Cian O’Dwyer to the fore in Clonakenny win over Newport

An outstanding performance from Cian O’Dwyer led Clonakenny to their first win in group 3 of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday evening, and in the process edged Newport closer to another relegation battle.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 3

Clonakenny 1-25

Newport 1-15

Report: Shane Brophy at St Michael’s Park, Toomevara

These sides have been familiar opponents in recent years with Clonakenny tending to have the upper hand, and they did so again, dominating from start to finish, but it was only in the last quarter that they made it count on the scoreboard to run out ten point winners.

In the end, Cian O’Dwyer ended up scoring more than the entire Newport team with his 1-16 haul one of the biggest individual scoring feats in any championship grade, with the former Tipperary senior panellist virtually unmarkable with a number of Newport players being tried on him with no success. Newport’s indiscipline led to seven of those points but 1-7 came from play, with no angle or distance too great for him.

However, it was far from a one-man show for Clonakenny, who, stung by their first round loss to Boherlahan, were fired up from the off and that extra edge was the advantage over Newport throughout.

Michael John Caroll and Willie Ryan were to the fore in the half-backline while john Joe Ryan knitted the play well together in midfield where they provided the service for the inside forwards where Nicky Ryan and Matthew O’Sullivan were also impressive for a side that are only getting stronger with Bobby Bergin making a return as a second half sub.

These are tough times for Newport. A core of the team that reached the semi-final in 2020 are not there any more for various reasons, and the loss of experience of the likes of Conor O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Odhran Floyd is notable.

The return of Conor Floyd strengthened the half back line and was prominent in the first half while Cian Flanagan was again his hugely industrious self in midfield, chipping in with three points.

Up front, they were reliant on Colin Floyd who was superb with five points from play and had support from Pa Ryan, but the rest of the attack are a little lightweight and that physical advantage was where Clonakenny were able to withstand most of what Newport threw at them.

The first half was a low-key affair, Clonakenny getting on the front foot from the off and eased into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after eleven minutes, with Cian O’Dwyer on target with four.

Pa Ryan picked off two quick points from play as Newport were hoping to stay in touch against the stiff breeze and despite playing second fiddle, trailing 0-10 to 0-6 on 27 minutes, they would have been content coming up to the break.

Clonakenny should have been further ahead, with nine wides in the half, including two goal chances by Peadar Byrne and Cian O’Dwyer, but O’Dwyer was alert to deftly flick a long range free to the net on 29 minutes to help his side to a 1-11 to 0-6 half time lead, maintained also by a superb save from Willie Costigan from Colin Floyd in added time.

The margin wasn’t irretrievable, and Newport came out firing at the start of the second half with Colin Floyd bringing his tally to four from play, with Pa Ryan converting a free before Shane Flanagan bundled the ball over the line from a goalmouth scramble on 37 minutes, and suddenly there were just two points between the sides, 1-11 to 1-9.

Clonakenny didn’t panic and responded well to the barrage with Delacy Byrne providing a much needed score and by the three quarter mark were back out to a five point lead as the scores began to come more freely for both sides.

Newport felt it wasn’t going to be their day when ten minutes from time, Colin Floyd struck the crossbar from close range with Pa Ryan hitting the upright from the rebound, and when Clonakenny cleared to where Matthew O’Sullivan pointed, with a little help of the post.

That touch of fortune deflated the Mulcair men while Clonakenny powered on, outscoring Newport 0-7 to 0-2 in the close stages with Cian O’Dwyer contributing six, as well as a classy flick for an MJ Carroll point which summed up his performance on the evening.

The win sets up Clonakenny for a round 3 clash with a strong Thurles Sarsfields side that they need to win, and if they do, a victory over Boherlahan would see Newport avoid the relegation playoff for a second straight year.

Player of the Match: Cian O’Dwyer (Clonakenny)

Clonakenny: Willie Costigan (7); John Costigan (7), Diarmuid Ryan (7), Alexei Harty (6); Proinsias Matthews (6), Willie Ryan (7), Michael John Carroll (0-1, 7); John Joe Ryan (7), Conor Nesbitt (6); Delacy Byrne (0-1, 6), Peadar Byrne (6), Cain Russell (0-2, 7); Cian O’Dwyer (1-16, 0-7f, 0-2’ 65s) 10), Nicky Ryan (0-3, 8), Matthew O’Sullivan (0-2, 7).

Subs: Bobby Bergin (6) for Costigan (39); Conor Shanahan (6) for Nesbitt (43); Brian Mullally (6) for Matthews (53); Stevie Maher (NR) for JJ Ryan (60+3).

Newport: Paul Hogan (6); Cathal Floyd (5), Diarmuid O’Riordan (7), Conor Hickey (5); Aidan Moloney (6), Conor Floyd (7), Thomas Floyd (0-1f, 6); Cian Flanagan (0-3, 7), Kealan Floyd (6); Aaron O’Neill (6), Shane Flanagan (1-0, 6), Brendan Coffey (6); Pa Ryan (0-4, 1f, 7), Colin Floyd (0-5, 9), Oran Connors (6).

Subs: Peter O’Sullivan (0-1, 7) for Connors (43); Michael Quigley (0-1, 7) for Coffey (49); Jack Ryan (6) for Hickey (55 inj); Jack Delahunty (NR) for Flanagan (59).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).