Lorrha unbeaten run ended by impressive Corofin

Lorrha bowed out of the Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship at the hands of an impressive Corofin outfit following a hard-fought quarter-final clash at a rain-sodden MacDonagh Park on Sunday afternoon.

GAA: AIB Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

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Report: James Hayden in Nenagh

Photos: Rose Mannion

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Diarmuid Cahill (Corofin).

SCORERS – Corofin: Diarmuid Cahill 3-2; James Organ, Gearoid Kelly (frees) 0-4 each; Gearoid Cahill 0-3; Conor Leen 0-2; Killian O’Connor, Damien Ryan, Jamie Malone 0-1 each.

Lorrha: Colm Fogarty 0-10 (9 frees); Eoin McIntyre 1-1; Patrick Maher, Niall McIntyre, Cian Hogan 0-1 each.

All good things must come to an end and for Lorrha what has been a fantastic two-year winning spell was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the Clare champions following an absorbing battle played out in soft conditions.

It has been a hugely memorable two years for the reigning Tipperary premier intermediate champions following back-to-back county title victories and subsequent promotion to senior hurling in for the 2024 season.

Representing the county in the Munster club intermediate championship for the first time since 2007, the Lower Ormond men went into this encounter with two changes from their starting fifteen from the county final replay a fortnight previous. Brian Hogan, who has returned to Australia, and Daniel O‘Donoghue were omitted with Oisin Guinan and Denis O’Meara handed starting berths against a Corofin side who have impressed in both codes this year.

Seven of the Corofin side were lining out for the 28th straight week in a row and their match fitness was clearly in evidence, especially in the closing quarter when they had just too much in the tank for a battling Lorrha team.

The Clare champions were gifted a tonic start after the hugely impressive Diarmuid Cahill hit 1-1 without reply inside the opening two minutes. Cahill signalled his side’s early intention with a sublime opening point before he blocked down Oisin Guinan’s attempted clearance and then subsequently dispatched the sliotar past the advancing Michael Kennedy to fire the Bannermen into a lead they would never relinquish.

Although reeling from the early salvo, Ken Hogan’s charges retorted with a cracking goal of their own after Christopher Fogarty found Patrick Maher and he popped the sliotar off to the inrushing Eoin McIntyre for a Lorrha goal.

Conor Leen responded for Corofin before a trio of points from full-forward and Clare under-20 hurler, James Organ fired his side into a 1-5 to 1-2 lead with quarter of an hour elapsed.

Further points from Gearoid Kelly (frees) and Conor Leen extended Corofin’s lead as the rain grew heavier but a brace of frees from Colm Fogarty coupled with an impressive Niall McIntyre effort ensured Lorrha kept in touch. Patrick Maher was now operating out around the midfield in a bid to garner possession for his side and his presence ensured Corofin did not build upon their advantage.

With three minutes to the interval Corofin wing-back, Damien Ryan landed a long-range wind-assisted effort. Lorrha retaliated with yet another Colm Fogarty free before Killian O’Connor fired over a second long-range point for the Clare champions. Lorrha were visibly struggling to fashion scores from play but an injury time Colm Fogarty free ensured they trailed by just four at the break, 1-6 to 1-10 with the benefit of the wind to come in the second half. Lorrha could have been closer though had referee Nicky Barry applied the advantage rule after Eoin McIntyre was put clean through on the Corofin goal only for play to be called back for Colm Fogarty’s injury-time free.

Lorrha noticeably upped the tempo straight from the re-start and three points on the bounce from Cian Hogan and Colm Fogarty (2 frees) cut the deficit to just a solitary point before Corofin responded with a fourth James Organ point, coupled with a Gearoid Cahill free as the battle well and truly caught the attention of the sizeable crowd in attendance.

With three points between the sides Corofin struck for what proved a pivotal score right on the forty-minute mark after Diarmuid Cahill cut a swathe through the heart of the Lorrha defense and dispatched the sliotar low to Michael Kennedy’s left for the Clare side’s second goal.

Lorrha’s challenge was beginning to wane at this juncture with goals badly needed. Corofin pushed on though and showed no mercy with three points on the bounce from Gearoid Cahill firing the Clare champions into an eight-point lead.

Two further Colm Fogarty placed balls and an impressive Eoin McIntyre point from range edged Lorrha closer but in the closing ten minutes the Clare champions undoubtedly proved the better side.

The Tipperary champions battled gamely though as they searched for a way back into the contest but were dealt a late blow when Patrick Maher was somewhat harshly red-carded following a late challenge.

Corofin capped off a fine display with a third Diarmuid Cahill goal on the cusp of full-time to ensure a fully deserved ten-point win for the Joe Cahill coached side and with it a place in the Munster intermediate hurling semi-final against Limerick champions, Dromin-Athlacca.

Although Lorrha were not as impressive as in the county final replay victory they still had fine performances from with Conor Hogan, Tom Duggan, Michael Dolan, Darragh Guinan and Colm Fogarty catching the eye while for the Clare champions, Diarmuid Cahill, Gearoid Cahill, James Organ, Conor Leen and Killian O’Connor were very much to the fore.

TEAMS – Corofin: Liam Corbett (7), Damien O’Loughlin (7), Fionn Clancy (7), Marc O’Loughlin (7); Conor Leen (8), Killian O’Connor (8), Damien Ryan (7); Cillian McGroary (7), Gearoid Cahill (8); Jamie Malone (7), Diarmuid Cahill (8), Gearoid Kelly (7); Shane O’Brien (7), James Organ (8), Michael Kelly (6).

Subs: Kevin Keane (6) for O’Brien (54); Fergus Killeen (NR) for Leen (60); Eoin Davoren (NR) for Malone (60+1); Shay Malone (NR) for M O’Loughlin (60+2); Michael Duffy (NR) for M Kelly (60+2).

Lorrha: Michael Kennedy (7), Oisin Guinan (6), Denis O’Meara (7), Tom Duggan (7); Conor Hogan (7); Michael Dolan (7), Ciarán Hough (7); Alan O’Meara (7), Niall McIntyre (7); Colm Fogarty (7), Patrick Maher (7), Darragh Guinan (7); Christopher Fogarty (7), Cian Hogan (7), Eoin McIntyre (7).

Subs: Daniel O’Donoughue (7) for Guinan (15); Donnacha O’Meara (6) for A O’Meara (48); David Fogarty (6) for N McIntyre (55).

Referee: Nicky Barry (Waterford).