Gortnahoe re-enforce title credentials

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 2

Gortnahoe/Glengoole 3-23

Thurles Sarsfields 1-18

Report: Michael Dundon in Templetuohy

Photos: Diarmuid Brennan/SportsFocus

Gortnahoe-Glengoole sights are firmly on the County Premier Intermediate Hurling title following another impressive outing when disposing of the challenge of Thurles Sarsfields on Sunday.

Their second win has them topping the group with qualification for the knockout stages already ensured through their Mid championship success.

When these sides met in the Mid championship last month, it took a late surge from Gortnahoe to get them over the line but there was no such anxiety this time as they raced clear from the start against a Sarsfields side which has since lost several key players to the senior squad.

The winners were 0-8 to 0-3 ahead after thirteen minutes when centre-back Brian Maher raced through for a smashing goal. This was followed almost immediately by another from Darragh Maher, and by the 20th minute Gortnahoe were leading 2-10 to 0-4.

Sarsfields were in deep trouble, struggling in too many quarters, and while they improved towards the break, they were still 2-13 to 0-9 behind at half-time and not really threatening to make up the leeway, Jack Lanigan’s points from frees their main source of scores, with Cillian Minogue and Rory Purcell each hitting a brace of points.

Briefly in the second half Sarsfields rallied. After Jack Lanigan had twice pointed, Aidan Stakelum netted and Lanigan again had a white flag to bring Sarsfields within four points (2-15 to 1-14) coming up to the 40th minute.

Gortnahoe were alive to the danger and over the next fifteen minutes outpointed their rivals 0-7 to 0-2 for a nine point lead with time running out. On the hour mark Darragh Maher shot their third goal to put the game safely to bed.

Gortnahoe/Glengoole have been knocking on the door in this grade for a few years now but this year they appear to be operating on a higher level than previously. Their biggest challenge now is to maintain this high level of performance as the knock-out stages of the championship approach.

As the scoreline indicates they have huge potential in attack and have run up big scores in all their games, but their defence is also more than capable and also has an important attacking potential as indicated by Fionn Cleary’s three points from play and Brian Maher’s goal.

In Ronan Teehan, Keane Hayes, and Darragh Maher, they have forwards who would be comfortable in the higher grade, Hayes’ free-taking a huge asset to the team. Jack Moore had a storming game at midfield while in defence Martin Barnaville was another to turn in an eye-catching performance.

Thurles Sarsfields will be playing for a quarter-final spot when they meet Moyne-Templetuohy in round 3. It is a big game for both clubs with Moyne, without a win, fighting to avoid being in the relegation play-offs, a plight that could well be Sarsfields lot if they lose.

James Armstrong and Jack Derby offered most in a defence under a lot of pressure while Daniel Rossiter and Michael Purcell worked hard outfield. Michael O’Brien was the main threat in attack though Mossie McCormack and Aidan Stakelum when introduced also worked hard.

Player of the Match: Darragh Maher (Gortnahoe/Glengoole)

Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Timmy Dunne (6); Philly Purcell (6), Davy Nolan (6), Martin Barnaville (7); Karl Campion (6), Brian Maher (1-0, 8), Fionn Cleary (0-3, 8); Jack Moore (0-3, 8), Conor Gleeson (6); Adrian Maher (0-2, 7), Ronan Teehan (0-3, 8), Aidan Guilfoyle (6); Damien Corbett (0-1, 6), Darragh Maher (2-2, 8), Keane Hayes (0-9, 3f, 8).

Subs: Billy Hogan (NR) for A Maher (56); Davy Lanigan (NR) for Barnaville (57); Liam Hayes (NR) for Guilfoyle (59).

Thurles Sarsfields: Kevin Bracken (6); Seosamh Ryan (6), Jack O’Mara (6), Kieran Moloney (5); Aidan Ryan (0-1, 6), James Armstrong (7), Jack Derby (7); Daniel Rossiter (0-1, 7), Michael Purcell (7); Rory Purcell (0-2, 6), Conor Lanigan (6), Mossie McCormack (7); Michael O’Brien (0-1, 7), Jack Lanigan (0-11, 9f, 7), Cillian Minogue (0-2, 6).

Subs: Paul Noonan (6) for Moloney (21); Aidan Stakelum (1-0, 7) for Minogue (HT); David Corbett (6) for C Lanigan (HT), Michael Russell (NR) for J Lanigan (55).

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).