Lorrha edge Moneygall to book quarter final berth

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 3

Lorrha 1-21

Moneygall 1-16

Report: Liam Hogan at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

Lorrha got the better of Moneygall to secure a precious two points to secure top spot in group 3 of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship in a well contested game on Sunday afternoon.

In the balance up to the 54th minute, Lorrha timed their victory march by scoring 1-2 without reply to secure the five point win and leaves the Lower Ormond men on full points after two games with a place in the knockout stages in the bag with their final game against Templederry now a dead-rubber.

Moneygall, on the other hand, must defeat Burgess in their remaining game to make the knockout stages and having a fully fit panel continues to be a problem this season.

Mark Fanning was an absentee again and minutes before half time they lost captain Joe Fogarty to a calf injury. Brendan Toohey, Jack Kirwan, Roddy Teehan and Andy Hoolan did most for the cause as did Aodhan Ryan, Tadgh Whyte and Sean Kelly.

Lorrha had their absentees too with both Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher and Michael Dolan unavailable through injury. James Guinan slotted in at centre back and his wing men Oisin Guinan and Killian Fitzgerald did well in front of the returning Tom Duggan, Denis O’Meara, under the stewardship of the evergreen Ciaran Haugh.

That base provided the platform for the midfield and attacking sectors where six of the front eight scored with Eoin McIntyre and Donnacha O’Meara impressing most.

Lorrha started on the back foot as Moneygall, playing against the breeze, took a 0-4 to 0-1 lead inside the five minutes with Adam Hogan, Sean Kenneally (2), and Bob Kenny on song.

However, the next fifteen minutes were a different matter as Lorrha began to dominate, helped by Brian Hogan denying county colleague Sean Kenneally. His booming puckouts were another factor and, as a result, Lorrha outscored Moneygall 0-8 to 0-2 with Colm Fogarty’s four points from placed balls added to those from the midfield pairing of David Sullivan and Niall McIntyre, while the very busy Eoin McIntyre added two more as he caused consternation every time he approached the opposition goal.

The final ten minutes saw Moneygall to recover as Bob Kenny, Tadgh Whyte, and Eoghan Doughan scored excellent points to see matters level at half time at 0-9 each.

The second half was a mere nine seconds old when Niall McIntyre had Lorrha in front with a point.

Barely ninety seconds later, a close range free by Eoin Doughan caught the Lorrha goal-line by surprise when his effort finished up in the back of the net. He increased the lead with another free as another heavy shower of threatened to ruin the day. It didn’t last very long.

The tempo increased as a one-two involving Ciaran Haugh and Niall McIntyre allowed the former score from outfield.

Moneygall’s response almost finished up in the Lorrha net after Paddy McCormack’s long puckout reached the square and the ball bounced awkwardly in front of Brian Hogan with the netminder deflecting the ball towards the butt of the upright before the danger was cleared. At the other end, Moneygall survived as Eoin Whyte saved a certain goal in the midst of panic. However, Donnacha O’Meara scored in the follow up with Colm Fogarty adding a free.

Both Kenneally and Niall McIntyre traded scores before Moneygall levelled through Kenneally and Doughan (free) for the sixth time with twelve minutes remaining.

Scores would be level on two more occasions with Lorrha taking the lead each time with David Sullivan needing a response from a Doughan free before Lorrha went two in front after Christopher Fogarty and Eoin McIntyre scored only for Adam Hogan and Tadgh Whyte to respond in kind on 54 minutes.

That was Moneygall’s last score as four more wides undermined them, finishing with a total of fourteen. Lorrha were more proficient and they went two in front on the hour thanks to a Colm Fogart free, closely followed by a Conor Kennedy point.

Then two minutes into added time, Eoin McIntyre cut the Moneygall defence in two and saw Conor Kennedy unmarked for the latter to score a goal to seal the deal.

Player of the Match: Eoin McIntyre (Lorrha).

Lorrha: Brian Hogan (7); Tom Duggan (7), Ciaran Haugh (0-1, 8), Denis O’Meara (7); Killian Fitzgerald (7), James Guinan (7), Oisin Guinan (7); David Sullivan (0-2, 7), Niall McIntyre (0-2, 7); Christopher Fogarty (0-1, 6), Donnacha O’Meara (0-3, 7), Conor Kennedy (1-2, 7); Colm Fogarty (0-6, 5f, 1 ’65) 6), Conor Hogan (6), Eoin McIntyre (0-4, 8).

Subs: Liam Donoghue (6) for C Hogan (44); Brendan Fogarty (6) for O Guinan (55 inj).

Moneygall: Paddy McCormack (7); Jack Kirwan (7), Brendan Tuohy (7), Roddy Teehan (7); Eoin Whyte (6), Shay Gleeson (6), Andy Hoolan (7); Adam Hogan (0-2, 6), Aodhan Ryan (7); Joe Fogarty (0-1, 6), Sean Fogarty (6), Eoghan Doughan (1-5, 1-4f, 6); Tadgh Whyte (0-3, 7), Bob Kenny (0-2, 6), Sean Kenneally (0-3, 7).

Sub: Cian Ryan (6) for J Fogarty (25 inj)

Referee: Tom McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney).