Ryan stars as Boherlahan edge wasteful Annacarty

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

Boherlahan-Dualla 1-22

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill 2-17

Report: John O’Shea at the Dillon Quirke Grounds, Clonoulty

Boherlahan-Dualla booked their place in the quarter finals of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship as winners of group 2 after overcoming Eire Óg Annacarty/Donohill by two points on Saturday evening.

Tossy Ryan got the scoreboard moving for Boherlahan inside the first minute, when he slotted over a placed ball. Conor O’Brien brought the sides level, having won the puck-out, when he hit the target. A subsequent Eire Og attack finished with a 65, which Daragh Kelly converted, before Tossy Ryan tied the game with a point from play.

By this stage both sides were quickly up to the pitch of the game and this was beginning to tell on the pattern of play. Aidan Griffin and Paudie Bradshaw eased Eire Og back in front but these scores were cancelled by Brian Og O’Dwyer and a wonder point by Tossy Ryan. The game intensified and Daragh Kelly pointed following a turnover, only for Ryan to bring the sides level with his fourth point.

Such was the play, that neither team could get a foothold, with the game moving from end to end. Boherlahan had eased ahead on 23rd minute when Tossy Ryan put over his sixth minor, but a long ball from Dinny Crosse was broken down by Aidan Griffin for Daragh Kelly to latch on for the opening goal. Two further points from Paudie Bradshaw and Dinny Crosse had the West champions four to the good.

Back again came the Mid men with Tossy Ryan hitting three on the bounce from placed balls in a three-minute spell. Eire Og finished the half with minors from Daragh Kelly and Conor O’Brien to lead by three, 1-12 to 0-12.

After the restart, Dinny Crosse stretched the lead out to four, but again Boherlahan came back with a brace from Ryan and big score from Dylan Fogarty after winning the puck-out. Aidan Griffin, from a free, and Euan Ryan from play traded points before Dinny Crosse finished off a good Eire Og move out of defence to go two up as the three quarter mark approached.

Tossy Ryan hit the dozen from a placed ball but from the puck-out Conor O’Brien won possession and raced through the Boherlahan defence before crashing past Darragh Lacey for Eire Og’s second goal. This gave them a four-point advantage with fifteen minutes remaining.

At this stage no one could visualise what was to come. Tossy Ryan slotted over a 65 and a free in succession. Eire Og were off target both from play and placed balls. Ryan brought the Mid side within one point with nine minutes remaining before Eire Og again were off target as their wides total built up.

Six minutes from time, Boherlahan were awarded a penalty when a low ball into the Eire Og defence wasn’t mopped up, and Tossy Ryan gave Mooney no chance from the spot to go two up.

Ryne Bargary, with his first touch after being introduced, split the posts as the Mid side sensed victory. Again, Eire Og were off target, in an effort to close the gap. Seanie Ryan took over the free taking duties and pulled one back in the first minute of added time.

When he won the puck-out and again split the posts, just one point separated the sides but Tossy Ryan had the final say in this intriguing game, slotting over his sixteenth point, following an interchange with Brian Óg O’Dwyer.

Boherlahan-Dualla will be happy with this victory, which through to the quarter finals with a game to spare while Eire Og Annacarty will rue their missed chances, on a day where they had three different free-takers.

Player of the Match: Tossy Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla).

Boherlahan-Dualla: Darragh Lacey (6); John Ryan (6), Tomás Bourke (6), Brian Carrig (6); Dylan Fogarty (0-1, 7), Ger O’Dwyer (7), Martin Paul O’Dwyer (7), Euan Ryan (0-1, 7), Charlie Ryan (0-1, 7), Brian Óg O’Dwyer (0-1, 7), Cathal Darcy (6), Patrick Gahan (6), Tossy Ryan (1-16, 1-0 pen, 0-12f, 0-1 ’65) 10), Seamus Leahy (7), Mark Downey (0-1, 6).

Subs: Niall O’Dwyer (6) for Carrig (27 inj); James Kirby (6) for Downey (47), Ryne Bargary (0-1, 7) for Leahy (57), Eoin Moloughney (NR) for E Ryan (59).

Eire Óg Annacarty/Donohill: Daragh Mooney (7); Darragh O’Brien (7), David Fox (7), Mixie Bradshaw (6); Brian Fox (7), Tom Fox (7), Daniel Kelly (7); Connie Bradshaw (6), Paudie Bradshaw (0-2, 7), Donal O’Dwyer (0-2, 7), Dinny Crosse (0-3, 8), Seanie Ryan (0-2, 1f, 6), Aidan Griffin (0-2, 1f, 6), Daragh Kelly (1-4, 0-2f, 0-1 ’65, 8), Conor O’Brien (1-2, 8).

Subs: Kevin Fox for C O’Brien (46-49 blood), Kevin Fox (NR) for Crosse (59).

Referee: Shane O’Neill (St. Mary’s).