Unlucky Newport exit on penalties to Skeheenarinky

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Final

Skeheenarinky 1-21

Newport 2-18

(After Extra Time, Skeheenarinky win 8-7 on penalties)

Report: Liam Hogan at Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town

Opinion is still very much divided penalties deciding the outcome of a hurling game, and Newport followers might well agree after they saw their team exit the County Intermediate Championship as Skeheenarinky advanced to the quarter-finals following an exciting contest on Sunday.

Whatever side you are on but “thems the rules” and the great Conor O’Mahony was the unfortunate one. On the opposite side, praise must go to Glen Walsh who made a superb save high to his right to edge the contest in favour of the South champions who had come from four points in arrears to force extra time.

The game won’t go down as the best ever but overall, it had plenty of endeavour while the closeness of the scoring kept everyone on the edge of their seat right to the very end.

With the help of a strong breeze, Skeheenarinky dominated the first quarter and points by Darragh Brennan, Fionan O’Sullivan and Thomas Vaughan had them 0-3 to 0-2 in front by the sixteenth minute. That lead might have been greater but the radar was not what it could have been as Skeheenarinky hit six wides in the period. Newport had just one wide while Charlie Tobin and Colin Floyd with a sixty five provided the Mulcaire scores.

Both defences were employing a sweeper with the ageless Conor O’Mahony alert to every danger for Newport while Noel Vaughan was on overtime at the other end as the North men came more into the game in the second quarter. As a result, scoring was minimal and by the 25th minute it was 0-7 to 0-5 with Tomas Vaughan scoring two plus one each by O’Sullivan and Oisin Brennan from centre back scoring for the Southsiders while Newport depended on Colin Floyd (2) plus one from play by Conor Floyd.

Spectacular scores were few and far between but Conor Sweeney changed that statistic when scoring from the left wing giving Skeheenarinky their biggest lead to date, three in front approaching the break.

That soon changed when the tireless Cian Flanagan had his lengthy delivery drop outside the small square. Hesitation by the Skeheen defence proved indecisive and Colin Floyd took advantage by finding the net from close range. A timely score for Newport as the sides reached the dressing room, 1-5 to 0-8. Newport began the second half with more purpose and were soon two in front after Colin Floyd’s free plus a second Charlie Tobin point from play. Three Tomas Vaughan frees overshadowed Odhran Floyd’s score from play as the scores were level again after 42 minutes.

Newport began having problems with their radar but they went two in front by the 46th minute thanks to another Colin Floyd free quickly followed by a point from sub Callum Poole who made a real difference.

The North men were now the better side in terms of scoring opportunities and Steven O’Connor, Pa Ryan, and Aidan Moloney came up trumps to go 1-13 to 0-12 ahead with seven minutes remaining.

But Skeheenarinky were not done yet. Tomas Vaughan, who had done well on frees up to then, showed he had another string to his bow when his well-delivered sideline ball from sixty metres dropped dangerously into the goal area. Confusion reigned and wing back Rian O’Callaghan reacted best and planted a low ball past a helpless Eoin Shinnors in the Newport goal.

The excellent Fionan O’Sullivan followed up with an equaliser, his third score so far. Odhran Floyd’s quick response had Newport back in front before James Moloney increased the lead with a point in the 59th minute with a goal at his mercy.

It was time for cool heads and there was none better than Tomas Vaughan when on the hour mark he bisected the post with his latest free. Four minutes of additional time followed with every move important before Skeheenarinky won a free out on the left wing and up stepped Vaughan to convert to send the sides to extra time, 1-15 to 0-18.

Extra time began with Sam McGrath and Colin Floyd trading points before Skeheen took charge as points by Fionan O’Sullivan and Charlie English put them two in front. They continued on the front foot and Darragh Brennan was almost through for a goal but Cian Flanagan’s hook saved the day. Newport were relieved and they recovered a little when Colin Floyd reduced the deficit with a free before the final changeover.

With Conor Sweeney returning to action (replaced in the 50th minute with a troubled hamstring), Skeheenarinky went three clear again after Darragh Brennan and Tomas Vaughan scored from play.

The respective subs benched came into action as the next six minutes were devoid of scores until Colin Floyd added another free. As the clock ticked down, both sides had chances to score but the wides were increasing. Nobody was giving up and incredibly there wasn’t a cramp in sight before Tomas Vaughan pointed a 65 to leave his team three in front with fifteen seconds left.

Newport had one last chance and another foray ended with Pa Ryan winning a close range free. It was goal or nothing and Colin Floyd took charge and his effort was saved by Glen Walsh before Steven O’Connor forced the ball over the line for the equalising goal, meaning penalties would be required.

Skeheenarinky went first with Tomas Vaughan converting first before Colin Floyd has his penalty saved by Glen Walsh. However, after the five regulation penalties each it was four each with Darragh Brennan, Fionan O’Sullivan and Noel Vaughan raising green flags while James Barry was denied. Newport scored through Eoin Shinners, Conor O’Mahoney, Pa Ryan, and Conor Floyd.

It was onto sudden death and the first three efforts of the second round were successful with Vaughan, Brennan and O’Sullivan matched by Ryan, Shinners, and Conor Floyd. James Barry scored Skeheenarinky’s fourth penalty but his former Tipp colleague Conor O’Mahony was denied by Walsh as Newport’s season came to an disappointing end.

TEAMS - Skeheenarinky: Glen Walsh (7); Seamus O’Callaghan (7), James Barry (Capt 8), Eoin Morrissey (7); Noel Vaughan (8), Oisin Brennan (7), Riain O’Callaghan (6); Fionan O’Sullivan (8), Jack Kearney (6); Conor Sweeney (6), Tomas Vaughan (8), Charles English (6); John Martin (6), Darragh Brennan (7), Tommy Sweeney (6).

Subs: Sam McGrath (6) for Martin (HT); Christy English (6) for T Sweeney (42); Tommy Sweeney for C Sweeney (50 inj); Conor Sweeney for T Sweeney (HT ET); John Ryan (NR) for Morrissey (15 ET); Kieran Macken (NR) for O’Callaghan (16 ET)

Newport: Eoin Shinners (7); Shane Flanagan (7), Kevin Fitzpatrick (7), Aidan Moloney (Capt 7); Cian Flanagan (8), Conor O’Mahony (8), Aaron O’Neill (6); Conor McLoughlin (6), Diarmuid O’Riordan (7); Steven O’Connor (6), Conor Floyd (7), Charlie Tobin (7); Odhran Floyd (6), Colin Floyd (7), Pa Ryan (6).

Subs: Callum Poole (7) for O’Neill (42); James Moloney (6) for Ryan (54); Brendan Coffey (6) for O’Riordan (55); Pa Ryan for Connors (14 ET); Thomas Floyd (6) for O Floyd (15 ET).

Referee: Phil Ryan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams).