Defiant Portroe end losing run to beat Borrisokane

GAA: Kelly’s Fantane North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Portroe 3-22

Borrisokane 1-23

Report: Liam Hogan at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: John Sheedy (Portroe)

SCORERS - Portroe: John Sheedy 0-11 (7 frees); Jack Moloney 2-1; Sam Madden 1-3 (0-1 s-cut); Oisin O’Connor 0-3; Conor O’Brien, Mark Gennery, Anthony Bourke, Robert Byrne (free) 0-1 each.

Borrisokane: Oisin Larkin 0-12 (4 frees, 2’65s); Ciaran Foley 0-3; Eanna Dooley 1-0; Gary Ryan, Michael Heenan, Brian Davis 0-2 each; Liam Cleary, Shane Nevin 0-1 each.

Rumours that all was not well in Portroe were proven off the mark as their fourteen-men defeated Borrisokane in a highly entertaining North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday afternoon.

Port’s ability to score goals was the difference and two in the first half helped them to a seven-point lead. Their supporters must have been worried as they were a man short for the second half as Mark Gennery was red-carded in the 29th minute.

Borrisokane cut the deficit to two by the 41st minute but Portroe were back in business when Jack Moloney took advantage a porous backline to grab his team’s third goal in the 47th minute and they never looked back with Borrisokane’s injury time goal by Eanna Dooley putting a gloss on the scoreboard.

This win brings bring an end to a disappointing run for Portroe. Two years ago, they were North Premier Intermediate champions but were relegated to the third tier last year. Emigration and injuries weakened the side. There was more bad news in the spring when Kevin O’Halloran broke his leg and in the run-up to this game they lost Michael Breen, Anthony Bourke, and goalkeeper Diarmuid Boyle to injury.

Boyle’s absence saw the return of veteran Darren Gleeson to man the goal. The former Tipperary custodian was outstanding, making two great saves, including penalty in the eighteenth minute.

Portroe’s first goal came in the fifth minute as Sam Madden crept inside the Borris cover to receive a great pass from John Sheedy.

Port led 1-2 to 0-4 at the time and it was necessary as Borris looked the livelier with Michael Heenan and Brian Davis scoring one point each while Oisin Larkin added two including one from a free.

With the experienced Gleeson in goals there was the added experience up front where John Sheedy led the way for Portroe. He scored three frees as well as assisting Madden for the goal.

Borrisokane had their standard bearer in Oisin Larkin. He had four points to his credit by then – two points from play – as his side kept went toe to toe with Port who had their goal to claim a 1-7 to 0-7 lead after fourteen minutes.

Borrisokane’s Liam Cleary along with Conor Ryan, Michael Heenan and Oisin Larkin were busy trying to break down the Port defence but in the 17th minute Cleary’s latest run resulted in winning a penalty when he was hauled down by Robert Byrne in the square. Larkin faced down Darren Gleeson, but the goalie produced a great save. The rebound fell to Philip Austin whose shot came back from the butt of the upright. Port survived momentarily before Ciaran Foley bisected the posts to leave Borris two in arrears.

Three minutes later, the pendulum swung back in Port’s favour when Robert Byrne’s clearance reached Jack Moloney who raced through for their second goal. Two Sheedy frees followed and Port led 2-9 to 0-8.

Borrisokane refused to yield and three unanswered points, two from Oisin Larkin, either side of a Liam Cleary score kept them close but Sheedy’s double moved Portroe six clear.

It was end-to-end as Borris came forward again as Bryan Davis, Oisin Larkin and Gary Ryan bisected the posts. Meanwhile, Port lost Mark Gennery for an off the ball incident with Jimmy Hough as referee Gerry Treacy consulted with his umpires and fourth official.

With three minutes of added time, the scores continued to flow and both John Sheedy (free) and Oisin Larkin (65) swapped scores before Oisin Connors made it 2-13 to 0-15 at half time.

The teams shared six points in the opening eight minutes of the second half with Portroe scoring first each time beginning with a John Sheedy score, aided by Robert Byrne’s long range free before Sam Madden grabbed the third. Oisin Larkin, Shane Nevin and Michael Heenan were on target for Borris with Heenan’s score the first of three unanswered points by the Lower Ormond side as Conor Foley and Oisin Larkin were on target, with Larkin’s shot travelling inches over the bar.

Port had a lucky escape, but Oisin O’Connor’s point settled the nerves and those settled more when Jack Moloney, despite being closely marked, scored his sides third goal with a ground shot following Sam Madden’s high delivery.

With the extra man Roan Murphy busy in his sweeping role and Shane Nevin providing good support, meant Borrisokane were always good for a score and quick points through Ciaran Foley and an Oisin Larkin 65 brought them within four. Oisin O’Connor replied but Larkin’s latest free made it a four point margin again as the hour mark approached.

Borrisokane kept plugging on; Philip Austin was almost through for a goal but lost his footing at the wrong time. The Portroe defence, where Robert Byrne, Adrian O’Halloran and Jack O’Callaghan finished strongly, had survived, and up front their attack flowed as John Sheedy, Jack Moloney and Anthony Bourke (with his first touch) scored three very valuable points to move them seven clear for the second time.

Borrisokanes were not prepared to let it go. Camped outside the Portroe thirteen metre line and a barrage of shots were saved by brave defenders, but their efforts finally paid off when Eanna Dooley scored a great goal in the 63rd minute.

There was time for more but Darren Gleeson’s puckout was long and play broke for Portroe to score again when none other than John Sheedy found space out on the wing as he directed another point to seal a great win.

Portroe had done enough to reach their first North Intermediate final in 34 years when they will meet Moneygall in the decider.

TEAMS - Portroe: Darren Gleeson (8); William Flood (7), Niall Gleeson (7), Adrian O’Halloran (7); Cian Hogan (7), Robert Byrne (7), Jack O’Callaghan (7); Conor Byrne (6), Conor O’Brien (7); Eoin Quinn (6), John Sheedy (Capt 8), Jack Moloney (7); Sam Madden (7), Mark Gennery (6), Oisin O’Connor (7).

Subs: Brian Keating (6) for Quinn (46); Niall Gleeson (6) for O’Brien (49 inj); Anthony Bourke (NR) for C Byrne (60); Conor Byrne for Keating (60+3 inj).

Borrisokane: Barry Ryan (7); Eddie O’Dwyer (6), Stephen Gavin (6), James Hough (6); Shane Nevin (7), Bryan Davis (7) Roan Murphy (8); Dylan Power (6), Michael Heenan (7); Ciaran Foley (7), Gary Ryan (Capt, 6), Conor Ryan (6); Liam Cleary (7), Philip Austin (7), Oisin Larkin (8).

Subs: Luke Quigley for Davis (blood 11-14); Kevin Cleary (6) for O’Dwyer (49); Luke Quigley (6) for Heenan (49 inj); Peter Collins (NR) for Power (56); Eanna Dooley (NR) for Austin (60+1).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).