Portroe hold off Roscrea in extra time classic

GAA: Savvy’s Kitchen North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Portroe 2-24

Roscrea 2-23

(After Extra Time)

Report: Liam Hogan in Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Ruan Mulrooney (Portroe)

SCORERS - Portroe: John Sheedy 0-7 (4 frees, 1’65); AJ Willis 2-1; Ruan Mulrooney 0-6; Kevin O’Halloran 0-4 (1 s-cut); Sam Madden, Jack Moloney 0-2 each; Robert Byrne, Mark Gennery 0-1 each.

Roscrea: Jason Fitzpatrick 0-7 (5 frees); Luke Cashin 0-6 (5 frees); Jason Gilmartin 0-4; Shane Fletcher 0-3, Michael Campion, Sam Conlon 1-0 each; Dan Ryan 0-2; Kenny Lee 0-1.

What an exciting final to inaugurate the new Liam Devaney Cup which will now have its first home in Portroe following their brilliant win over a never say die Roscrea side a thrilling North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling final on Sunday.

Played in blistering heat, neither side would have preferred an extra twenty minutes but that is what was required after the sides finished level in normal time after John Sheedy’s forty metre free levelled matters at 2-16 each.

Portroe did the early running and went seven points in front by the 21st minute and were seven to the good for the fourth time by the 34th minute and once extra time commenced Portroe did the same thing with the lead stretching to five before the final changeover.

However, it takes two to tango and Roscrea, for the second time staged a brilliant comeback, and had Jason Gilmartin’s shot which seared over Diarmuid Boyle’s crossbar, we might well have had a penalty shootout.

This new competition took years to gain planning permission and the inaugural final was between two very hungry teams searching for success with Portroe looking for a first since winning their sole senior title in 2012 while Roscrea supporters would mention their 2004 North final success.

In a game that was played at a fast pace with Port the early pacemakers with AJ Willis beating Enda Moloney to send Port 1-1 to nil in front after four minutes. Captain Robert Byrne increased their lead three minutes later before Luke Cashin opened Roscrea’s account with a free in the seventh minute.

After Dan Ryan reduced the margin to four, a Mark Gennery point had Port five to the good before points by Dan Ryan and a Luke Cashin free had Roscrea three in arrears after fifteen minutes. And while the forward line were delivering the Portroe backline were steady under the influence of Robert Byrne and Michael Breen with Kevin O’Halloran and Jack Moloney on top at midfield. Port’s good start had Roscrea upset and their restarts were not helping either

After John Sheedy’s free made it 1-6 to 0-5 in the nineteenth minute, Portroe’s fans were shouting for joy when goal machine AJ Willis had his second goal after great stickwork by Ruan Mulrooney, not forgetting Sam Madden’s run from the wing seconds earlier.

Both sides went point for point on the run to half time with Port leading by seven thanks to an excellent Jack Moloney point before Luke Cashin’s fourth free cut the deficit at half time, 2-10 to 0-10.

After Mulrooney extended the Port’s lead, Roscrea responded with the excellent Jason Gilmartin forcing Diarmuid Boyle to save. Already there were chinks of light in the Roscrea attack. They used the wings to better their chances and direct ball to Shane Fletcher, who was now operating on the inside forward line, made an enormous difference.

It took until the 40th minute before the game really came to life when a move created by Kenny Lee and Fletcher set up Michael Campion for a goal to make it 2-11 to 1-10.

Kevin O’Halloran replied with a superb point from the side-line on halfway.

But with Darragh Tynan playing brilliantly and well supported by Darren O’Connor and Michael Campion the scores continued to come for Ros and points by Jason Gilmartin and Shane Fletcher had Roscrea three in arrears, twelve minutes from time.

A quick riposte from John Sheedy for Port but four unanswered points, two each from Cashin (frees) and Shane Fletcher score from play had the scores level with four minutes left.

But points by John Sheedy’ (free) and Mulrooney made it look good for Portroe with play entering the second minute of added time, but it was Roscrea’s turn to dance when Sam Conlon somehow sent the ball to the net in the sixth minute of added time, following an indirect free by Cashin.

Yet, ninety seconds later, Portroe found a reprieve when John Sheedy displayed nerves of steel to equalise and send the game to extra time.

Portroe quickly took the lead through Kevin O’Halloran. The excellent Jason Gilmartin levelled matters from the left wing, but Portroe were on the front foot as five unanswered points in as many minutes from Sheedy (free), Madden, Mulrooney, Willis, and Jack Moloney put them in a strong position before Jason Fitzpatrick had taken over the Roscrea free-taking duties and his free left the half time score at 2-22 to 2-18.

Dan Ryan’s return to action was ground-breaking run and after the final break, he was on the run again leading to another free which Fitzpatrick converted.

Both John Sheedy and Fitzpatrick traded frees before a Shane Fletcher run forced a free with Fitzpatrick reducing the margin to two.

Diarmuid Boyle’s puckouts were very lengthy and his next found Anthony Burke who in turn found Ruan Mulrooney out in the corner and, while having a lot to do, still manged to fire over from the wing with his sixth and most important score of the day.

It happened to be Portroe’s last score as their supporters endured two minutes of nail-biting tension as Roscrea came in search of a late goal and with Shane Fletcher in the vicinity the Portroe defence conceded another free. Jason Fitzpatrick went low, but Port saved and cleared the danger momentarily before Jason Gilmartin sent a goal-bound shot inches over the bar.

Time was almost up but more Roscrea pressure won another free. Jason Fitzpatrick decided to lob the free (Paddy Phelan like) but only succeeded in landing the ball on the roof of the net. Seconds later full time was called much to the delight of an enthusiastic Portroe following.

TEAMS - Portroe: Diarmuid Boyle (7); Michael Creamer (7), Michael Breen (8), John Moroney (7); Jack Moloney (8), Robert Byrne (8), Christopher Riordan (7); Colm Gleeson (6), Kevin O’Halloran (8); Ruan Moloney (8), John Sheedy (7), AJ Willis (8); Sam Madden (7), Mark Gennery (6), Anthony Burke (6).

Subs: Ian O’Donnell (6) for Gennery (45); John Moroney (6) for O’Riordan (53 inj); Mark Gennery for Mulrooney (55-58 blood); Keith McKeogh (6) for Burke (58); Mark Gennery for O’Donnell (60 inj); Anthony Burke for McKeogh (13 ET).

Roscrea: Enda Moloney (7); Shane Davis (7), Keith McMahon (7), Conor Phelan (7); Darragh Tynan (8), Darren O’Connor (7), Michael Campion (8); Dan Ryan (8), Shane Fletcher (8); Joe Carroll (6), Jason Fitzpatrick (7); Evan Fitzpatrick (6); Jason Gilmartin (8), Kenny Lee (6), Luke Cashin (6).

Subs: Conor Dooley (6) for E Fitzpatrick (40); Sam Conlon (7) for Carroll (50); James Synott (6) for Ryan (ET); Evan Fitzpatrick for Cashin (5 ET); Dan Ryan for Phelan (8 ET); James Synott for Ryan (20+2 ET).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)