Another win for Eire Óg in Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill 2-18 Gortnahoe Glengoole 2-17

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill made it two wins on the bounce as they struck late to secure the spoils in this Round 2, Group 2 Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship game at Leahy Park Cashel on Saturday evening.

It looked as if they had left the win behind them, but a late strike from Seanie Ryan delivered the goods. Over the course of the game, wayward shooting and poor shot- choice was a problem. They hit 14 wides while also dropping six shots short.

This was a tight game throughout, with never more than a few scores separating the sides. The teams were level on three occasions during the opening period and three more times in the ten minutes after the break.

Eire Og led by two following a Donal O’Dwyer point with three minutes remaining but Keane Hayes split their defence open before crashing a shot past Mooney, and Ronan Teehan scored two good points inside forty seconds to put them three to the good. Mooney then saved late on, preventing a goal that would have wrapped up the points for the Mid side.

Tom Fox pulled one back as the clock went into added time and in what was Eire Og’s best move of the game, Seanie Ryan got in for the goal that secured victory.

Gortnahoe will feel that the left this game behind them, but in reality Eire Og were the better side in the possession stakes, and would have been disappointed had they not got in for a late victory. Paudie Bradshaw put in a man of the match performance at half back, while scoring three long range points.

Mooney was, as ever, alert between the posts and his late stop proved to be a match-winner. Paul Devlin also saved a goal-bound shot late on as Gortnahoe opened up the defence.

Eire Og will be happy with this performance, following up on the previous week’s win over Moyne Templetuohy, in what is tight group, and will go into round 3 full of confidence. For Gortnahoe their round 3 game against their neighbours could be a season-defining game.

This game started in explosive fashion, with Eire Og quickly off the mark when Aidan Griffin pointed from a placed ball inside the opening minute. Gortnahoe replied when Darragh Maher blasted past Darragh Mooney for the opening goal.

Eire Og rebounded quickly and in a move from defence through midfield, which also involved Connie Bradshaw and Seanie Ryan, Darragh Kelly beat Timmy Dunne to restore their lead. Paudie Bradshaw scored with a long range effort, before Keane Hayes hit his opening score from a placed ball.

Eire Og hit a couple of wides and also dropped one short when a point looked on, but Aidan Griffin was on target from a free. Ronan Teehan capitalised on a turnover to put one between the sides while Darragh Maher levelled proceedings for the first time on eight minutes.

Oisin Cleary set up Liam Hayes and the midfielder made no mistake. Keane Hayes scored Gortnahoe’s fourth unanswered point in five minutes to go two up, as this game swung from end to end.

Gortnahoe were taking their chances well, with Keane Hayes and Darragh Maher to the fore. Points from Darragh Kelly and Connie Bradshaw had the sides back on level terms for the second time by the 14th minute. Hayes converted two placed balls, one from distance, to take the initiative.

Eire Og struck a purple patch, in which they hit four points in five minutes. Darragh Kelly set up Tom Fox before Dinny Crosse found Paudie Bradshaw with a fine crossfield ball and Crosse himself fired over in the 20th minute. Darragh Mooney found the mark from two long range frees, either side of a Keane Hayes effort. Conor Gleeson capitalised when Eire Og failed to take advantage of a sideline cut to leave the minimum between the sides as half-time approached.

Aidan Griffin and Keane Hayes traded points to leave the half-time score, Eire Og 1-11, Gortnahoe Glengoole 1-10.

Darragh Maher got the scoreboard moving after the break when pointed to tie the game again. Dinny Crosse, who was having a fine game overall, eased Eire Og back in front but Keane Hayes hit two in succession, one from open play. Aidan Griffin, with his fourth of the day, had the sides back on level terms by the 41st minute. Points from Darragh Kelly and another huge effort from Paudie Bradshaw put the West side two in front by the three-quarter mark.

The final quarter was full of drama. Conor Gleeson reduced the lead to the minimum before Timmy Dunne denied Darragh Kelly with a top-class save at the expense of a 65. Kelly made no mistake from the resulting free shot. Gearóid Fahey set up Jack Moore and the midfielder split the posts with five of normal time remaining.

Donal O’Dwyer put two between the sides again. From the puckout Keane Hayes gathered easily and split the defence with a piercing run to blast past Mooney. Ronan Teehan hit two in quick succession to stretch the lead out to three, as the clock headed towards added time.

Mooney saved from Darragh Maher before Tom Fox reduced the deficit to two on sixty minutes.
In one final attack, Donal O’Dwyer set up Tom Fox and the midfielder found Seanie Ryan, who made no mistake, to get Eire Og over the line in what was a hugely entertaining game.

Eire Og Annacarty: Darragh Mooney (0-2 frees), Paul Devlin, David Fox (captain), Mixie Bradshaw, Paudie Bradshaw (0-3), Brian Fox, Paul Downey, Seanie Ryan (1-0), Tom Fox (0-2), Donal O’Dwyer (0-1), Conor O’Brien, Connie Bradshaw (0-1), Aidan Griffin (0-4 frees), Dinny Crosse (0-2), Darragh Kelly (1-3, 0-1 '65).

Subs: Eoin Bradshaw for Conor O’Brien (45), Jack Kingston for Aidan Griffin (48), Kevin Fox for Dinny Crosse (53).

Gortnahoe Glengoole: Jimmy Dunne, Martin Barnaville, Davy Nolan (captain), Enda McCarthy, Conor Gleeson (0-2), Brian Maher, Davy Lanigan, Liam Hayes (0-1), Jack Moore (0-1), Darragh Maher (1-2), Aidan Guilfoyle, Ronan Teehan (0-3), Oisin Cleary, Fionn Cleary, Keane Hayes (1-8, 7 frees).

Subs: Adrian Maher for Martin Barnaville (26), Kevin Slattery for Liam Hayes (inj 35), Gearóid Fahey for Aidan Guilfoyle (53).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).