Silvermines brought down to earth by impressive Treacys

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1

Sean Treacys 2-24

Silvermines 3-19

Report: Eanna Mackey at Lacken Park, Newport

Sean Treacy's held off a late fightback from Silvermines to claim a hard-earned victory in the opening round of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday.

The West outfit appeared to be cruising for much of the contest after an explosive opening quarter, with Patrick Carey flawless from placed balls throughout, while Patrick Dawson produced an outstanding display in midfield, landing three superb scores from sideline cuts.

However, inspired by the brilliance of Tipperary star Jason Forde, who finished with an impressive 1-11, the North champions mounted a stirring late comeback to set up a grandstand finale before the Treacy's held their nerve to secure the opening-round points.

Sean Treacy's could scarcely have asked for a better start, storming into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead inside four minutes. James Butler fired the opening goal, while Cillian Kennedy and Dawson added points to leave Silvermines reeling. Patrick Leamy eventually opened their account, but Treacy's continued to dominate.

Patrick Deegan struck their second goal during another unanswered burst of 1-3, extending the advantage to 2-6 to 0-1 after just ten minutes.

Carey and Leamy exchanged frees before Forde began to drag Silvermines back into the contest with three successive points. Dawson responded from a free to leave it 2-8 to 0-5, but Forde's superb sideline cut was quickly followed by a poacher's goal from Seán Nolan to reduce the deficit to five mid-way through the half.

Sean Treacy's, however, responded impressively. Five unanswered points from Dawson, Carey, Colm Kennedy and Deegan restored daylight between the sides as the West men looked firmly in control once again.

Yet Silvermines refused to go away. They finished the half strongly with six unanswered points as Leamy, Andy Hayden and Conor McKelvey all found the target before Forde took centre stage once more, landing three superb scores, including an audacious no-look effort from deep inside his own half, to leave the scoreboard reading 2-13 to 1-12 at the interval.

Carey steadied the Kilcommon men after the restart, converting four frees to halt the momentum as McKelvey, Forde, and Leamy kept Silvermines within touching distance. Two further Carey frees, alongside a point from Colm Kennedy, stretched the lead to 2-21 to 1-15 entering the closing stages before the ‘Mines were handed fresh hope.

Forde cleverly slipped a close-range free into the path of McKelvey, who rifled his finish to the net to cut the deficit to six. Forde added another free moments later to reduce the gap further, and suddenly the game was back in the balance.

Patrick Dawson responded in trademark fashion with his third excellent sideline of the afternoon before Carey and Forde exchanged frees.

Silvermines almost struck another crucial goal when Conor McKelvey looked destined for the net, only for Shane Stapleton to produce a magnificent save.

Deep into stoppage time, Jason Forde once again produced a moment of magic, drilling a close-range free into the roof of the net after bouncing the sliotar off the turf to leave just two points between the sides and set up a dramatic finish.

James Butler responded immediately with a vital point for Sean Treacy's, to push them three ahead before Forde landed one final free from a difficult angle to reduce the margin once more.

Silvermines threw everything forward in search of a dramatic late goal, but Sean Treacy's defended resolutely through the closing moments to hold on for a deserved victory and an important opening two points.

Player of the Match: Patrick Carey (Sean Treacys)

Sean Treacys: Shane Stapleton (8); Paul Nolan (Capt 7), Sean Hickey (7), Brian Nolan (7); Andy O’Brien (7), Sean Ryan (7), Colm Kennedy (6); Brian Carey (6), Patrick Deegan (1-1, 8), Patrick Dawson (0-5, 3 s-cuts, 9), Michael Feehan (0-1, 8), Colm Ryan (6), Cillian Kennedy (0-3, 8), Patrick Carey (0-11, 8f, 9), James Butler (1-2, 9).

Sub: Larry Collins (6) for Cillian Kennedy (42).

Silvermines: David Shanahan (6); Sean McGrath (6), Darragh Nolan (6), Darragh Treacy (6); Ronan Sherlock (6), Darragh McKelvey (7), Michael Corcoran (Capt 7); Patrick Leamy (0-4, 8), Cathal Treacy (0-1, 7), Andy Hayden (0-1, 7), Conor McKelvey (1-2, 8), Jason Forde (1-11, 0-8f, 0-2 s-cuts) 9); Eoin Grace (6), Danny Quinn (1-0, 8), Sean Nolan (6).

Subs: Brian Seymour (6) for Hayden (57), Eddie Ryan (NR) for Leamy (60).

Referee: John Butler (Upperchurch/Drombane).