Tom Morrissey wonder goal helps Ahane get off to winning start

A TOM Morrissey wonder goal helped Ahane to a 1-23 to 2-18 win over Monaleen in the Whitebox Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday night.

After collecting the ball about 40 yards out from goal, the six-time All-Ireland winner took on a run before firing the ball to the top corner past Jamie Power.

In a titanic battle this was a key moment as they held on for this opening round victory.

With big-hitters Na Piarasigh, Kilmallock and Doon in this group, a good start to the campaign was vital for both sides.

Monaleen, without All-Ireland medalist Matthew Fitzgerald from the start, had the better of the early proceedings at Limerick GAA HQ.

The Castletroy men had Shane Hassett, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave and Donncha O Dalaight on the board in the first seven minutes.

However, the start was cancelled out by an incredible goal from Tom Morrissey. The six-time All-Ireland winner smashing the ball to the top corner of the net to level the game 1-1 to 0-4 after 10 minutes.

Morrissey nearly had a second goal five minutes later but Jamie Power was equal to it between the posts for Monaleen.

La Touche Cosgrave was on form at the other end of the field and the city side also had scores from Ronan Hayes and Lochlann McHale. They went into a three-point lead when Eoghan O’Driscoll slotted home a tidy goal, which Cosgrave set up.

Through Morrissey, Ciaran Barry and Mark Donnellan, Ahane kept the Castleconnell-Lisnagry men in touch.

But, right on the stroke of half time, the men in red got a second goal.

Again, La Touch Cosgrave was the provider - Dara Ferland supplied the finish as they led 2-9 to 1-8 at the change of ends.

Ahane halved the deficit within two minutes of the restart - Donnellan and Morrissey (free) getting them off the mark after the interval before clawing back to level terms.

Hassett and Ferland responded for Monaleen as they tried to regain the initiative.

It was nip and tuck in the middle stage of the second half - two long-range Lorcan Lyons scores edging his side in front.

Super scores from John O’Connor and Ciaran Barry put the east division side back in front in an enthralling contest. When Donnellan knocked over his fourth from play, Ahane had their biggest lead of the evening - three points.

Gavin Rowsome stretched the lead further, Ahane now well on top.

Monaleen fought hard and made Ahane sweat but John Meskill’s side held on for the win.

SCORERS - Ahane: Tom Morrissey 1-7 (6f); Mark Donnellan 0-4; Conor Ryan 0-3; Jack Cosgrove, John O’Connor and Ciaran Barry (1f) 0-2 each; Ronan Fox, Gavin Rowsome and Kevin Morrissey 0-1 each.

Monaleen: Shane Hassett 0-5 (3f); Dara Ferland 1-1; Eoghan O’Driscoll 1-0; Andrew La Touche Cosgrave 0-3; Lochlann McHale and Lorcan Lyons (f) 0-2 each; Donncha O Dalaigh, Ronan Lyons, Matthew Fitzgerald and Eoghan Maher 0-1 each.

AHANE: Cathal Ryan; Peter O’Grady, Padraig Harnett, Conor Heffernan; Ciaran Barry, Dan Morrissey, Dan Minihan; Conor Ryan, Evan O'Leary; Cathal O'Mara, Tom Morrissey, Jack Cosgrove; Mark Donnellan, Ronan Fox, John O'Connor.

Subs: Gavin Rowesome for O’Grady (ht); Peter Donohue for Fox (55 mins); Kevin Morrissey for Donnellan (56 mins).

MONALEEN: Jamie Power; Ben Hayes, Bryan Canny, Noel Clancy; Darragh Langan, Lorcan Lyons, Ronan Lyons; Joseph Fitzgerald, Lochlann McHale; Eoghan O'Driscoll, Shane Hassett, Luke Murphy; Donncha O Dalaigh, Dara Ferland, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave.

Subs: Mark O’Dwyer for Hayes (40 mins); Matthew Fitzgeald for McHale (48 mins); Eoghan Maher for Murphy (57 mins).

REFEREE: Michael Sexton (Bruree).