Lorrha find an extra gear to reel in Burgess for first Premier Intermediate title

A four-goal second half performance saw Lorrha overturn a five-point half time deficit to win their first North Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling title when defeating Burges on Sunday evening.

GAA: Savvy Kitchens North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Lorrha 4-15

Burgess 2-16

Report: Liam Hogan in Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Patrick Maher (Lorrha)

SCORERS - Lorrha: Colm Fogarty 1-8 (1-0 pen, 0-5 frees); Patrick Maher 1-3; Cian Hogan 1-1; Eoin McIntyre 1-0; Niall McIntyre, Michael Dolan (free), Alan O’Meara 0-1 each.

Burgess: Stephen Kirwan 1-4; Stephen Murray 0-5 (3 frees, 1 65, 1 s-cut); Kieran Grace 1-1; Danny Ryan 0-2; Micheal Ryan, Bill O’Flaherty, Eoin Hogan, Johnny Mulqueen 0-1 each.

With Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher producing a man of the match performance at full forward, Lorrha have an attack which would excite most clubs as last year’s North and County Intermediate champions raised their game in the second half as they outscored Burgess 4-5 to 0-7.

The pre-match talk about the two red cards received by Denis O’Meara and Darragh Guinan in the semi-final against Portroe must have deprived Lorrha them some oxygen as they prepared for this game. The news that Darragh Guinan had his red card overturned put a positive spin on things, but it took them 25 minutes before they reached the levels they can get to as they slowly turned the screw on Burgess. It coincided with the arrival of Ciaran Haugh after the All-Ireland Minor and Under 21 medal winner replaced the injured Alan O’Meara who had started well for the winners.

This was a very exciting game from start to finish with every player giving it all and Burgess, without the injured Donagh Maher due to a shoulder injury received in the semi-final against Newport, took the game by storm in the opening quarter. After Lorrha took an early 0-3 to 0-2 advantage, Burgess took the initiative with Kieran Grace and Stephen Kirwan scoring a goal apiece to lead 2-3 to 0-3 after nine minutes.

Lorrha looked to be in a bit of bother as Grace, a pre-match replacement for Donagh Maher, caused many problems and on the other wing Stephen Kirwan was Burgess best player by a mile with his 1-4 return from play. Eoin Hogan won a lot of aerial ball while Bill O’Flaherty was another threat on the edge of the square.

Oisin Guinan replaced Denis O’Meara in the Lorrha full-back line with team captain Michael Dolan somewhat busy in the opening twenty minutes. Part of their problem was that the Burgess midfield were gaining the upper hand somewhat and after Colm Fogarty had scored his first free in the tenth minute, it was midfielder Danny Ryan had restored his sides two goal advantage.

Yet, Lorrha responded with three points in as many minutes through Colm Fogarty, a Michael Dolan ninety-metre free before Alan O’Meara availed of an assist from Cian Hogan to point.

Stephen Kirwan was on target again, but Lorrha reacted through Colm Fogarty with two frees before Burgess reeled off three quick points through Danny Ryan, a Stephen Murray eighty metre free with Kieran Grace restoring the six point lead.

Burgess were deserving of their advantage but every time Patrick Maher (who scored two points early in the game) touched the ball there was a sense of fear amongst the Burgess defence and his latest shot was goal-bound but it cannoned of a defender. Seconds later, Colm Fogarty converted another free to leave the half time scoreline Burgess 2-9 Lorrha 0-10.

Lorrha played into the town end in the second half and had only to wait two and a half minutes before they had Ronan Tucker beaten after Cian Hogan found just enough space to find the back of the net with Colm Fogarty and Eoin McIntyre involved in the move. Eoin Hogan’s ability to catch ball was exemplary throughout the game and after he was fouled it was another easy free for Stephen Murray.

Michael Kennedy’s puckouts found their target on a regular basis. Lorrha’s speed of movement was more noticeable and in the 37th minute they created more danger with Patrick Maher’s skill setting him free to squeeze home their second goal.

Burgess responded very well through Stephen Murray who flighted a side-line ball over the bar before he pointed a 65 after Michael Kennedy did well to deny Stephen Kirwan seconds earlier.

It was end-to-end stuff and in the 41st minute Patrick Maher and Christopher Fogarty got inside the Burgess cover to win a penalty which Colm Fogarty converted. Lorrha were in front for the first time since the sixth minute, but it didn’t take long before Eoin Hogan had Burgess level for the third time quickly followed by Stephen Murray superb lead point.

The tempo increased even more as Lorrha came level when Colm Fogarty pointed a free in the 48th minute. One minute later, the game turned on its head. Eoin McIntyre stood unmarked outside the square as Patrick Maher and David Fogarty combined for McIntyre to hit the net from close range. Maher added a point and Lorrha’s worries eased somewhat when Colm Fogarty increased the lead to four with a great point two minutes later.

It took another seven minutes before the next score arrived. In the meantime, Lorrha lost Tom Duggan to a second yellow card after he fouled Stephen Murray close to goal. Murray went low but the Lorrha line stood strong. Michael Ryan managed a long range point to Burgess three adrift.

The hour mark had passed but it was Lorrha who defended strongly and sealed the win with Colm Fogarty and Cian Hogan scoring long range points.

The only blot on their performance was David Fogarty’s dismissal late on for an off the ball incident.

This latest success will be another boost for Lorrha who face their opening game of the county championship next weekend where they will join Mid champions Gortnahoe/Glengoole plus South Senior champions, Killenaule as well as Portroe in their group.

Burgess will have a tough test also and in a mini North championship as the will meet Silvermines and Newport for the second time this year with Clonakenny also in contention.

TEAMS - Lorrha: Michael Kennedy (7); Oisin Guinan (7), Daniel O’Donoghue (7), Tom Duggan (7); Conor Hogan (6), Michael Dolan (Capt 8), Darragh Guinan (7); Alan O’Meara (7), Niall McIntyre (8); Eoin McIntyre (7), Cian Hogan (7), Martin Gorman (7); Christopher Fogarty (7), Patrick Maher (9), Colm Fogarty (8).

Subs: Ciaran Haugh (7) for O’Meara (28 inj); David Fogarty (6) for Gorman (47).

Burgess: Ronan Tucker (7); Daire Hogan (7), Kieran Ryan (6), Willie Ryan (6); Jack O’Flaherty (7), Pat Woods (6), Johnny Mulqueen (7); Danny Ryan (7), Michael Ryan (7); Keith Nealon (7), Stephen Kirwan (8), Stephen Murray (7); Eoin Hogan (7), Bill Flaherty (6), Kieran Grace (7).

Subs: Conor Cooney (6) for W Ryan (44); Eoin Grace (6) for Woods (53).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).