Stalemate for Lorrha and Templederry ahead of contrasting battles

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 3

Lorrha 2-24

Templederry Kenyons 2-24

Report: James Hayden in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

Lorrha produced a stirring late revival to maintain their unbeaten record going into the knockout stages of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship to ensure a share of the spoils against a much-improved Templederry Kenyons on Sunday evening.

The 2023 champions showed admirable character to turn the game on its head and briefly moved in front before Templederry had the final say when man of the match Sean Ryan converted a late free to secure a well-deserved draw for the Kenyons.

Ryan was the outstanding individual on the field, finishing with 1-12, including two points from play, while Lorrha sharpshooter Colm Fogarty matched him with 12 points, four from play.

Lorrha goalkeeper Brian Hogan was another to catch the eye, producing a number of excellent interventions, most notably a superb save to save an Eanna Murray penalty early in the second half.

For Templederry, this was a performance that will provide enormous encouragement ahead of their looming relegation battle. They displayed considerable grit, determination, and attacking intent throughout and looked set to claim a first championship victory.

Lorrha, meanwhile, will be pleased with the character shown in the closing stages, although manager Barry Moran will undoubtedly have been less impressed with his side's third-quarter showing when Templederry wrestled control of the contest. The ability to recover from that difficult spell and produce such a strong finish should stand to them as they prepare for the quarter finals.

Despite there being little at stake, the game began at a fast pace with both sides showing plenty of attacking ambition. Brian Stapleton produced the highlight with a booming fifth-minute point as Templederry established a 0-4 to 0-2 lead which could have been greater but for some poor shooting.

Colm Fogarty and Colm Murray exchanged placed balls before Lorrha reduced the deficit with a beautifully worked move, finished off by Conor Kennedy, who would go on to register four points from play.

Murray responded with a long-range free but Lorrha were beginning to find their rhythm. A sweeping move ended with Eoin McIntyre finishing to the net, putting Lorrha ahead for the first time after twelve minutes, 1-4 to 0-6.

Templederry refused to allow the game to drift away from them. Colm Murray converted another free before Eanna Murray added a point from play.

Lorrha responded with points from the impressive Kennedy and Donnacha O'Meara before Brian Hogan produced his first major intervention, denying Sean Ryan with a superb save in the 25th minute.

Fogarty restored Lorrha's three-point advantage but Templederry finished the half strongly. Gearoid Ryan displayed his class with two points while Liam Donoghue and Colm Murray exchanged scores during added time.

Lorrha carried a slender 1-12 to 0-14 lead into the interval, but the Kenyons re-emerged with renewed purpose.

Despite conceding an early point to Chris Fogarty, Eanna Murray had an opportunity to go in front when he stood over a penalty in the 32nd minute following a foul on Sean Collins by Brian Hogan, but the Lorrha keeper redeemed himself, producing an excellent save low to his right to turn it around the post. Colm Murray's resulting 65 also drifted wide, but Templederry's momentum was undiminished.

Bryan Stapleton brought the sides level before Sean Ryan edged the Kenyons back in front. Then, in the 38th minute, Colm Murray found the net to give Templederry a 1-18 to 1-14 advantage and suddenly Lorrha were struggling to cope with the Kenyons' intensity.

Two further Ryan points extended Templederry's lead before another attack led to a second penalty in the 45th minute; James Guinan fouling Ryan inside the square and, this time, the Templederry dangerman took responsibility himself and made no mistake to put his side firmly in command at 2-21 to 1-17.

Points from Conor Kennedy, Chris Fogarty, and Eoin McIntyre gave the Lower Ormond men renewed hope but Sean Ryan continued to torment their defence, winning possession repeatedly and punishing every infringement with his unerring accuracy from placed balls.

Then came the Lorrha revival. Successive points from Colm Fogarty narrowed the gap to three before Conor Kennedy delivered the games’ decisive moment in the 63rd minute, running onto an Eoin McIntyre pass to fire to the net to bring them level.

There was time for more and skipper Colm Fogarty duly obliged, sweeping over a beautifully struck point to edge Lorrha in front.

Templederry, though, were not prepared to let their hard work go unrewarded. Once again, Sean Ryan stepped forward when his side needed him most, winning a late free and calmly bisected the uprights from close-range to level the contest and ensure a deserved share of the spoils.

Player of the Match: Sean Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)

Lorrha: Brian Hogan (8); Denis O’Meara (6), Ciaran Haugh (7), Tom Duggan (6); Killian Fitzgerald (6), James Guinan (6), Oisin Guinan (6); Niall McIntyre (6), Liam Donoghue (0-1, 7); David Sullivan (7), Colm Fogarty (Capt, 0-12, 8f), 8), Donnacha O’Meara (0-1, 7); Conor Kennedy (1-4, 8), Christopher Fogarty (0-3, 7), Eoin McIntyre (1-3, 8).

Subs: Michael Dolan (7) for Duggan (36); Brendan Fogarty (7) for N McIntyre (39 inj).

Templederry Kenyons: John Kennedy (6); Padraig Hogan (6), Mikey Ryan (7), Brian Rohan (6); Brian Stapleton (0-1, 8), Eanna Murray (0-1, 7), Dale Donnelly (6); Liam McCutcheon (6), Cillian Kennedy (7); Gearoid Ryan (0-2, 7), Colm Murray (1-6 (0-4f, 0-1 65’) 8), Michael Collins (0-1, 7); Sean Collins (6), Sean Ryan (1-12 (1-0 pen, 0-10f), 9) Mattie Hogan (6).

Subs: Pa O’Leary (6) for Donnelly (52); Paudie Ryan (NR) for Hogan (58).

Referee: Mark Gennery (Portroe).