Moran to the fore as Rovers beat Portroe
GAA: Kelly’s of Fantane North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Shannon Rovers 1-18
Portroe 0-15
Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers)
SCORERS – Shannon Rovers: Conal Moran 0-9 (4 frees); Eamonn Hough 0-4; Michael Tierney 1-1; Marcus Esmonde 0-2; Austin Tierney, Andy Byrne 0-1 each.
Portroe: John Sheedy 0-9 (8 frees, 1 ’65); Sam Madden 0-3; Michael Creamer 0-2; Conor O’Brien, James Ryan 0-1 each.
Shannon Rovers progressed to the North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship decider following a deserved six-point semi-final victory over Portroe on Sunday afternoon.
Playing each other in the championship for just the fifth occasion over a forty-year time span, Shannon Rovers proved that little bit too strong for a Port’ outfit beset with niggles and injuries in the run-up to this much anticipated semi-final clash.
Portroe went into the tie hoping to atone for last year’s county championship loss to the Shannonsiders but centre back Robert Byrne carried a shoulder injury into the game whilst Colm Gleeson was unable to start.
Shannon Rovers reported a clean bill of health, and from the get-go took the game to John Sheedy’s charges. Sam Madden drew first blood for Port’ inside three minutes before Michael Tierney responded with a cracking Rovers goal following impressive approach play from Eamonn Hough and Andy Byrne.
The men in red and white went on to dominate the opening quarter with Conal Moran causing untold problems for Port. Rovers’ hit three points without reply with Austin Tierney on target from long-range before Moran added a brace to fire his side 1-3 to 0-1 clear after just seven minutes.
Portroe’s ace free-taker John Sheedy edged his side back to within striking distance with back-to-back frees before Hough and Madden traded points midway through the half.
Hough added a second point on eighteen minutes after an incisive John O’Meara delivery but despite Shannon Rovers finding their scores easier Portroe were in no mood to capitulate and held a firm grip of Rover’s coat tails.
John Sheedy and Conal Moran exchanged frees on the twenty minute mark before Port’ introduced James Ryan into their struggling attack. Two points on the bounce from Conor O’Brien and John Sheedy (free) brought Port’ to within three points by the 23rd minute but Conal Moran replied with two sublimely struck efforts from play to ensure Rovers’ kept Portroe at bay.
James Ryan narrowed the gap with a fine point as the interval approached before Vincent Mulvihill denied Sam Madden from close-range after Port’ went in search of a much-needed goal on the cusp of half-time. John Sheedy duly dispatched the resulting 65’ to ensure Port’ remained well within striking distance.
Portroe trailed 1-9 to 0-9 at the break but seven opening half wides from the Rovers meant they should have really led by more. With the diagonal breeze now in their favour, John Tierney’s charges set about building upon their interval lead with early points from the impressive Eamonn Hough and Michael Tierney edging the Rovers five clear.
Portroe responded with three unanswered points thanks to efforts from Michael Creamer, John Sheedy (free) and another fine effort from Creamer in the 36th minute. Sheedy narrowed the gap to a solitary point with a close-range free but it was the closest Port’ were to get to a stronger Rovers side.
A trio of points from Eamonn Hough, Conal Moran and Marcus Esmonde in a two-minute spell midway through the half served to thwart Portroe’s revival before a 51st minute Conal Moran free put five between the sides once more.
Portroe mustered as much resistance as possible in the closing stages, but Shannon Rovers kept the scoreboard ticking over with midfielder Esmonde finding the range once again on 55 minutes, before Conal Moran arrowed over a booming effort right on the stroke of full-time to copper-fasten a thoroughly deserved win for the Rovers and in doing so set up a mouth-watering North final clash with next-door neighbours Borrisokane.
TEAMS - Shannon Rovers: Vincent Mulvihill (7), Oisin McMahon (7), Alan Hannigan (7), Jack O’Sullivan (7); George Hannigan (7), Conor Ryan (7), Matt Tierney (Capt 7); Marcus Esmonde (7), Cathal Hogan (7); John O’Meara (7), Conal Moran (8), Michael Tierney (7); Austin Tierney (7), Eamonn Hough (8), Andy Byrne (7).
Sub: Sean Hough (6) for Byrne (53).
Portroe: Kevin O’Halloran (7), Cian Hogan (6), Michael Breen (7), William Flood (7); Brian Keating (Capt, 7), Robert Byrne (7), Adrian O’Halloran (7); Jack O’Callaghan (6), Michael Creamer (7); Sam Madden (7), John Sheedy (7), Conor O’Brien (7); James Ferris (6), Diarmuid Boyle (7), Oisin O’Connor (6).
Subs: James Ryan (7) for Hogan (21); Anthony Burke (NR) for Ferris (50); Mark Gennery (6) for Madden (55); Colm Gleeson (6) for Burke (57 inj).
Referee: Philip Kelly (Ballinahinch).