Late surge from Newport not enough to deny impressive Burgess performance

Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Semi-Final

Burgess 3-13 

Newport 1-17 

An impressive opening half helped Burgess win a place in the Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Premier Intermediate hurling final when they defeated Newport at Dolla last Sunday afternoon.

The game finished just in time before torrential rain fell. It was just as well because Burgess needed all their wits about them in the final ten minutes as Newport, with the help of an inspired but less than-fit Sean O’Brien who had just come on as a replacement in the 47th minute.

Burgess led by eight with a quarter of an hour remaining but well into injury time the lead was down to two when Colin Floyd’s well struck lineball dropped into a crowded goalmouth before the ball was sent goalward but a brilliant last-minute save by goalkeeper Ronan Tucker saved the day for the green and gold.

Burgess played with the help of a strong breeze in a splendidly entertaining opening thirty minutes and were 2-1 to 0-3 in front after early goals by Bill O’Flaherty and Michael Ryan in the 11th and 13th minutes.

After Michael Ryan made it 2-4 to 0-4 in the 18th minute Burgess lost their influential Donagh Maher to a shoulder injury. Newport took advantage and had the margin back to five thanks to a Colin Floyd free. However, Ciaran Grace (a replacement for Donagh Maher) picked off two good points leaving Burgess 2-8 to 0-6 in front by the 29th minute.

By now, the Newport management had brought Conor O’Mahony back to the defence which helped steady the ship somewhat. Up front, the majority of the Newport scores came from Colin Floyd who had 0-6 to his credit, including four frees, but approaching the half hour mark the Newport midfield began to make its mark and after Johnny Mulqueen increased the Burgess lead to eight at 2-10 to 0-8 up stepped midfielder Cian Flanagan with two in a row with Stephen Murray responding with a free to make the half time score read Burgess 2-11 Newport 0-10.

Newport should have had the help of the stiff breeze but if anything, the strength of the breeze had dropped. They needed scores on the board but two was all they could muster in the opening eight with Cian Flanagan (third) and Oran Connors, his second, on target.  

With both defences gaining the upper hand it was another five minutes before Stephen Kirwan scored a much valued point for the green and gold. Newport responded with a Colin Floyd free in the 43rd. However, Newport’s efforts received a jolt a minute later when Johnny Mulqueen’s long clearance reached Bill O’Flaherty who faced the Newport defence before offloading to Conor Cooney for the eighteen year-old to find the back of the net from a tight enough angle. 

Burgess now led by eight but now they faced a real battle when Newport introduced Sean O’Brien. O’Brien came on with a heavily strapped leg - he was replaced with a hamstring injury against Silvermines after only five minutes. With Paul Hogan pointed a long distance free for Newport in the 47th minute, up stepped O’Brien with a well-earned score a minute later. A second Paul Hogan long range free left his side five in arrears and with Burgess happy to contain the Newport threat O’Brien struck again with a well taken goal after he covered yards to meet a well-placed centre by Oran Connors. 

With two points between the teams, Burgess remained defiant and in one of their sporadic attacks, Bill O’Flaherty’s brilliant point from the left touchline made it 3-13 to 1-17 with three minutes on the clock.  

That three point advantage remained as the game reached the 63rd minute before Colin Floyd’s pointed free narrowed the gap to two. As expected, Newport forced one last attack and won a line ball forty metres out. Colin Floyd centred and in a crowded goalmouth a Newport forward turned the ball towards the net but Ronan Tucker pulled off a great save. Burgess rejoiced on hearing the final whistle. Final score Burgess 3-13 Newport 1-17. 

Burgess scorers: S Murray 0-5 (0-4f, 0-1’65); B Flaherty and M Ryan 1-1 each; C Cooney 1-0; J Mulqueen, S Kirwan and C Grace 0-2 each. 

Newport scorers: Colin Floyd 0-6 (0-3f); S O’Brien 1-1; C Flanagan 0-3; Oran Connors 0-2; J Delahunty 0-2 (2f) and P Hogan 0-2(2f); P O’Sullivan 0-1. 

Burgess: Ronan Tucker; Pat Woods, Kieran Ryan, Willie Ryan; Jack O’Flaherty, Johnny Mulqueen, Keith Nealon; Danny Ryan, Daire Hogan; Michael Ryan, Stephen Kirwan, Stephen Murray; Eoin Hogan, Bill Flaherty, Donagh Maher. 

Subs used: Kieran Grace for D Maher (19, inj); Conor Cooney for Woods (33, inj); Sean Dunne for M Ryan (38); Michael Ryan for D Ryan (57). 

Newport: Paul Hogan; Conor Hickey, Oisin O’Brien, Robbie Houlihan; Odhran Floyd, Conor Floyd, Aidan Moloney; Cian Flanagan, Peter O’Sullivan; Conor O’Mahony, Oisin O’Brien, Kealan Floyd; Oran Connors, Colin Floyd, Jack Delahunty. 

Subs used: Andrew Hickey for Delahunty (HT); Sean O’Brien for Quigley (47). 

Referee: Alan Tierney, Shannon Rovers.