Moyne’s Tipp stars prove too much for Newport

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

Moyne-Templetuohy 0-23

Newport 1-14

Report: Noel Dundon in Holycross

Newport’s second tier status is hanging by a thread as they produced a disappointing performances against a much improved Moyne-Templetuohy side who maintained their Premier Intermediate status with a very solid victory in this relegation semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

Despite hitting twelve second half wides, the Mid men were the better team throughout a game which Newport were left to chase most of the way through.

The difference between the sides at half way mark was the two inter-county men in the Moyne-Templetuohy set-up. Gearoid O’Connor was a real threat in the forward line and his contribution of 0-8 alongside the 0-3 which Conor Bowe pilfered went a long way towards giving the Mid men a 0-13 to 0-8 interval advantage.

Moyne-Templetuohy started the brighter and they were on their game from the off, even allowing for the fact that the first score of the game came from Colin Floyd in the second minute. Moyne-Templetuohy hit three in succession from O’Connor, Tom Meade, and O’Connor again but in fairness to the Newport lads they had the game tied at 0-5 each by the 20 minute mark – Colin Floyd getting all of their scores, including three from play.

A bit of daylight emerged then with Gearoid O’Connor getting quality ball into the forward line and he bagged another three pints, while Jack Taylor had a fine individual point having come up-field from his relocation in the half back line.

Newport could only manage two scores in the period through Conor O’Mahony and Cian Flanagan, but three in a row from Conor Bowe and another from O’Connor shoved the lead out to six points before Colin Floyd had the final score of the half to reduce the deficit to five.

Newport had not hurled with any real freedom in the first half, and they knew going in at the break that they needed to up the ante if they were to stem the Moyne-Templetuohy flow – curbing Bowe and O’Connor would be their big challenge in this regard and they did not seem to be missing the experienced John Coghlan who was forced off through injury inside the first ten minutes.

Perhaps Colin Floyds first minute score fooled spectators into thinking that a Newport revival might be on the cards. But the four in a row from O’Connor, Thossy Hamill and O’Connor again (2) sent Moyne-Templetuohy eight clear as the end of the third quarter approached.

Floyd had another to break the sequence, but O’Connor hit two more before Newport were awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute. Goalkeeper Paul Hogan travelled up for the effort but was disappointed to see it sneak past the outside of the post – a big blow to his side.

Still though Newport battled and a Peter O’Sullivan goal in the 53rd minute was their reward. They found Tommy Floyd, Colin Floyd, and Aidan Moloney points as well, but Moyne-Templetuohy were not going to be ousted at this stage and they finished with O’Connor (2) and Ciaran Lloyd points to see out a big victory for them.

Newport must now battle it out with fellow northern men Portroe to see which side will remain in the grade for the 2024 season.

Player of the Match: Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy)

Moyne-Templetuohy: Paul Maher (7); John Coghlan (6), Eoin Gorman (6), Tommy Hassett (7), Pierce Meade (6), Conor Bowe (0-3, 9), Ciaran Lloyd (0-1, 9), Shane Lowe (6), Ben Ryan (6), Tom Meade (0-1, 6), Jack Taylor (0-1, 7), Eanna Guilfoyle (7), Gearoid O’Connor (0-16, 9f, 1 65) 9), Thossy Hamill (0-1, 7), Diarmuid Fogarty (6).

Subs: Mark Ryan (6) for Coghlan (10 inj); Sean Hayes (6) for Eanna Guilfoyle (HT); Damien Cantwell (NR) for B Ryan (60); Paidi Gleeson (NR) for Lowe (60+2); Diarmuid Leahy (NR) for Fogarty (60+4).

Newport: Paul Hogan (6); Kealan Floyd (7), Sean O’Brien (8), Rob Houlihan (6), Aidan Moloney (0-1, 6), Oisin O’Brien (6), Conor Floyd (7), Cian Flanagan (0-1, 7), Pa Ryan (6), Tommy Floyd (0-1, 6), Colin Floyd (0-10, 5f, 7), Peter O’Sullivan (1-0, 6), Oran Connors (5), Conor O’Mahony (0-1, 6), Lee Ryan (5).

Subs: Daniel Ryan (6) for L Ryan (34); Andrew Hickey (6) for P Ryan (50); Martin Carey (6) for Oran Connors (50); Brian Tobin (NR) for O O’Brien (60+2).

Referee: Donie Horan (St Patrick’s)