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Tipperary SFC Final – Moyle Rovers v Aherlow
Moyle Rovers defeated Aherlow by 3-6 to 1-11 in the Tipperary County Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday October 25th at Semple Stadium Thurles.
Moyle Rovers triumph in Tipperary decider
Moyle Rovers 3-6 Aherlow 1-11
Two-time All-Star forward Declan Browne hit a brace of goals as Moyle Rovers prevailed in an exciting Tipperary Senior Football Championship final this afternoon, outlasting Aherlow for a 3-6 to 1-11 win. Watched by a Semple Stadium crowd numbering 1,933, Moyle Rovers won their second county title in three years with goals from Browne and substitute Diarmuid Foley proving vital in the end. Aherlow, who beat Moyle Rovers in the 2006 decider, closed the gap to a single point with two late frees from Barry Grogan. In a frantic finish, Moyles Rovers midfielder Paul Johnson was sent off but Aherlow’s Seamus Grogan missed a subsequent point attempt in deepest injury-time and the Jim Cahill-managed Moyle side edged home.
Wind-backed Aherlow grabbed three early points through Barry and Seamus Grogan, before Padraig Foley was fouled for a seventh minute penalty and Browne stepped up to slot the ball past goalkeeper Shane Leonard. Bernard O’Brien levelled for Aherlow at 0-4 to 1-1 and Liam Kearns’ charges managed to pull clear for a 1-7 to 1-3 half-time lead, with Thomas Hanley fisting home a superb 25th minute goal. Barry Grogan made a terrific catch near the new stand and his floated ball into the centre was finished well to the net by corner forward Hanley.
In worsening conditions, two points from Browne helped Rovers claw the deficit back to 1-7 to 1-5 at the start of the second half – only for Seamus Grogan and Laurence Coskeran to quickly reply at the other end. Now having the better of possession, Moyle registered their second goal in the 46th minute when Foley slipped his marker and struck a rising shot to the net, making it 1-9 to 2-5. Foley missed a decent goal chance, with eight minutes remaining, but Browne was able to raise his second green flag soon after when he beat net minder Leonard in a one-on-one situation. A pointed free from former Tipperary ace Browne nudged his side into a three-point lead and Moyle had just enough to stave off Aherlow’s late revival, becoming county champions once again. Afterwards, Tipperary Football Board Chairman Noel Morris presented the cup to Moyle Rovers captain Liam Cronin.
