Lorrha Rovers find their form in extra time
Lorrha Rovers 1-22
Moneygall-Clonakenny 1-15 (After Extra Time)
Report: Michael Brophy in Moneygall
After erasing a five-point half-time deficit during normal time, Lorrha Rovers powered to victory over Moneygall-Clonakenny in extra time to qualify for the North Under 21 ‘B’ Hurling Final.
Played in heavy but dry conditions on Sunday afternoon, spectators were treated to an intensely hard-fought game, played in a positive spirit by two talented panels of players.
Lorrha Rovers, the amalgamation of Lorrha, Shannon Rovers and Knockshegowna, slowly cut the gap on the hosts during the second half but it took a Colm Fogarty free in the fifth minute of injury time to send the game to an extra period. They would go on to outscore Moneygall-Clonakenny by 0-8 to 0-1 in that phase, with the hosts left to rue a string of poor wides.
Colm Fogarty, a Tipperary Under 20 hurler in 2022, shone throughout the game despite being double marked for long stretches, with new Tipperary senior panellist Cian O’Dwyer getting similar attention at the other end of the field. O’Dwyer was hugely influential in the first half as Moneygall-Clonakenny built a 1-8 to 0-6 lead at the break.
Stephen Maher was unerring from long-range placed balls, hitting three from beyond midfield, while O’Dwyer hit their only goal in the sixteen minute when he turned Tom Duggan before striking low past Rory Duffy.
Lorrha Rovers slowly cut the gap in the opening ten minutes of the second half, with two classy scores by Michael Tierney and a terrific run and score from Fogarty from underneath the stand.
Cian O’Dwyer would respond with a fantastic point from a very narrow angle to keep the lead at five points before Lorrha Rovers struck for the goal that would get them back into the game. A long-range free from Darragh Guinan was snapped smartly outside the square by Fogarty, who buried it into the corner of the net.
Moneygall-Clonakenny responded well to increase the lead to three, with Sean Kenneally becoming increasingly influential. The hosts would hit ten second half wides however, and their erratic shooting was helping to keep Lorrha Rovers in touch and they would hit the last three points of normal time, including the pressure free from Fogarty from just inside the opposition ‘65’ (1-14 v 1-14).
After both sides traded points at the beginning of extra time, Lorrha Rovers would reel off seven in a row, including points from Donnacha O’Meara, Michael Tierney, Martin Gorman, and Michael Egan.
Player of the Match: Colm Fogarty (Lorrha Rovers)
Lorrha Rovers: Rory Duffy (7); Jack Ryan (7), Tom Duggan (7), Kevin Cahalan (7); Oisin Guinan (6), Darragh Guinan (0-1f, 8), Oisin McMahon (8); Cathal Hogan (7), Marcus Esmonde (0-1, 8); Donnacha O’Meara (0-2, 7), Michael Tierney (0-3, 8), Brandon Kennedy (0-1, 7); Martin Gorman (0-1, 7), Michael Egan (0-1, 7), Colm Fogarty (1-12, 0-8f, 0-1 ‘65’) 9).
Sub: Adam Stanley (7) for O Guinan (23 inj)
Moneygall-Clonakenny: Kevin McCormack (6); Michael Ryan (6), Cain Russell (7), David Tuohy (7); David Madden (6), Cameron Fleming (8), Andy Houlihan (7), Cathal Greene (7); Tomás Teehan (7), Aodhan Ryan (0-2, 8); Harry Fleming (6), Peter Maher (6), Sean Kenneally (0-4, 8); Stephen Maher (0-6, 5f, 8), Cian O’Dwyer (1-3, 0-1f, 8).
Subs: Sean Ryan (6) for Madden (49); Dylan McCormack (6) for S Maher (60); Marcus Fogarty (6) for P Maher (60); Stephen Maher for McCormack (HT ET); James White (6) for Teehan (11 ET).
Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).