Burgess find their best to stay up and send Clonakenny down

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Relegation Final

Burgess 2-25

Clonakenny 3-14

Report: Liam Hogan at MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Donagh Maher (Burgess)

SCORERS – Burgess: David Nealon 0-8 (6 frees); Kieran Grace 1-2; Stephen Kirwan 0-4; Joe O’Dwyer 1-1; Eoin Grace 0-3; Donagh Maher, Michael Ryan, Stephen Murray (1 free) 0-2 each; Keith Nealon 0-1.

Clonakenny: Cian O’Dwyer 3-4 (0-4 frees); John Joe Ryan 0-4; Nicky Ryan 0-3; Diarmuid Ryan 0-2; Bobby Bergin 0-1.

If only they hurled like this in the championship proper. That’s what most Burgess supporters might be saying after witnessing their boys cruise to victory over Clonakenny in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Relegation final on Saturday.

Leading from start to finish, Burgess left no doubt as to what their ambitions were as they steam-rolled Clonakenny aside.

At the start of this year any knowledgeable hurling follower would not have expected to see Burgess in a relegation battle. But that’s where they ended up, but the future looks good thanks to the influx of young players like Daire Hogan, Eoin Grace, Kieran Grace, David Nealon, and Joe O’Dwyer.

Yet it was the influence of the older statesmen which made a huge impact such as Ronan Tucker who excelled in goal along with Johnny Mulqueen, Jack O’Flaherty, Stephen Kirwan and the evergreen Donagh Maher. Kirwan scored four points in the first half but it was Maher who produced a man of the match performance at centre back, defending well and covering acres of ground when required while scoring two points for good measure.

Clonakenny didn’t disappoint and had good return from the brilliant Diarmuid Ryan in defence. Michael John Carroll, John Joe Ryan, Nicky Ryan, Bobby Bergin and Peadar Byrne did well as Cian O’Dwyer excelled with 3-4, his goals all coming from play.

Burgess set the pace from the start and were 0-6 to 0-1 in front after eight minutes with two well-taken scores each from David Nealon and Stephen Kirwan along with Eoin Grace and Michael Ryan.

It was double scores after twenty minutes as Clonakenny had settled, the four points from Diarmuid Ryan (2) plus one each from John Joe Ryan and Nicky Ryan.

However, Burgess were not hanging around and went 0-12 to 0-5 in front after Donagh Maher scored before two Nealon frees. Clonakenny might have been in deeper trouble but for goalkeeper Willie Costigan denying Stephen Kirwan from close range.

It was 0-13 to 0-7 at half time but Clonakenny struck back when Cian O’Dwyer had the net shaking 45 seconds into second half. David Nealon replied with a free, quickly followed by a Donagh Maher score from the wing.

It was point for point as Cian O’Dwyer’s score from a close range free was matched by one from Michael Ryan who completed a great run before John Joe Ryan and Kieran Grace traded scores. Nealon (free) and John Joe Ryan continued the trend, as did Nicky Ryan and Keith Nealon before Eoin Grace made it 0-20 to 1-11 after 49 minutes.

Then came the decisive score when Kieran Grace availed of loose marking before he found the Clonakenny net.

Cian O’Dwyer’s pointed free seemed as mere window dressing as Burgess, helped by the fresh legs of Stephen Murray, Eoin Hogan, Conor Grace, Tony Dunne, and Joe O’Dwyer gave them fresh impetus as scored 1-4 without reply, beginning with a Murray free quickly followed by a well-taken Joe O’Dwyer goal in 55th minute. There was more and seconds later as Eoin Grace and Joe O’Dwyer increased the Burgess lead.

Ronan Tucker had produced a string of great saves as Cian O’Dwyer single-handily took on the Burgess defence from the edge of the square as he scored his second goal in the 58th minute.

Kieran Grace, Bobby Bergin, and Stephen Murray exchanged points but Clonakenny were not finished yet as Cian O’Dwyer completed his hat-trick with Nicky Ryan completing the scoring with a point but it was too little too late for the Mid Tipp side who drop to the intermediate grade for 2026 while Burgess have renewed hope that this year was just a blip.

TEAMS - Burgess: Ronan Tucker (7); Brian Quinn (7), Johnny Mulqueen (7), Aidan O’Dwyer (7); Daire Hogan (8), Donagh Maher (8), Jack O’Flaherty (7); Michael Ryan (7), Kieran Ryan (7); Keith Nealon (7), Eoin Grace (8), Sean Dunne (6); David Nealon (7), Stephen Kirwan (8), Kieran Grace (8).

Subs: Stephen Murray (6) for D Nealon (44); Conor Grace (6) for O’Flaherty (51); Joe O’Dwyer (7) for Dunne (51); Tony Dunne (6) for M Ryan (56); Eoin Hogan (6) for E Grace (56).

Clonakenny: Willie Costigan (7); Brian Mulhall (6), John Costigan (6), Alexei Harty (6); Cain Russell (6), Diarmuid Ryan (8), Delacy Byrne (6); Conor Nesbitt (6), Michael John Carroll (7); John Joe Ryan (8), Peadar Byrne (6), Bobby Bergin (7); Nicky Ryan (7), Cian O’Dwyer (8), Paul Bergin.

Subs: Sean Stapleton (6) for Mulhall (HT); Prionsias Matthew (6) for P Bergin (43); John O’Meara (6) for Carroll (53).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).