Newport continue to impress in seeing off neighbours

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling – Seamus O Riain Cup Group 3

 

 

Newport 2-15

Seán Treacy’s 1-14

 

Report: Thomas Conway in Dolla

 

Newport’s quest to lift the Séamus Ó Riain Cup continued to pick up steam last Sunday evening as Tom Moylan’s side overcame local rivals Seán Treacy’s to record a third successive win and set-up a last-eight clash with divisional counterparts Silvermines.

Gritty and unglamorous as this game was, the North side delivered a performance which ticked all the necessary boxes, propelling them to the quarter-finals of this year’s competition.

Viewed by some as a potential dark horse in the competition just a month ago, impressive performances over the past four weeks mean that they now emerge from Group 3 as definite contenders in the hunt for the Ó Riain Cup.

Seán Treacy’s on the other hand, now face an uphill battle to retain their Ó Riain Cup status – awaiting them is a relegation semi-final against St. Mary’s Clonmel, a side whose campaign seemed to fall asunder after a promising first-round victory over Ballina.

With Treacy’s leading 0-6 to 0-4 by the time the first water break arrived, this game could have evolved in an entirely different direction, but the impact of two Newport goals just prior to half-time turned the game on its head, delivering Treacy’s a cruel blow both psychologically and on the scoreboard.

The presence of Seán O’Brien and Conor Floyd around the centre of the field was telling throughout, with both players acting as the spring-board for many of Newport’s attacking moves. Still, the north side failed to capitalise on a variety of clear-cut chances, demonstrating obvious hurling ability throughout the opening thirty minutes but still struggling to cope with their opponents’ physicality.

To say Newport were the superior outfit during that first-half would be unjust to Seán Treacy’s, who brought a steely physical dimension to the play while also looking tactically astute. Their performance was reliant on the free-taking abilities of full-forward Patrick Carey, whose consistency was vital to the Treacy’s game-plan – which saw them exert pressure on Newport, turnover the ball and eventually generate a free.

Having sent four past Mullinahone a fortnight previously, Newport’s penchant for goals was well-established entering last Sunday’s game, and had they managed to convert their chances, they could have notched up another four prior to half-time. The opportunities seem to emerge out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly, until eventually, just minutes before the half-time interval, their efforts were rewarded. Two goals in quick succession from Seán O’Brien and Colin Floyd changed the entire dynamic, swinging the game in Newport’s favour and crushing the considerable momentum with Treacy’s had built up over the course of the first-half.

Leading 2-7 to 0-6 at the break, the seven point cushion allowed Newport to play with greater confidence throughout the second-half, firmly taking control of the game and commanding play from the half-back line, with Cian Flanagan, O’Brien and Andrew Hickey all influential.

Colin Floyd’s end tally of 1-2 was testament to the full-forward’s work-rate, on a day when the Seán Treacy’s defence seemed initially to be getting the upper-hand, but never really regained control following Newport’s two goals.

Now facing the prospect of an opportunistic Silvermines side which will be brimming with confidence and eager to knock out a competition favourite, Tom Moylan’s troops will have to translate their Group 3 form to the unforgiving world of the knock-out stages – never as straightforward a task as it seems.

 

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: Seán O’Brien (Newport)

Newport: Paul Hogan (7), Rob Houlihan (7), Odhran Floyd (7), Conor Hickey (7), Cian Flanagan (8), Seán O’Brien (1-2, 9), Andrew Hickey (7), Peter O’Sullivan (7), Conor Floyd (0-2, 8), Martin Carey (0-1, 7), Aaron O’Neill (7), Darragh Carroll (0-7f, 7), Daniel Carew (6), Colin Floyd (1-2, 8), Pa Ryan (7).

Subs: Jack Delahunty (7) for Carew (HT); Eoin Shinnors (0-1, 7) for Carey (HT); Mike Flannery (7) for Hogan (50 inj).

Seán Treacy’s: Shane Stapleton (7), Donnacha O’Brien (6), Michael Feehan (7), Emmet Ryan (6), Andy O’Brien (7), Seán Hickey (7), Tom Hickey (6), Seánie Ryan (7), Patrick Deegan (6), Matt Feehan (6), Jody Ryan (7), Brian Carey (7), Paul Nolan (7), Patrick Carey (0-14f, 7), Darragh Kennedy (1-0, 7).

Subs: Philip Deegan (6) for T Hickey; Donnacha O’Brien (7) for Matt Feehan (11 inj); Christy Egan (6) for B Carey (15 inj); Tom Hickey for C Egan (55).

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels).