. Then the real drama unfolded. John Doughan, who played his heart out for Moneygall, fired home a spectacular goal from less than thirty metres, after he picked up an excellent crossfield ball from impressive Eoghan Ryan, to put his side in front (1-15 to 3-8). But, no sooner had goalie Kevin Dooley pucked out the ball, rangy Joe Carroll caught the Moneygall defence when he gained possession, ran through, and crashed the ball to the back of the net for the crucial score that kept his side ahead to the final whistle.


What a finish! As the game entered 'stoppage' time, and both sets of backs defending herocially, chances went abegging at both ends before John Doughan, reduced the deficit to a single score with almost four minutes of additional time played. Thirty seconds later, and victory, it seemed, well and truly in Roscrea's grasp, the last chapter in the drama was unveiled. A titanic battle for possession ensued close the sideline at the stand side of the pitch, about sixty metres from the Roscrea goal.


Eoghan Ryan was adjudged to have been fouled, and the mammoth task of securing the equaliser, direct from the last puck of the game, fell to John Doughan. The lion-hearted midfielder coped well with the pressure, but, suffered the agony of watching the ball he struck from a difficult angle fall just short of the target at the Nenagh side of the pitch, when it seemed destined to go straight over the bar.

A Roscrea defender got a stick to it, and Moneygall's fate was sealed. Even the most partisan Roscrea fan had to spare a thought for Doughan, one of the best players on the county club scene, in his moment of anguish, after a chance of taking the game to extra time went abegging. He was forced to hit the ball into a stiffish breeze that did not help his chance of leaving matters 'all square.'


It was an extraordinary finish to a most entertaining, free-flowing, and sporting game that was a credit to the two neighbouring clubs. From an early stage of a match played in dry conditions it became apparent that little was going to separate them on the final scoresheet. In a first half of fluctuating fortunes, Moneygall led 0-2 to 0-1 inside the opening four minutes, stylish Eoghan Ryan scoring twice from play for the leaders while Colm Kennedy (free) opened Roscrea's account. Ros got a great fillip in 6th minute when hard-working Mark O'Meara got a flick to a high delivery from Tommy Fitzgerald, and the ball ended in the net (1-1 to 0-2).


With Donie Guilfoyle and Pajo Troy excellent in a tight-marking defence, John Doughan busy at midfield, and Diarmuid Kennedy and Eoghan Ryan, particularly effective in attack, Moneygall stormed back and scored some beautiful points to deservedly lead 0-8 to 1-3 after twenty-three minutes. Roscrea had 'an eye' for goals, however, and they made the sterling work of Diarmuid Fitzgerald, and Ray Moloney, in the centre of defence, pay handsome dividends, when busy Jason Fitzpatrick whipped the ball to the net in 24th minute, to put his side a point ahead (2-3 to 0-8). Darren O'Connor and Joe Carroll set up the movement that led to the goal.


Tom Toohey brought Moneygall back on parity with a splendid score, and after a tit for tat process, the teams were deadlocked at the interval (2-5 to 0-11), John Doughan scoring a wonderful 31st minute equaliser. Indicative of the quality of the play was Moneygall's 0-9 return from play, while Roscrea scored 2-4 from play.


Impressive Davin Flynn and Mark Keeshan exchanged points in the early minutes of the second-half, and with scores hard-earned against two very strong defences, Roscrea looked set to take control when Tommy Fitzgerald's shot from a 'penalty' (Joe Carroll was fouled) in 41st minute ended up in the net despite the best efforts of alert goalie Sean McCormack (3-6 to 0-12).

They extended their lead to four points (3-8 to 0-13) after fifty-five minutes, but, Moneygall were in no mood to capitulate. They scored only two points (one from a free) in twenty five minutes play, but thanks to repeated clearances from Sean Kennedy, Mike Ryan and Pajo Troy, and good work outfield by Mark Keeshan, and Ger Kirwan in the closing stages of normal time, they got some fine scores, and will feel they well deserved a draw on the strength of their finishing surge. After letting slip a few gifted chances of moving in front in 'stoppage' time, Moneygall was, understandably, shattered at the final whistle. The momentum was surely with them after Doughan's goal, but they were stunned by Carroll's quick follow-up score.


It will be poor consolation to them, but they can take a lot of credit for fighting back after Carroll's goal. Between them, impressive pair John Doughan and Eoghan Ryan accounted for 1-7 of their sides total. Pajo Troy, Conor Ryan, Mark Keeshan, Diarmuid Kennedy, and substitute Patsy Greene took beautiful scores.


Roscrea have taken the scalps of Burgess and Moneygall, and can be quite pleased with their progress. Their younger players are growing in confidence, and the side is going to be quite a match for any opposition entering a very critical stage of the 2009 championship. This victory is all the more pleasing for them when it is considered that they picked up a number of minor injuries throughout the game that required changes in personnel, primarily in attack.

Kevin Dooley kept a safe goal under pressure in 'stoppage' time, and the Fitzgerald's, Diarmuid, Enda, and Sean, Darren O'Connor, Ray Moloney, Darragh Spooner, and Liam England, got in a lot of work in this time. Corner-back James Maher had an excellent game, and David Buckley, Davin Flynn, Tommy Fitzgerald, Jason Fitpatrick, Mark Ryan, and Trevor Fletcher struck sweet scores. Joe Carroll was always a threat to the Moneygall defence, and finished with 1-1.


Finally, compliments to referee Willie Clohessey and his officials on their general handing of a free-flowing game, and to the Toomevara club for having the pitch in pristine condition.
Roscrea-K Dooley; J Maher, D Fitzgerald, E Fitzgerald; D O'Connor, R Moloney, D Spooner; J Fitzpatrick (1-1), L England; M O'Meara (1-0), T Fitzgerald (1-1), C Kennedy (0-1); D Buckley (0-1), J Carroll (1-1), D Flynn (0-1). Subs introduced- M Ryan (0-1), A Ryan, T Fletcher (0-1), P Carroll, S Gallagher.
Moneygall- S McCormack; G Ryan, S Kennedy, D Guilfoyle; M Ryan (0-1), P Troy (0-1), G Kirwan; J Doughan (1-4), T Toohey (0-1); C Ryan (0-1), M Keeshan (0-2), D Kennedy (0-1); D Doughan (0-1), E Ryan (0-3), P Fanning. Subs introduced- P Greene (0-1), E Gleeson.
Referee-W Clohessey (Drom-Inch).