Newport held as Clonakenny snatch last-gasp leveller

GAA: FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate County Hurling Championship Group 3

Newport 1-16

Clonakenny 1-16

Report: James Hayden in Dolla

A last gasp John Joe Ryan goal ensured Clonakenny snatched a share of the spoils with Newport in what proved a thoroughly absorbing County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship clash on Friday evening.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, Newport looked to be cruising towards an opening round victory, but their challenge dramatically unravelled after a resilient Clonakenny side shot 1-4 without reply in the closing stages.

Up until the 55th minute mark, Tim Floyd’s charges had impressed in all sectors although the loss of the influential Pa Ryan with a 46th minute ankle injury impacted their challenge noticeably.

Newport had been cruising with four unanswered points from Nicky Ryan, Odhran Floyd and two from Conor O’Mahony in a ten-minute spell between the 44th & 55th minutes providing a sturdy platform for an apparent victory.

It all went pear-shaped quite quickly though as Clonakenny, who had emptied their bench in a bid to freshen up their attack, including introducing county senior panellist Cian O’Dwyer, who had carried a knock into the game, clawed their way back into contention.

The influential Bobby Bergin got the black & amber ball rolling with an excellent point before a subsequent long-range effort from Bergin cannoned off the upright and into the path of the inrushing Nicky Ryan whose goal-bound effort was well parried by Paul Hogan in the Newport goal with John Joe Ryan converted the resulting 65’.

Injury time points from John Joe Ryan (free) and Bobby Bergin brought the Mid side to within three, 0-16 to 1-16. With the game deep in time added on, Clonakenny went in search of a last gasp leveller and Paul Hogan was again called into action to save another Nicky Ryan effort but his netminding duties weren't over yet.

Clonakenny quickly fashioned another attack with Bobby Bergin linking up with Nicky Ryan who was fouled just on the edge of the ‘D’. Up stepped Cian O’Dwyer to hammer a low drive at a packed Newport defence. Paul Hogan managed to get a hurley to the shot, but John Joe Ryan was on hand to flick the rebound into the back of the net and send the Clonakenny following into raptures. Newport protested a square ball but following consultation with his umpires, referee Ciaran O’Donovan allowed the goal to stand.

With a diagonal breeze at their backs, Newport fashioned an early lead with points from Colin Floyd and Pa Ryan (2). John Joe Ryan had opened Clon’s account with a free before Ryan added another from play. Newport’s Cian Flanagan then popped up to double Newport’s early advantage with a well-struck effort, 0-4 to 0-2.

Despite having the assistance of a stiff gusting breeze, Newport allowed Clonakenny to come at them though for the majority of the opening half with Bobby Bergin and MJ Carroll firing over eye-catching points. Colin Floyd (free) and Oran Connors responded for Newport before a brace of points from John Joe Ryan and Nicky Ryan in the 22nd minute brought Clonakenny back on terms.

Newport’s side-line were urging their players to push up on Clonakenny at this stage. John Joe Ryan arrowed over a well-struck free to edge Clon’ back into the lead in the 25th minute before Newport hit a purple patch as the interval loomed. Conor O’Mahony set up Colin Floyd for a cracking 28th minute goal to rock Clonakenny back on their heels before two further points from Floyd, (1 65) and a sublime Pa Ryan effort catapulted Newport into a 1-10 to 0-8 going to the dressing room.

With the rain sheeting down, Newport continued in the same vein for the third quarter and despite two quick-fire Clonakenny points from frees after the resumption they still lead 1-13 to 0-11 at the 40-minute mark thanks to successive well-worked points by Peter O’Sullivan and Conor O’Mahony.

Clonakenny were at sixes and sevens at this stage as Newport dominated in most sectors. Further points from Odhran Floyd in the 51st and Conor O’Mahony in the 55th minutes saw Newport amass a supposedly insurmountable 1-16 to 0-12 lead. Clonakenny had other designs however!

Impressive for Newport were Odhran Floyd, Cian Flanagan, Peter O’Sullivan, Pa Ryan, Conor O’Mahony, Colin Floyd and Oran Connors while John Joe Ryan, Bobby Bergin, DeLacy Byrne, Michael John Carroll, Nicky Ryan, and Cian O’Dwyer caught the eye for Clonakenny.

Player of the Match: John Joe Ryan (Clonakenny)

Newport: Paul Hogan (7); Conor Hickey (6), Sean O’Brien (7), Oisin O’Brien (7); Odhran Floyd (0-2, 7), Conor Floyd (7), Aidan Moloney (7); Peter O’Sullivan (0-1, 8), Cian Flanagan (0-1, 8); Pa Ryan (0-3, 7), Conor O’Mahony (0-3, 8), Aaron O’Neill (7); Oran Connors (0-2,7), Colin Floyd (1-4 (0-3f, 0-1 65) 8), Kealan Floyd (7).

Subs: Andrew Hickey (7) for C Hickey (41); Mike Quigley (6) for Ryan (46 inj); Jack Delahunty (NR) for O’Neill (57).

Clonakenny: Stephen Russell (7); Alexei Harty (7), John Costigan (7), Donie Greed (7); Cain Russell (7), DeLacy Byrne (0-1f, 7), Diarmuid Ryan (7); Willie Ryan (7), Michael John Carroll (0-1, 7); John Joe Ryan (1-10 (0-8f, 0-1 65) 8), Conor Shanahan (7), Bobby Bergin (0-3,8); Matthew O’Sullivan (6), Peadar Byrne (6), Nicky Ryan (0-1, 7).

Subs: Cian O’Dwyer (7) for Byrne (41); Proinsias Matthews (6) for Greed (47); Paul Bergin (6) for Shanahan (47); Brian Mullally (NR) for Costigan (54).

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan (Burgess).