Wasteful Porte exit to Arravale

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Arravale Rovers 0-21

Portroe 0-16

Report: Liam Hogan at Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh

An improved second half performance saw Arravale Rovers better all-round fifteen paved the way for their five point win over a wasteful Portroe side in a well-contested County Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final on Sunday.

The second half was in contrast to the opening thirty minutes which saw Portroe three points in front at half-way but wasted many chances with nine wides, seven of which came before their first score.

It took eleven minutes before John Sheedy converted a free for Portroe to get off the mark.

By then, Arravale had opened a two point lead through Donnacha Quigley and the brilliant Jaye Cilvinas with a second Sheedy free bringing matters level by the 12th minute.

North champions Portroe entered the game as slight underdogs against West champions Arravale Rovers side whose odds in winning this year’s county championship grow with every day, winning this game without county under 20 Adam Ryan who was only fit enough to play a small role late on.

Scores would be level two more times by 16th minute with another Cilvinas score matched by one from Conor O’Brien before an Orrin Jones 65 was cancelled out by another Sheedy free from ninety metres.

Portroe were gradually making inroads on the Arravale defence but Paddy O’Donnell made two smart saves.

At the other end, good work by Michael Breen, Liam & Jack O’Callaghan plus with Robert Byrne prominent, their ability to score much depended on the accuracy of Orrin Jones as Arravale took a two point lead with another 65 and a free from the right touchline.

As play continued, both John Sheedy and Orrin Jones traded frees before Port managed to find a rhythm to hit five unanswered points through Sam Madden (2) and three John Sheedy frees to give them a 0-10 to 0-7 half-time lead.

Upon the return, Arravale wasted no time in getting back on level terms thanks to two Orrin Jones points, either side of a Niall Sharpe score from play inside three minutes.

Sharpe had started on the bench but he gave the Arravale mentors food for thought when edging Rovers in front in the 39th minute before Cian Hogan, a first half sub himself, had Port level a minute later.

Portroe had chances to move back in front but their wides total continued to increase (16 by hours end) which was in contrast to a more free-flowing Arravale team who went three in front with the highly influential Sean O’Mahoney (2) and Cilvinas scoring from play in as many minutes.

John Sheedy’s first point from play was important for Portroe but the Arravale defence, led by John Paul Lohan and Johnny Ryan, kept them at bay for the time-being.

Another Orrin Jones point from play kept Port at arm’s length before Robert Byrne pulled one back as he surged forward to score, leaving two points separating the teams with fourteen minutes remaining.

But Arravale appeared to have more freedom and another Cilvinas score was quickly followed by another Jones free as the game reached the 50th minute.

However, John Sheedy’s ninth point and eighth from a free would keep Portroe in touch as Johnny Ryan replied from distance before another Sheedy free kept the margin manageable for Port with three minutes remaining.

Scoring chances were valuable and Jaye Cilvinas didn’t waste his opportunity as Arravale went four in front, increasing to five after another Jones free in the 61st minute.

Portroe hit back through another Sheedy point from a free before Sean O’Mahoney continued his prominent role and his 64th minute point saw his team on the road to victory but not a scuffle under the stand resulted in a yellow card to Orrin Jones and a second yellow followed by a red to Portroe captain Robert Byrne.

Player of the Match: Jaye Cilvinas (Arravale Rovers)

Arravale Rovers: Paddy O’Donnell (7); David Ryan (7), Niall Fitzgerald (7), Peter Ryan (7); Eoin Doocey (7), Matthew Moroney (7), John Paul Lohan (Capt 7); Johnny Ryan (0-1, 7), Sean O’Mahoney (0-3, 8); Donough Leahy (6), Eoghan Lonergan (6), Orrin Jones (0-9, 5f, 2 65s) 7); Donnacha Quigley (0-1, 6), Conal Donovan (6), Jaye Cilvinas (0-5, 8).

Subs: Niall Sharpe (0-2, 7) for Donovan (23); Adam Ryan (NR) for Lohan (53-55 blood), for Lonergan (58); Ciaran Kelly (NR) for Quigley (60+4).

Portroe: Kevin O’Halloran (7); Brian Keating (7), Michael Breen (8), Adrian O’Halloran (7); Liam O’Callaghan (8), Jack O’Callaghan (7), Robert Byrne (Capt 0-1, 7); Colm Gleeson (7), Michael Creamer (6); Sam Madden (0-2, 7), Conor O’Brien (0-1, 7), Diarmuid Boyle (6); John Sheedy (0-11, 10f, 7), Mark Gennery (6), Oisin O’Connor (6).

Subs: Cian Hogan (0-1, 6) for Boyle (21); Jack Moloney (6) for Gennery (40); Ben O’Connor (6) for Keating (47); James Ferris (6) for O’Connor (50).

Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport).