Mooncoin 3-23
St. Oliver Plunkett’s 1-14
Mooncoin have deservedly advanced to the semi-finals of the AIB Leinster Junior Championship after a 15-point victory against Westmeath side St. Oliver Plunkett’s.
Both teams could not be separated early on with an early exchange of scores but the game changed in the 11th minute.
A dreadful puckout fell straight into the hand of Mooncoin forward Pa Walsh who made no mistake with the finish as Mooncoin grabbed the first goal of the game.
Leading by 1-04 to 0-03 following Walsh’s effort, the Kilkenny junior county champions began to assert their dominance on a one-sided affair. A long-range free from Martin O’Neill that somehow found the back of the net pushed them further ahead almost immediately after their first goal and they did not relinquish their lead from thereon in .
Points from Walsh and Adam Croke kept Mooncoin ticking over before an expertly worked goal that was ruthlessly dispatched by Killian Hogan all but ended the game as a contest just before half-time with the scoreline at the interval looking bleak for St. Oliver Plunkett’s, Mooncoin 3-13 to 0-07 St. Oliver Plunkett’s.
The second half was a mere procession for Mooncoin as there was a lack of intensity in both team’s performances due to the circumstances in which the second period was played under.
John Fitzpatrick continued to star, finishing with a personal tally of five points as Mooncoin took the sting out of the game by clinically taking their opportunities to score points from all angles.
A late goal from Martin Gannon was nothing more than a consolation for a spirited St. Oliver Plunkett’s team as they crashed out of the Leinster championship.
For Mooncoin, they march on and can look forward to a semi-final with their opponents not yet confirmed.