Late Treacys goal sends fancied Gortnahoe crashing out

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 1

Sean Treacys 2-24

Gortnahoe/Glengoole 2-21

Report: John O’Shea

at Leahy Park, Cashel

A goal from man of the match Cillian Kennedy, three minutes into added time, propelled Sean Treacys into the knockout stages of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship for the first time, eliminating back-to-back semi-finalists Gortnahoe/Glengoole in the process.

Sean Treacys needed a win in order to advance, with the draw being sufficient for Gortnahoe, and with the sides on level terms, this last gasp goal proved decisive in a compelling finale to the group.

The West-men hit the ground running with Brian Carey splitting the posts inside thirty seconds. Mikey Feehan doubled their advantage, sixty seconds later, while Gortnahoe had two wides from play during those early exchanges. Cillian Kennedy signalled his intent early on with a well-taken point after three minutes.

Damien Corbett got Gortnahoe moving from a placed ball coming up to the fourth minute, before Fionn Cleary doubled their tally from the wing.

Brian Carey hit his second from midfield after picking up a good cross-field ball while unmarked. Corbett picked out Ronan Teehan from a sideline cut and the ace marksman made no mistake.

Larry Collins left two between the sides before Treacys drew first blood in the quest for goals; Paddy Deegan winning possession in the middle third before a run down the wing saw him deliver a pass to Mikey Feehan, who beat Timmy Dunne from close range.

Points from Corbett and Keane Hayes closed the gap to three, but Treacys, through Paddy Carey, hit four on the bounce, three from frees in a three-minute spell at the end of the opening quarter.

While Ronan Teehan pulled one back, it was Treacys who pushed on, playing some excellent hurling. Their attack, for the most, had the advantage over Gortnahoe during this period, hitting five unanswered minors, all from play, Cillian Kennedy (2) and one each from Paddy Carey, Mikey Feehan, and James Butler.

Damien Corbett added two minors from placed balls, either side of a Paddy Carey free, as the game entered the final five minutes before the short whistle.

Gortnahoe were awarded a twenty-metre free in added time, and Corbett elected to go low, but the shot was saved and scrambled to safety, bringing the first half to an end with Treacys 1-16 to 0-10 in front.

After the restart, Larry Collins drew a free, which Carey converted before Colm Kennedy and James Butler stretched the Treacys lead out to twelve.

Gortnahoe then lost Damien Corbett to injury, but this loss only served to drive on the Mid men. Fionn Cleary and Keane Hayes pulled two back before Darragh Maher blasted a low shot past Shane Stapleton for a goal. Gearoid Fahey, Hayes (free) and Davy Nolan added further points to eat into the Treacys advantage.

Maher and Teehan with a brace cut the deficit to the minimum before the latter got the ball over the line capitalising on some hesitancy in the Treacys defence, to go two up in the process.

Two good points from Paddy Deegan had the sides level as the game entered the final five minutes of normal time. Carey and Hayes traded minors, before Davy Nolan eased the Mid men ahead on 58 minutes.

Sean Treacys finished the stronger in added time with Colm Kennedy bringing the sides level for only the second time before Cillian Kennedy crashed home the goal on 63 minutes to send his team to the knockout stages and send one of the pre-championship favourites crashing out.

Player of the Match: Cillian Kennedy (Sean Treacys).

Sean Treacys: Shane Stapleton (7); Paul Nolan (Capt, 6), Sean Hickey (6), Brian Nolan (6); Andy O’Brien (6), Sean Ryan (7), Colm Kennedy (0-2, 7), Brian Carey (0-4, 8), Paddy Deegan (0-2, 7), Eoin Sheldon (6), Mikey Feehan (1-2, 8), Larry Collins (0-1, 7), Cillian Kennedy (1-3, 8), Paddy Carey (0-8, 6f, 7), James Butler (0-2, 7).

Subs: Patrick Dawson (6) for Sheldon (49), Jody Ryan (7) for Collins (56).

Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Timmy Dunne (6); Martin Barnaville (7), Karl Campion (7), Paddy Norton (6); Conor Gleeson (7), Davy Nolan (Capt 0-2, 7), Fionn Cleary (0-2, 7), Jack Moore (6), Brian Maher (7), Gearoid Fahey (0-1, 6), Damien Corbett (0-6, 5f, 1 ’65) 7), Adrian Maher (6), Ronan Teehan (1-4, 8), Darragh Maher (1-2, 7), Keane Hayes (0-4, 2f, 7).

Subs: Lorcan Bourke (6) for Corbett (34 inj), Aaron Dwyer (6) for Fahey (43).

Referee: Nigel Carrigan (Ballybacon/Grange)