Dillon and Fahey to the fore as Aherlow go the distance
Aherlow (Tipperary) 3-20 Tourin/Glen Rovers (Waterford) 2-15 (after extra-time; sides level at 2-12 apiece after 60 minutes.
Aherlow's very first appearance in a Munster Club Hurling competition ended in glory at Sen Treacy Park last Sunday when they came through a Titanic clash against Waterford outfit Tourin/Glen Rovers.
The county champions scored an eight-point victory at the Tipperary town venue in a gripping AIB Munster junior club hurling quarter-final, which provided riveting fare for a healthy crowd of some 600 spectators.
Extra-time was required to separate the two teams, who had finished deadlocked at 2-12 apiece after the hour, before Aherlow's superior fitness levels told as they set up a provincial semi-final clash with Limerick side Blackrock.
Ultimately, captain Cathal Dillon with ten points and corner forward Thomas Fahey, who scored a hat-trick of goals, grabbed the headlines with their scoring exploits, but this was a fabulous team display from Aherlow.
And Eddie Moroney will have at least another day out and another memorable match commentary before the curtain comes down on a memorable season for the Glen boys.
Losing out to Moyle Rovers in the County Senior Football Final hurt Aherlow but the exploits of the junior hurlers, with the vast majority of the footballers leading the charge, has more than compensated for that setback.
Tourin/Glen Rovers brought a vocal travelling support to Tipperary last Sunday but Aherlow's fans were in fine voice themselves and that helped to create a good atmosphere, as thankfully the rain stayed away.
The Sen Treacy Park sod was in good fettle and that helped to produce a seesaw battle that swung one way and then another before finally going Aherlow's way.
Aherlow appeared on course for victory early in the second half after opening up a 1-8 to 0-7 advantage in a tie that was level five times at various intervals.
But a quickfire brace of goals from Brian Hennessy and Michael Scanlan sent Tourin/Glen Rovers 2-8 to 1-8 in front after 41 minutes.
With ten minutes left on the watch, the Dise outfit still held a three-point advantage before two Dillon placed balls, the second of those from a penalty, brought Aherlow to within a single point again.
With four minutes left on the watch, the pendulum swung in Aherlow's favour once again as Fahey nipped in for his second goal, after his first half strike had helped Aherlow to lead by 1-5 to 0-7 at half-time.
Fahey's second major looked to have sealed it for the West Tipp team as they led by 2-12 to 2-10 before the Fives brothers, Darragh and Shane, converted late scores to send the game into extra-time.
Aherlow led by 2-15 to 2-14 after the first period of extra-time before a blistering start to the second period sealed the deal as points from highly-effective targetman Samus Grogan and Dillon were followed by Fahey's third goal.
Tourin/Glen Rovers will look back with some regret on this defeat after producing a stirring second half performance in the face of a strong breeze.
However they were over-reliant on the free-taking of Waterford minor Darragh Fives, who scored nine of his ten points from placed balls.
Brother Shane was also impressive at centre half back before he was shoved further forward later in the game but Aherlow’s fitness really told in extra-time.
Scorers for Aherlow: Cathal Dillon 0-10 (7 frees, 1 pen), Thomas Fahey 3-0, Seamus Grogan 0-4, Conor O’Shea and Billy Reardon 0-2 each, Barry Grogan and Cathal O’Shea 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tourin/Glen Rovers: Darragh Fives 0-10 (9 frees), Michael Scanlan 1-1, Brian Hennessy 1-0, Shane Fives 0-2, Sean Leahy and Daithi Wilkinson 0-1 each.
AHERLOW - William O’Brien; Stephen Chapman, James Noonan, Laurence Coskeran; Brian Moroney, Mark O’Shea, John Hennessy; Thomas Hanley, Barry Grogan; Conor O’Shea, Billy Reardon, Cathal Dillon; Cathal O’Shea, Seamus Grogan, Thomas Fahey.
Subs: Mark Hanley for Moroney (60), Mark Leonard for Cathal O’Shea (80).
TOURIN/GLEN ROVERS - Colm Bennett; Jamie Dalton, Kevin Leahy, Mark Landers; Daniel Leahy, Shane Fives, Brendan Scanlan; Brian Leahy, Sean Leahy; Darragh Fives, Daithi Wilkinson, Raymond McGlone; David Leahy, Michael Scanlan, Brian Hennessy.
Subs: Donal McGrath for David Leahy (60), Dermot Nugent for M Scanlan (injured, 70), Sean O’Grady for Hennessy (80), Philip O’Rourke for K. Leahy (80).
Referee: C. McAllister (Cork).
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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