Magic Maher strikes late for Gortnahoe to snatch victory from unlucky Sarsfields

Doran Oil Mid Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final

Gortnahoe Glengoole 1-23

Thurles Sarsfields 1-19

By Michael Dundon

A late scoring flourish by Gortnahoe Glengoole got them through to the Doran Oil Mid Premier Intermediate Hurling final as they saw off the challenge of Thurles Sarsfields in a lively encounter at Holycross on Tuesday evening.

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Winners in 2023, Gortnahoe looked destined for defeat with ten minutes to go as they trailed by six points, but having struggled to impose themselves on the opposition up to then it all came good for them in the closing period as they reeled off 1-8 to Sarsfields one point. 

Sub Darragh Maher had a big say in that late surge, scoring 1-2 from play, and has surely put his hand up for a starting place in the final.

Sarsfields made the early running going four points clear in five minutes as Gortnahoe’s wayward shooting meant they had to wait until the ninth minute for their opening point from Keane Hayes. 

Mossie McCormack, Sarsfields best forward, pounced for a goal after ten minutes but then Gortnahoe took control, reeling off nine points in a purple patch for a 0-10 to 1-5 lead.

Then it was Sarsfield's turn and they registered six  points en route to an interval lead of 1-14 to 0-11, Jack Moore breaking the sequence with a Gortnahoe point.

For 20 minutes of the second half Gortnahoe made no headway as they strove to get back on terms but a quality point by Conor Gleeson after fifty one minutes got them moving. 

Keane Hayes added two more from frees to which Jack Lanigan countered for Sarsfields but Gortnahoe tails were up at this stage. Conor Gleeson pointed and then set up Darragh Maher for a levelling goal as the game moved into injury time.

Momentum was with Gortnahoe now and they were playing their best hurling as Darragh Maher pointed them into the lead after 63 minutes. They did not stop at that and in the remaining minutes of added time, Brian Maher, Darragh Maher and Keane Hayes raised white flags to bring the curtain down on a win that for a long time seemed unlikely.

The winning flourish will give Gortnahoe great heart as they set up for the final  and the start of the county championship a week later. 

On this showing, they have the players to be successful at divisional and county level with Davy Nolan, Brian Maher, Fionn Cleary, Conor Gleeson, Ronan Teehan, Keane Hayes and Liam Hayes all doing well. An injury to full-back and captain Davy Nolan will be a concern for them leading up to the final.

Sarsfields will be disappointed at their late collapse when it seemed the game was theirs for the taking. Injuries to Kieran Moloney and Aidan Ryan did not help but on the positive side the return to the fold after missing most of the action last year of Billy McCarthy and Seosamh Ryan will boost them ahead of their county opener against Sean Treacys. 

Kieran Moloney, Jack O’Mara, Tommy Maher, Paul Noonan, Cillian Minogue, Mossie McCormack, and Michael O’Brien did most to further their cause.

Gortnahoe Glengoole: Timmy Dunne; Philly Purcell, Davy Nolan, Martin Barnaville; Karl Campion, Brian Maher (0-1), Fionn Cleary (0-1); Jack Moore (0-2), Conor Gleeson (0-3); Adrian Maher (0-1), Ronan Teehan (0-1), Aidan Guilfoyle (0-1); Damien Corbett (0-1), Liam Hayes (0-2), Keane Hayes (0-8, 0-4f).

Subs used: Darragh Maher (1-2) for Guilfoyle (36); Davy Lanigan for Nolan (47).

Thurles Sarsfields: Kevin Bracken; Kieran Moloney, Jack O’Mara, Paul Noonan; Jack Derby, Tommy Maher (0-2f), Aidan Ryan; Daniel Rossiter, Michael Purcell (0-1); Mossie McCormack (1-2), Seanie Butler (0-1), Jack Lanigan (0-5, 0-2f); Michael O’Brien (0-3), Conor Lanigan (0-1), Cillian Minogue (0-4).

Subs used: Seosamh Ryan for Purcell (35); Billy McCarthy for C Lanigan (55); Michael Russell for A Ryan (55); Fionn Fogarty for Moloney (60).

Referee: PJ Nolan (Killea)

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