Burgess withstand strong Newport rally

GAA: Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Burgess 3-13

Newport 1-17

Report: Liam Hogan in Dolla

Similar to their quarter final win over Silvermines the previous week, Burgess looked to be in the driving seat approaching the last quarter but yet had to withstand a late rally as Newport almost caught them as a brilliant last minute save by Ronan Tucker was needed for them to survive following this exciting North Tipperary Premier Intermediate hurling semi-final on Sunday.

With the help of a strong breeze, Burgess did most of their good work in the first half in a splendidly entertaining thirty minutes. Goals win games and Burgess certainly know how to score them as they proved in their win over Silvermines when they scored three.

They scored two in the first half with Bill O’Flaherty and Michael Ryan grabbing one each in the 11th & 13th minutes respectively which helped them take a 2-1 to 0-3 lead.

After Michael Ryan made it 2-4 to 0-4 in the eighteenth minute, Burgess lost the influential Donagh Maher to a shoulder injury two minutes later. Newport cut the lead back to five thanks to a Colin Floyd free, but Maher’s replacement Ciaran Grace picked off two good points which helped Burgess move 2-8 to 0-6 in front by the 29th minute.

By now, the Newport management had brought Conor O’Mahony back to the defence which helped steady the ship. Up front, the majority of the Newport scores came from Colin Floyd who scored six points (4 frees) in the first half but approaching the half hour mark the Newport midfield began to step up and after Johnny Mulqueen increased the Burgess lead to eight, up stepped midfielder Cian Flanagan with two in a row leaving a Stephen Murray free to make the half time score read Burgess 2-11 Newport 0-10

Newport returned for the second half satisfied they would receive the help of the stiff breeze but if anything the strength of it had dropped. Nonetheless, it took just two minutes for the influential Cian Flanagan to score again but they had to wait another six minutes before they added another point with the busy Oran Connors doubling his tally.

With both defences gaining the upper hand it was another five minutes before the umpires were in action again with Stephen Kirwan scoring a much valued point for Burgess. Newport responded with a Colin Floyd free, however, Newport’s efforts received a jolt a minute later when Johnny Mulqueen’s long clearance reached Bill O’Flaherty who faced won the high ball before offloading to Conor Cooney for the eighteen-year-old to find the back of the net from a tight angle.

Burgess now led by eight points once more and with valuable breathing space they had reason to think they had the game wrapped up.

Newport were having none of it as they introduced Sean O’Brien who was limped off in their quarter final win over Ballina after only five minutes. He was back with a heavily strapped leg and after goalkeeper Paul Hogan pointed a long range free in the 47th minute, up stepped O’Brien with a well-earned score a minute later.

A second Hogan long range free left his side five in arrears but seconds later, he had to come off his line to deny Conor Cooney.

With the game heading into the final ten minutes it looked as if this was Burgess’s day until Sean O’Brien struck a well-taken goal after he covered yards to meet a well-placed centre by Oran Connors and volleyed one-handed to the net.

Now with just two points between the teams, it was game on but Burgess remained defiant and in one of their sporadic attacks they found Bill O’Flaherty on the left wing before the big full forward scored a brilliant point from the touchline.

With a three point advantage and entering added time, Burgess continued to defend resiliently but Colin Floyd’s free narrowed the gap to two leaving the game in the balance.

Newport forced one last attack and won a free forty metres out. Colin Floyd centred and in a crowded goalmouth a Newport forward turned the ball towards the net, but Ronan Tucker batted clear to the sound of the final whistle.

Player of the Match: Bill O’Flaherty (Burgess)

Burgess: Ronan Tucker (7); Pat Woods (6), Kieran Ryan (7), Willie Ryan (6); Jack O’Flaherty (7), Johnny Mulqueen (0-2, 7), Keith Nealon (7); Danny Ryan (7), Daire Hogan (7); Michael Ryan (1-1, 7), Stephen Kirwan (0-2, 7), Stephen Murray (0-5, 4f, 1 65) 6); Eoin Hogan (7), Bill O’Flaherty (1-1, 8), Donagh Maher (7).

Subs: Kieran Grace (0-2, 7) for Maher (19 inj); Conor Cooney (1-0, 7) for Woods (33 inj); Sean Dunne (6) for M Ryan (38 inj); Michael Ryan for D Ryan (57).

Newport: Paul Hogan (0-2f, 7); Conor Hickey (6), Oisin O’Brien (6), Rob Houlihan (7); Odhran Floyd (7), Conor Floyd (7), Aidan Moloney (7); Cian Flanagan (0-3, 8), Peter O’Sullivan (0-1, 7); Conor O’Mahony (6), Oisin O’Brien (7), Kealan Floyd (6); Oran Connors (0-2, 7), Colin Floyd (0-6, 4f, 7), Jack Delahunty (0-2f, 6).

Subs: Andrew Hickey (6) for Delahunty (HT); Sean O’Brien (1-1, 8) for Quigley (47).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).