Mullinahone’s extra edge sends Lorrha down

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Relegation Final

CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 2-19

Lorrha 2-15

Report: Liam Hogan at Pairc Shilean, Templemore

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Mikey O’Shea (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone)

SCORERS – CJ Kickhams Mullinahone: Michael Dunne 0-10 (7 frees, 1 ’65); Mikey O’Shea 1-4; Sean Curran 0-3; Eoin O’Dwyer 1-0; Enda Keane, Sam Rowan 0-1 each.

Lorrha: Colm Fogarty 1-9 (1-0 pen, 0-5 frees, 0-2 ‘65s); Patrick Maher 1-0; Eoin McIntyre, Conor Kennedy 0-2 each; Alan O’Meara, Lee Hogan 0-1 each.

Thanks to a profitable period either side of half time, a hungrier CJ Kickhams Mullinahone team went on to win a well-contested County Senior Hurling Relegation final, condemning Lorrha to the premier intermediate grade for 2026 on a very grassy pitch in Templemore on Sunday.

In a repeat of the last meeting between the sides in the 2020 O Riain Cup final, it was a repeat victory for the South men who were first to the ball for the most part and very much direct as they never really looked to be in trouble once Eoin O’Dwyer scored their first goal in response to Colm Fogarty’s penalty goal in the 23rd minute, which had Lorrha ahead for the second and last time.

Right from the first whistle, one could sense what was to come, as the winners held a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after just three minutes with Sam Rowan, Enda Keane and Sean Curran (65) each on target.

Lorrha’s Alan O’Meara had scored the opener after 27 seconds and their next came in the fifth minute through Eoin McIntyre but Mullinahone continued on the front foot and were three in front after Sean Curran scored twice, the first from a free.

Up to this period, Lorrha were second best as the Mullinahone defence had the extra yard especially Conor Keane, Darragh Linnane and Conor Whelan at half back but things were about to change when Eoin McIntyre scored his second point.

Michael Dunne replied with a close range free but Lorrha were heartened by Conor Kennedy’s point as he got free of the close marking Colin Shelly.

Lorrha’s next attack earned them a penalty after Eoin McIntyre was fouled in transit after referee Kevin Jordan allowed the advantage to prolong when he could have called for a free instead. In any hand, Lorrha made best use as Colm Fogarty gave Brendan Kearney no chance. At 1-4 to 0-6 it was game on.

Or so we thought because Mullinahone were quick off the mark with the dangerous Mikey O’Shea levelling matters. We had hardly a chance to breathe when Mullinahone were on the attack again when Graham Horan bore down on goal before sending fellow corner forward Eoin O’Dwyer through for a goal.

Full of confidence, Mullinahone tagged on two more points through Dunne from a free followed by another O’Shea score before Colm Fogarty’s last free of the half left the scoreboard reading Mullinahone 1-9 Lorrha 1-5.

The opening fifteen minutes of the second half became a contest between Colm Fogarty and Michael Dunne with the Mullinahone man leading the race five points to four including two from play while Colm Fogarty pointed four placed balls. Was it a repeat of his second half display against Roscrea in the semi-final?

Now trailing by six, Lorrha pressed on to narrow the gap and sub Donnacha O’Meara forced Mullinahone keeper Brendan Kearney to save at the expense of a 65, which Fogarty converted.

Then the wheels came off as far as Lorrha were concerned when the ever dangerous Mikey O’Shea was at the end of a move involving Eoin O’Dwyer and Michael Dunne for the former to prize home a well-taken goal.

Points by Colm Fogarty (free) and Conor Kennedy from play had the deficit reduced to six as a score for score pattern began to emerge with O’Shea, Fogarty, Dunne (free) and another Fogarty free leaving Lorrha six in arrears with a minute remaining.

Then a minute into added time Lorrha received a lifeline when Patrick Maher scraped home a goal.

However, Mullinahone were quick to react with Mikey O’Shea forcing Michael Kennedy make a great save, one of many by the Lorrha keeper who played his best game to date this year. A 65 was the result which Dunne converted.

Lorrha needed a goal but had to settle for a late late point by the impressive Lee Hogan but it was not enough because any hopes of an equalising goal were quickly dashed when Michael Dunne sealed the day with his tenth point, third from play. Game over!

So Mullinahone hold on for one more year. They were the better team with Mikey O’Shea, Sean Curran, and Michael Dunne leading the attack. Sam Rowan and Martin Keogh plus the halfback line of Keane, Linnane and Whelan dominated the middle third of the field. The evergreen Paul Curran held his own in the full back line.

Lorrha must now play in the Premier Intermediate championship next year, a competition they won two years ago and there’s no reason they won’t make a quick return to Dan Breen fare?

For this game they were best served by Michael Kennedy, Lee Hogan, Ciaran Haugh, Michael Dolan, Eoin McIntyre and Colm Fogarty.

TEAMS – CJ Kickhams Mullinahone: Brendan Kearney (7); Daire O’Brien (7), Paul Curran (7), Colin Shelly (7); Enda Keane (7), Darragh Linnane (7), Conor Whelan (7); Martin Keogh (7), Sam Rowan (7); Michael Dunne (8), Sean Curran (8), Alan Curran (6); Graham Horan (6), Mikey O’Shea (8), Eoin O’Dwyer (6).

Subs: John O’Grady for Shelly (49- 52 blood); Cillian Doreen (6) for Horan (53); Matthew Direen (6) for Keane (60).

Lorrha: Michael Kennedy (8); Lee Hogan (8), Conor Hogan (6), Tom Duggan (7); Ciaran Haugh (7), Michael Dolan (7), Brendan Fogarty (6); Niall McIntyre (6), Alan O’Meara (6); Eoin McIntyre (7), Colm Fogarty (8); Cian Hogan (6); Christopher Fogarty (6), Patrick Maher (6), Conor Kennedy (6).

Subs: Donnacha O’Meara for Dolan (12-15 blood); Donnacha O’Meara (6) for N McIntyre (46); James Guinan (6) for B Fogarty (48); David Fogarty (6) for A O’Meara (57).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).