Lorrha progress in O Riain Cup in thrilling fashion
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling - Seamus O Riain Cup Group 2
Lorrha 5-18
Portroe 4-16
Report: Liam Hogan in Cloughjordan
Trailing by eight points after 25 minutes Lorrha turned things around in spectacular style to defeat Portroe in a pulsating Seamus O Riain Cup clash on Saturday.
The win puts Lorrha in the last eight for the first time in three years and they achieved their win with forward brilliance, mixed with a degree of wastage with fifteen wides, while their back-line were also very open at times, so much so that they allowed Portroe stay in the game but they tightened up considerably in the second half.
That said, Lorrha could have won by much more but they messed up three goal chances on top of the five they scored for the second game in a row, two in the opening ten minutes by running into cover when a quicker release might have paid more dividends.
But on a positive note the six Lorrha forwards scored with minor Colm Fogarty posting 1-11, 1-3 from play, as well as many other contributions in a man of the match performance.
There were many other candidates for the position including Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher who scored two brilliant goals in the first half when Lorrha really needed them. David Fogarty added 2-2 while Eoin McIntyre was always on the move creating danger. Perhaps he might have picked off more scores instead of trying to outsmart his opponent with lung busting running.
The Lorrha defence regrouped after a shaky first half but Brian Hogan, Michael Dolan redeemed themselves and Ciaran Haugh came to life in the last quarter as well as Daniel O’Donoghue while Niall McIntyre caught the eye at midfield.
John Sheedy was by far their best Portroe forward. He scored 3-6, including 2-1 from play. Kevin O’Halloran had a great first half as did A.J. Willis and Mark Gennery, but their contributions faded in the second half.
Nine goals produced plenty of excitement and Portroe had the first goal after 22 seconds when Kevin O’Halloran weaved his way past a hesitant Lorrha defence. It was a shock to the Lorrha side, but they responded with Chris Fogarty reigning down on goal only to see his shot saved by keeper Diarmuid Boyle. Play was called back for a free which Colm Fogarty converted. Seconds later Eoin McIntyre had a goal chance but the Portroe defence closed in to save the day.
The game was twelve minutes old before Lorrha’s resilience brought them parity thanks to the lively Christopher Fogarty. But Portroe had no problems at the other end when John Sheedy had their second goal in the 21st minute, after Mark Gennery played the final pass.
Portroe looked the more complete side and Kevin O’Halloran scored two great points to open a 2-7 to 0-5 lead on 25 minutes. The goals began to flow with another four before half time as Lorrha staged a recovery when Patrick Maher scored great goal in the 26th minute. Brian Hogan’s ninety metre free followed but their good work was cancelled out by a second John Sheedy goal in the 28th minute. However, another Maher goal within seconds had Lorrha back in the game once again.
Yet they needed some luck after a John Sheedy free which was awarded after what seemed a perfect goal by James Ryan was disallowed for a thrown pass despite an advantage being played. That Sheedy free had Portroe 3-9 to 2-7 in front and he added another score from play but as the half was about to finish a Colm Fogarty goal had Lorrha three in arrears, 3-10 to 3-7 at half time.
The third quarter produced many more twists and turns as Eoin McIntyre had Lorrha’s fourth point of the second half, to edge them in front for the first time in the 38th minute. Both John Sheedy (free) and Mark Gennery had Port back in front two minutes later before Lorrha stole back the lead when Christopher Fogarty had the ball in the Portroe net, and a minute later he missed another great chance which didn’t prove costly.
However, points by James Ryan and Paddy O’Flaherty had scores level for the third time of the half at 4-11 to 3-14. A John Sheedy free from half-way gave Portroe the lead but Colm Fogarty levelled before Robert Byrne’s long-range effort had Port in front for the final time in the 51st minute.
A minute later David Fogarty scored Lorrha’s fifth goal and it broke Portroe’s resolve and they followed it up with a flurry of points from Colm Fogarty (3) and the hard-working Cian Hogan. Further points from David & Colm Fogarty (free) had Lorrha seven in front going into added time.
John Sheedy’ third goal from a 21-yard free in the 62nd minute gave Portroe some hope but it was not enough and Lorrha sealed the win with Colm Fogarty landing a free from halfway.
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Colm Fogarty (Lorrha).
Lorrha: Patrick Reddin (6); Graham Houlihan (6), Conor Hogan (6), Michael Dolan (7); Ciaran Haugh (7), Brian Hogan (0-1f, 7), David Sullivan (6); Daniel O’Donoghue (6), Niall McIntyre (7); David Fogarty (2-2, 8), Cian Hogan (0-1, 7), Eoin McIntyre (0-1, 7); Christopher Fogarty (0-2, 8), Patrick Maher (2-0, 9), Colm Fogarty (1-11, 0-8f) 9).
Sub: Alan O’Meara for N McIntyre (59 inj).
Portroe: Diarmuid Boyle (6); Michael Creamer (6), Michael Breen (6), Jack Maloney (6); Brian Keating (7), Justin Conroy (6), Robert Byrne (0-1, 7); Colm Gleeson (6), Conor O’Brien (7); A J Willis (8), James Ryan (0-1, 6), Mark Gennery (0-3, 8); Paddy Flaherty (0-2, 7), Kevin O’Halloran (1-3, 0-1 s-cut) 8), John Sheedy (3-6, 1-5f) 9).
Subs: Ian O’Donnell (6) for Gleeson (51), Cormac Keating (6) for Keating (51); Sam Madden (6) for O’Brien (58).
Referee: Michael Murphy (Toomevara).