Late scoring burst sees Annacarty edge Templederry in thriller

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 3

Eire Og Annacarty/D 2-22

Templederry Kenyons 3-16

Report: Shane Brophy at Sean Treacy Park, Kilcommon

Three late points from man of the match Aidan Griffin saw Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill claim victory over Templederry Kenyons in a gripping County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship group 2 opener on Sunday afternoon.

The picturesque setting in the foothills of the Slieve Felim’s provided the backdrop for this enthralling contest which see-sawed throughout and almost ended with honours shared with Sean Ryan’s last gasp 21-yard free saved by Daragh Mooney, with Gearoid Ryan denied in the follow up, with Mark Gennery’s final whistle sounding shortly after bringing to an end an exciting second half of action.

In a game where there were many standout performers, it was Eire Og’s Aidan Griffin who emerged as the match-winner as he scored all of his sides final five points in the last ten minutes, bringing his tally to 1-6, 1-4 from play.

Up to then, it was his team-mate Daragh Kelly who impressed the most, creating as well as scoring, while at the other end, former Tipperary panellist Sean Ryan was a constant thorn in the Annacarty side, scoring 1-3 from play and was also the creator for many more.

Eire Og were down the suspended Brian Fox while Templederry welcomed Gearoid Ryan and Colm Murray back into their starting line-up from the one that began the North semi-final defeat by Ballina, and they started in lively fashion with three points inside as many minutes from Sean Ryan and Eanna Murray (2).

Dinny Crosse got Annacarty off the mark a minute later before Daragh Kelly converted the first of four frees. However, with both sides employing a sweeper with Tom Fox and Liam McCutcheon effective in their respective roles, the game lacked flow in the early going but Templederry were making the better of it with Eanna Murray adding two more to his tally.

The West champions slowly gained traction with Kelly (free) and their own Sean Ryan on target, but points from Eanna & Colm Murray were keeping them at arm’s length. The hard-working Paudie Bradshaw pointed for Eire Og before a Brian Rohan clearance led to Gearoid Ryan opening his account on 21 minutes.

Donal O’Dwyer’s first point halved the deficit before Templederry scored the games first goal on 24 minutes when a raking Philip Kennedy puckout was broken down by Eanna Murray to the raiding Sean Ryan who finished to the net.

Templederry had the aid of the stiff breeze and would have liked a decent lead going in at the break, but Eire Og responded with points from Griffin and Bradshaw before the former goaled on 26 minutes after being unselfishly played in by Daragh Kelly.

With both teams abandoning the sweeper, the fare improved with Templederry finishing the half on the up with points from Sean Ryan and a free each from the Eanna & Colm Murray to lead 1-11 to 1-9 at the break.

Daragh Kelly halved the deficit within seconds of the restart but, in a fashion similar to how Kelly created his sides first half goal, Templederry’s Sean Ryan did likewise, playing in Gearoid Ryan for his sides second on 34 minutes.

However, as they did to the first goal, Annacarty responded straight away to the setback with Crosse and Kelly (2 frees) adding to their tallies before the latter finished a flowing move to the net on 43 minutes to give his side their first lead of the game, 2-13 to 2-12.

From here on it was gripping stuff as the sides went point for point up to the 48th minute before Annacarty made a surge with three points on the trot from Donal O’Dwyer and two from the increasingly prominent Aidan Griffin.

Templederry looked to be fading before Sean Ryan turned provider again, this time for raiding wingback Mikie Ryan who goaled from an acute angle to bring the sides level, 2-18 to 3-15 on 56 minutes.

Aidan Griffin and Gearoid Ryan traded points from play as a draw looked a distinct possibility before Griffin’s purple-patch continued with the lead point from play going into five minutes of added time, where he converted a monster free from inside his own half, then setting the seal on the win with his fourth point from play deep in added time, although he needed his team-mates to make a last gasp defensive stand to ensure victory.

Player of the Match: Aidan Griffin (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill)

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill: Daragh Mooney (6); Darragh O’Brien (6), David Fox (7), Mixie Bradshaw (7); Paul Devlin (7), Tom Fox (8), Paul Downey (7); Connie Bradshaw (6), Paudie Bradshaw (0-2, 8); Donal O’Dwyer (0-2, 7), Dinny Crosse (0-4, 8), Seanie Ryan (0-1, 6); Aidan Griffin (1-6, 0-2f, 9), Daragh Kelly (1-7, 0-4f, 9), Conor O’Brien (6).

Subs: Daniel Kelly (6) for Downey (44); Kev Fox (6) for Devlin (52 inj).

Templederry Kenyons: Philip Kennedy (7); Dale Donnelly (7), Tom Stapleton (6), Brian Rohan (6); Mikey Ryan (1-0, 7), Darragh Carey (7), Sean Collins (6); Michael Collins (7), Pio Kennedy (7); Cillian Kennedy (6), Liam McCutcheon (7), Sean Ryan (1-3, 9); Eanna Murray (0-9, 7f, 7), Gearoid Ryan (1-2, 7), Colm Murray (0-2, 1f, 7).

Subs: Paidi Ryan (6) for M Collins (58); Tom Ryan (6) for C Kennedy (56).

Referee: Mark Gennery (Portroe).