Resilient Ros fight back to edge Burgess

GAA: FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

Roscrea 1-19

Burgess 1-17

Report: James Hayden in Nenagh

Roscrea booked their place in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship decider following a tough semi-final encounter with Burgess on Saturday.

Roscrea, who were touted as strong pre-match favourites, were pushed all the way by a Burgess fifteen minus the services of influential centre-back, Keith Nealon. They also had a number of players carrying knocks into the fixture and were forced to re-jig their side slightly from their quarter-final win over Cashel.

Roscrea recorded a convincing win over Thurles Sarsfields in the quarter-final and with former Kilkenny hurler Eddie Brennan keeping an advisory eye on Liam England’s charges, they went into this encounter hopeful of booking their spot in the decider.

Burgess have been heavily dependent on the scoring and free-taking exploits of star forward Stephen Murray in recent outings and once again he was very much to the fore, amazing fourteen points in total with thirteen of those coming from accurately stuck placed balls.

Roscrea were forced to plan without wing-back Daragh Tynan with captain Conor Sheedy drafted into the defence but they struggled to find their rhythm in the opening half as a wind-assisted Burgess side raced into a five-point lead. A brace of frees from Stephen Murray handed Burgess a tonic start before Shane Fletcher opened his side’s account with a neatly taken point from close-range. Michael Ryan arrowed over a super score from the toes of the stand side-line in response for Burgess before Murray stepped up to bisect the uprights from his own 65’.

Burgess deployed Danny Ryan as an effective sweeper and their economy of play proved hugely effective. Donagh Maher was also pulling the strings for Burgess and his thirteenth minute pass to Stephen Murray sent him through on goal. Roscrea’s defence pulled Murray down and he gratefully tapped over the resulting free.

Roscrea added their second point a minute later thanks to a Luke Cashin free, but Johnny Mulqueen set up Eoin Hogan for a quick-fire Burgess response. Evan Fitzpatrick rifled over from close-range for Ros’ after a botched Burgess clearance before the men in green and gold netted in style after Stephen Kirwan tore through the heart of the Roscrea defence and crashed the sliotar past the advancing Daryl Ryan.

Roscrea needed an immediate response, and it came in the guise of a Conor Sheedy point and a Luke Cashin free after Kieran Ryan had pulled Conor Dooley to the ground.

Burgess were then forced to call Tadhg O’Halloran ashore after he succumbed to an injury with Bill O’Flaherty coming into the fray. In what was an at times fractious encounter Roscrea were handed a badly needed boost on 23 minutes after Conor Dooley rattled the back of the Burgess net from close-range, leaving just three between the sides, 1-8 to 1-5.

Stephen Murray steadied the Burgess ship with a 25th minute free but impressive efforts from Luke Cashin and Jason Gilmartin narrowed the gap to just two points. Murray knocked over the final point of the half on 29 minutes and Burgess deservedly took a three-point advantage to the dressing room 1-10 to 1-7.

Roscrea emerged a changed side however, and once they found their way into the game, they proved too much for Burgess to contain. Donagh Maher and Evan Fitzpatrick exchanged early points before Daniel Ryan tore through the Burgess defence but lost his footing at the most inopportune time and was forced into a one-handed shot on goal.

Burgess increased their lead to four with a composed Donagh Maher effort before Ros’ embarked on a run of five unanswered points between the 36th & 44th minutes, three frees from Luke Cashin and fantastic efforts from play by Conor Sheedy and Michael Campion. The latter was sublimely set up by corner-back James Synnott with a flighted cross-field ball and surprisingly he was called ashore minutes later as Roscrea enforced a 44th minute double substitution.

This crucial eight-minute period handed Roscrea the necessary advantage and although Stephen Murray quickly restored parity, two further Luke Cashin frees and a lovely Evan Fitzpatrick strike saw Roscrea lead by four by the 52nd minute. Fitzpatrick was really finding his groove and quickly added another to his tally to put five between the sides.

Burgess weren’t going to throw the towel in yet though and hit back with a final flourish. Three pointed frees from Stephen Murray served to narrow the deficit to two as a nervy Roscrea embarked upon a late rear-guard action in a bid to see out the game. Burgess were afforded an opportunity to snatch a late goal with a lobbed free into the square from Garrett Howard, but Roscrea held firm and cleared their lines to record a hard-earned yet deserved two-point victory.

Matters threatened to become a little fractious at the final whistle, but calm was quickly restored as Roscrea progressed to a final clash with Gortnahoe-Glengoole.

Impressive for Burgess were Donagh Maher, Johnny Mulqueen, Pat Woods, Michael Ryan, Jack O’Flaherty, and Stephen Murray while Darren O’Connor, Conor Sheedy. James Synnott, Michael Campion, Daniel Ryan, Luke Cashin and Evan Fitzpatrick caught the eye for Roscrea.

Player of the Match: Luke Cashin (Roscrea)

Roscrea: Daryl Ryan (7), Shane Davis (7) Keith McMahon (8), James Synnott (7); Michael Campion (0-1, 7), Darren O’Connor (8), Conor Sheedy (0-2, 1 s-cut, 7); Daniel Ryan (7), Jason Fitzpatrick (7); Alan Tynan (7), Luke Cashin (0-10f, 8), Evan Fitzpatrick (0-4, 8); Jason Gilmartin (0-1, 7), Shane Fletcher (0-1, 7), Conor Dooley (1-0, 8).

Subs: Conor Phelan (6) for Synnott (44); Joe Carroll (6) for Gilmartin (44); Sam Conlon (6) for Dooley (53); Jack Lee (NR) for Cashin (60+1).

Burgess: Ronan Tucker (7), Pat Woods (8), Kieran Ryan (7), Paddy Hogan (7); Daire Hogan (7), Jack O’Flaherty (7), Johnny Mulqueen (8); Tadhg O’Halloran (6), Danny Ryan (7); Michael Ryan (0-1, 7), Donagh Maher (0-2, 8), Stephen Kirwan (1-0, 7); Eoin Grace (7), Eoin Hogan (7), Stephen Murray (0-14, 13f, 8).

Subs: Bill O’Flaherty (7) for O’Halloran (20 inj); Willie Ryan (6) for M Ryan (49); Garrett Howard (NR) for E Hogan (59).

Referee: Sean Everard (Moyne-Templetouhy).