Newport undone by last gasp Bowe winner

Moyne Templetouhy/ Thurles Gaels 0-17

Newport 2-10

 

By James Hayden in Dolla

 

A last gasp Conor Bowe point proved Newport’s undoing in a hugely absorbing County Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling Championship semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

Having overcome Borrisokane with ease in the North final, Newport went into this encounter bouyed by an impressive performance but came up against a teak-tough, stern challenge from a combination side gunning for a tilt at the county title.

Indeed, Newport could have easily sent the tie to extra-time after they gallantly clawed back a two-point deficit in the closing stages but their failure to defend a late Gearoid O’Connor free cost them dearly after Conor Bowe gathered the delivery from the toes of the Dolla stand and knifed over from close-range to send the Mid champions through to the decider against Cappawhite Gaels this Sunday.

Narrow favourites going into the encounter, Newport never really reached the peak of their powers and struggled at times to cope with the physical dominance of a hugely determined Moyne Templetouhy/ Thurles Gaels outfit, particularly the aerial superiority of scorers in chief, Gearoid O’Connor and Conor Bowe.

 

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