Lorrha Rovers claim North U15 'B' title
GAA: North Tipperary Coiste na nOg Under 15 'B' Hurling Final
Lorrha Rovers Gaels 1-11
Borrisokane 0-3
Report: Liam Hogan in Roscrea
Lorrha/Shannon Rovers Gaels (LRG) captured their first ever North Tipperary Under 15 ‘B’ Hurling title when they were much too good for Borrisokane in a game that was played in terribly wet conditions on Saturday morning.
Pools of water in every sector of the pitch made conditions very difficult but thirty young players -plus substitutes - defied the odds to produce a skilful and sporting game.
There was little between the teams in the opening half until LRG began to pull away thanks to the accuracy of Rory Fox from frees. Scoring from placed balls was a real test but Fox passed with flying colours. Elsewhere the Lorrha Rovers midfield pairing of Aaron McDonagh and Killian Fitzgerald were the key to the win with both covering every blade of grass with Fitzgerald the standout player.
The combination side were strong in most sectors the full backline of Lee Mannion, Michael Gorman and Jack Hourigan giving very little away as did the half backline of John Coonan, Adam Guest, Sam Madden. Goalkeeper Ciaran Kennedy had a comfortable day with the Rovers custodian had one or two difficult moments, but he dealt with them very well.
While Rory Fox deserved the plaudits on his accuracy from free-taking there was great support by Alan Bourke who chipped in with three points from play.
Up against them was a resolute Borrisokane defence who were under pressure but coped well with Donal Cleary and Joe Murphy catching the eye with goalkeeper Kieran Gleeson producing many fine saves. Jack Slevin had his moments at midfield with Jack Quinn a brilliant substitute to bring into the action. Marcus Slevin never gave up at centre forward.
It was his opening point after twenty six seconds that got the scoring underway. Rory Fox levelled with a free four minutes later before Alan Bourke gave Lorrha Rovers the lead. Both teams blotted out each other in terms of possession and Borris were full value when they levelled with a Mark Slevin free in the 11th minute, but they fell in arrears a minute later when Rory Fox pointed.
From there to half time, it was all LRG in terms of scores with Fox scoring adding four unanswered points, the seventh coming from play to give Lorrha Rovers a 0-7 to 0-2 half time lead.
The leaders had the use of the wind and the very heavy rain in the second half and another Fox free had the margin out to six after nine minutes. Two minutes later, Marcus Slevin had the deficit reduced with his third free.
By then the weather conditions had become considerably worse as the rain, if anything, was getting heavier. Nonetheless the teams continued to give it everything, but we had to wait until the 53rd minute before the next score arrived when Killian Fitzgerald’s 65 dropped into the net despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Kieran Gleeson. The wet conditions were no help.
That goal put the result to bed and Lorrha Rovers Gaels continued to press on with Rory Foxe’s long range free aided by two well-taken scores by Alan Bourke putting the icing on the cake. It was the Combo’s first title since winning the North Under 16 ‘B’ in 2015.
Lorrha/Shannon Rovers Gaels progress to next Sunday’s County semi-final against Gortnahoe/Glengoole.
Player of the Match: Killian Fitzgerald (Lorrha/Shannon Rovers Gaels)
Lorrha/Shannon Rovers Gaels: Ciaran Kennedy (SR); Lee Mannion (L), Michael Gorman (SR), Jack Hourigan (SR); Sam Madden (L), John Coonan (SR), Adam Guest (K); Aaron McDonagh (L), Killian Fitzgerald (L, 1-0 65); Jack Tierney (SR), Rory Fox (SR, 0-8, 7f), Michael O’Donoghue (L); Paddy Holohan (SR), Darragh Duffy (L), Alan Bourke (SR 0-3).
Subs: Tadgh Fogarty (L) for Tierney (42); Daithi Gantley (L) for O’Donoghue (55); Michael O’Meara (L) for Mannion (58); David Kennedy (L) for Duffy (58); Jamie Hogan for Guest (58).
Borrisokane: Kieran Gleeson; Fionn Brennan, Donal Cleary, Odhran Blake; David Flannery, Joseph Murphy (capt), Luke Morgan; Savva Rashkevich, Jack Slevin; Adam Molloy, Mark Slevin (0-3f), Nathan Gavin; Darragh O’Brien, Ryan Donnelly, Eanna Larkin.
Subs: John Quinn for Molloy (41); Hugo Massey for Brennan (42 inj); Eoin Gohery for Gavin (45); Darragh Hogan for Larkin (58).
Referee: Alan Graham (Roscrea).