Resurgent Newport dethrone the Rovers

GAA: Jim McLoughney Menswear North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Newport 1-32

Shannon Rovers 0-19

Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Oran Connors (Newport).

SCORERS – Newport: Colin Floyd 0-8 (7 frees); Oran Connors 0-6; Conor McLoughlin, Charlie Tobin 0-4 each; James Moloney 1-1; Cian Flanagan, Callum Poole, Conor Floyd 0-2 each; Kevin Fitzpatrick, Diarmuid O’Riordan, Pa Ryan 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers: Conal Moran 0-7 (3 frees); Aaron Hogan (2 frees), Michael Tierney 0-3 each; John O’Meara 0-2; Vincent Mulvihill (free), Derek Horan, Matt Tierney, Liam O’Dwyer 0-1 each.

Reigning champions Shannon Rovers were dethroned by a resurgent, youthful and exuberant Newport side in a one-sided North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Saturday.

Having narrowly avoided the drop to junior hurling last season, Newport roared into this year’s North intermediate decider with a thoroughly convincing 16-point victory over a below par Rovers side.

Under new manager Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett, Newport have made impressive strides and their 'fast and furious' style of play really put Shannon Rovers to the sword. The champions had no answer to a Newport side who effectively ran riot in the second half.

Leading by four points at the break, Newport kicked it up a few notches in the second half and while the men from the banks of the Mulcair engaged ‘nitrous oxide’ mode Shannon Rovers were left fumbling with the gearstick and searching for the accelerator pedal.

Newport hit a whopping 1-25 from play, with all six of their forward line on the scoresheet. Oran Connors with a tally of six points from play terrorised the Rovers defence as did Charlie Tobin and Conor McLoughlin while Callum Poole ran the show at midfield.

In defence the influence of seasoned hurlers, Conor O’Mahony and Sean O’Brien proved telling while Cian Flanagan, Diarmuid O’Riordan, Kevin Fitzpatrick and captain Aidan Moloney were very much to the fore.

Shannon Rovers started brightly, however, and led by three points after just five minutes with Aaron Hogan (free), Conal Moran and Michael Tierney all on target. Newport were back on terms quickly though with Conor McLoughlin, Callum Poole and Charlie Tobin bisecting the uprights.

The momentum swung back in favour of the Rovers once more with a fantastic Moran brace. Newport hit back again before an impressive Tobin effort fired Newport into a lead they would never relinquish on the quarter hour mark.

Conor O’Sullivan’s charges were proving difficult to shake off though and the Rovers stayed well in contention, reducing the deficit to just a solitary point by the 20th minute with a fine effort from captain Matt Tierney.

Newport were starting to impose themselves on the game and points from Callum Poole, Cian Flanagan and Colin Floyd fired them four clear. They maintained that advantage right to the interval whistle, matching a further three points from the Rovers with three of their own to ensure they led by 0-15 to 0-11 at the break.

Newport hit the ground running and a whirlwind start to the half saw them extend their advantage with Diarmuid O’Riordan, Conor Floyd and Oran Connors all on target. A further brace from Connors extended Newport’s lead to eight by the 40th minute before a well-taken James Moloney goal had the Rovers reeling.

Newport continued to pile on the pressure with a Conor Floyd point midway through the half firing his side into an unassailable 1-25 to 0-15 lead. Newport were running riot at this stage and the Rovers just had no answer.

A further seven points in the closing quarter served to embellish their tally but the loss of the hugely influential and experienced defender Conor O’Mahony to a suspected leg muscle injury will mean the former All-Ireland winner will be an injury doubt for the final.

Shannon Rovers offered just token resistance in the closing quarter with the chasm just too much to bridge. Although they battled on gamely, they were no match for an effervescent Newport side who kept the scoreboard ticking right to the final whistle.

TEAMS - Newport: Eoin Shinners (7), Kevin Fitzpatrick (7), Sean O’Brien (7), Diarmuid O’Riordan (7); Cian Flanagan (8), Conor O’Mahony (7), Aidan Moloney (Capt 7); Callum Poole (8), Brendan Coffey (7); Charlie Tobin (8), Conor Floyd (7), Conor McLoughlin (8); Colin Floyd (7), James Moloney (7); Oran Connors (8).

Subs: Pa Ryan (7) for Moloney (44); Dan Ryan (6) for O’Mahony (46 inj); Rob Houlihan (6) for Moloney (56); Brian Tobin (NR) for Connors (59); Thomas Floyd (NR) for Poole (60+2).

Shannon Rovers: Vincent Mulvihill (7); Oisin McMahon (6), George Hannigan (6), Jack O’Sullivan (6); Cathal Hogan (6), Derek Horan (6), Emmet Moran (6); Michael Tierney (7), Marcus Esmonde (6); Matt Tierney (Capt, 7), John O’Meara (7), Rory Fox (6); Conal Moran (7), Eamonn Hough (6), Aaron Hogan (7).

Subs: Liam O’Dwyer (7) for Hogan (36); Andrew Byrne (6) for Fox (41); Sean Hough (6) for Horan (44); Ryan Moran (NR) for McMahon (59).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).