Lightning-fast start helps Lorrha reach Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final

Lorrha 3-19 Cashel King Cormacs 1-17

A devastating opening quarter ensured a hugely impressive Lorrha side progressed to the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final following a fully deserved victory over Cashel King Cormacs at an unseasonably warm St Michael’s Park, Toomevara on Sunday afternoon.

Manager Ken Hogan had his Lorrha side well primed for this semi-final, a clash that had been put back a week following the untimely passing of Cashel stalwart Timmy Moloney, and for whom a minute’s silence was impeccably observed before throw-in.

From the get-go the men from Lower Ormond took the game to the Andy Moloney- managed Cashel side and the opening twelve minutes saw a ruthlessly effective Lorrha team race into a 2-5 lead without reply. By the 18th minute this lead had stretched to 3-8 to 0-1, with Cashel’s only point coming from Devon Ryan, and even at this very early juncture the writing was well and truly on the wall for the west men.

Lorrha had their match-ups on point, and they quickly identified Cashel’s glaring frailty in their own half back line. Lorrha hurled up a storm in that opening quarter with early points from Darragh Guinan and Cian Hogan, coupled with a cracking sixth minute Darragh Guinan goal firing Lorrha into an early five-point lead.

Guinan ran riot in the opening quarter and was instrumental in a number of Lorrha scores, and it was he who set up Patrick “Bonner” Maher for a second Lorrha goal on seven minutes.

Further points from Colm Fogarty (free) and Michael Dolan (long-range free) extended Lorrha’s advantage before Cashel switched James Cummins onto Darragh Guinan in a bid to quell his influence.

However, Lorrha just kept on coming at a shellshocked Cashel defence. Alan O’Meara added a fifth point on twelve minutes before that man Guinan found Christopher Fogarty in front of goal and he rattled the Cashel net with consummate ease.
Fogarty popped up for a sixth Lorrha point two minutes later before Eoin McIntyre added a seventh to fire Lorrha into a 3-7 to 0-1 lead, an advantage that they would never relinquish.

Lorrha’s platform for victory was well and truly laid but Cashel did mount a second quarter challenge in a bid to get back into contention. Poor shooting hampered their efforts but points from David McGrath, Ross Bonnar, Devon Ryan (2, 1 free) and Eoghan Connolly (free) brought Cashel’s tally to six points as the interval approached.

Panic had set in, though, at this stage and a number of close-range frees that should really have been tapped over the bar were well saved and cleared by goalkeeper Michael Kennedy and the Lorrha defence. Cashel added three further points before the half-time whistle with an Eoghan Connolly free and a late brace from Ross Bonnar leaving a nine-point gap between the sides at the break, 0-9 to 3-9.

With the slightest of warm breezes favouring the men from Lower Ormond, Lorrha set the tone for the second half with a quickfire point straight from the throw-in from Niall McIntyre. Further points from Colm Fogarty and Eoin McIntyre ensured Lorrha stretched twelve points clear before a trio of points from James Cummins, Devon Ryan and Ger Browne offered Cashel some much-needed solace.

A further brace of frees from Devon Ryan kept the scoreboard ticking over for Cashel but it was goals they clearly needed, and as the game entered the final quarter Lorrha introduced Brian Hogan at full forward and re-deployed Patrick Maher in a defensive midfield role.

Hogan, the former Tipperary senior hurling goalkeeper who joined up with the panel after being overseas for the entire campaign to date, heralded his arrival with a well-taken 54th minute point, as Lorrha packed their defence and dealt capably with the best Cashel could muster.

The men from the west did raise a green flag, though, after a 57th minute Eoghan Connolly free made its way through a forest of hurleys to rattle the net. It was only mere consolation, however, as further points from Colm Fogarty (free) and Patrick Maher copper-fastened a thoroughly deserved eleven-point victory for their side.

Lorrha were full value for their comprehensive victory and powered through a disappointing Cashel King Cormacs challenge, one that many expected to be far stronger than what actually materialised. As a unit, Lorrha were very impressive, with Michael Dolan a commanding figure in defence while Darragh Guinan, Ciarán Hough, Colm Fogarty, Cian Hogan, Eoin McIntyre, Niall McIntyre and Patrick Maher were impressive throughout.

Cashel were far from their best with disappointing performances all over the field but James Cummins, Ross Bonnar, Eoghan Connolly and Devon Ryan were very much to the fore for a side that was distinctly lacking in vitality and conviction on the day.

Lorrha: Michael Kennedy; Tom Duggan, Daniel O’Donoghue, Denis O’Meara; Conor Hogan, Michael Dolan (0-2 frees), Ciaran Haugh; Alan O’Meara (0-1), Niall McIntyre (0-1); Darragh Guinan (1-1); Cian Hogan (0-3), Eoin McIntyre (0-2); Colm Fogarty (0-6, 4 frees), Patrick Maher (1-1), Christopher Fogarty (1-1).

Subs: Brian Hogan (0-1) for Christopher Fogarty (47); Oisin Guinan for D O’Meara (59); Martin Gorman for A O’Meara (60+3); Brendan Fogarty for N McIntyre (60+6, inj).

Cashel King Cormacs: Aaron Browne; Conor O’Dwyer, Nathan Ryan, Ciaran Quinn; James Cummins (0-1), Eoghan Connolly (1-2 frees), Ronan Connolly; Daniel Moloney, Cathal Quinn; Paddy Fahy, Ross Bonnar (0-4), Ger Browne (0-1); Devon Ryan (0-8, 4 frees), Conn Bonnar, David McGrath (0-1).

Subs: Adrian Cummins for McGrath (43); Anthony Walsh for R Connolly (55 inj); Jonathan Walsh for G Browne (59).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne/Templetuohy).