Cappawhite oust Shannon Rovers in thriller

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Cappawhite 2-27

Shannon Rovers 1-25

(After Extra Time)

Report: James Hayden at Lacken Park, Newport

Shannon Rovers exited the County Intermediate Hurling Championship following an extra-time quarter final defeat to Cappawhite on Sunday.

With just a minute of normal time remaining, the Rovers trailed by what seemed an insurmountable six points but three points without reply coupled with a last gasp Conal Moran goal somehow sent the game to extra-time but Cappawhite stabilised things in the additional twenty minutes to progress to the last four.

Cappawhite drew first blood with a well-taken Sam Carmody point before Michael Tierney opened Shannon Rovers account with a nicely flighted effort from close range. Cappawhite responded with a sublimely hit brace from corner-forward Willie Barry.

The Rovers narrowed the gap to a point with a close-range Conal Moran free on five minutes, but their defence was struggling to keep tabs on Cappawhite’s scorer-in-chief Barry, and he quickly arrowed over his third point for a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Further points from Dara McCarthy (free) and Barry extended Cappawhite’s advantage to four before the Rovers started to get a grip on proceedings. Two Conal Moran points, the second from play, narrowed the gap before the outstanding centre-forward stepped up once more on eleven minutes. The Rovers should have been level though after Derek Horan’s effort was adjudged to have tailed wide, but it appeared it did bisect the uprights, a disputed point that would prove to be a crucial in the end for the Rovers.

Cappawhite continued to carve paths through the Rovers back line and by the 22nd minute led by three before Daire Duggan and David Buckley linked up to provide Brendan Murphy with a goal-scoring opportunity and the midfielder duly obliged with a cracking strike past John Flannery in the Rovers goal, 1-9 to 0-6.

Dara McCarthy added to Cappawhite’s tally on the cusp of half-time before two injury time points from Conal Moran were cancelled out by a long-range David Buckley effort from close to the sideline and close-range effort from Conor Martin.

Shannon Rovers trailed 1-12 to 0-8 at the break but lost further ground after Conor Martin flighted over a 33rd minute effort for Cappawhite. Shannon Rovers’ keeper John Flannery was also called into action after Dara McCarthy raided.

Willie Barry and Conal Moran traded long-range frees but the Rovers were struggling to break down a well-organised Cappawhite defence. In attack, Barry continued to cause problems and he arrowed over his fifth from play on 39 minutes to keep Cappawhite well in control, 1-15 to 0-9.

Shannon Rovers kept in touch thanks to Conal Moran’s accuracy from placed balls with John Flannery also pulling off a point-black save from Dara McCarthy on the three-quarter mark.

Shannon Rovers had switched George Hannigan into the inside forward line in a bid to net a goal, but Cappawhite kept the scoreboard ticking over with Willie Barry’s accurate from placed balls.

There was supreme drama to come though, with a raft of Conal Moran frees in the closing stages bringing the Rovers back to within six as injury-time approached. John Flannery kept the Rovers goal intact with save after save before Conal Moran fired over a cracking point from play. Eamonn Hough had a low drive scrambled off the line on 61 minutes but late points from John O’Meara and Austin Tierney reduced the deficit to three points. The red wave kept coming at pace and with virtually the last puck of the game Conal Moran rattled the net to send the tie to extra time, 1-20 apiece.

The first period saw Shannon Rovers hit the front with Eamonn Hough and Conal Moran on target. Cappa’ responded with a Dara McCarthy effort before arrowed over a free from 45 metres. The ding-dong battle continued and Cappawhite retaliated once more with a cracking Gearoid Lennon goal right on half-time in extra-time, coupled with a Dara McCarthy point saw Michael McCarthy’s charges lead 2-22 to 1-23 at the change of ends.

Cappawhite consolidated their lead in the second period with a Dara McCarthy free but back came the Rovers once more with points from Sean Hough and Conal Moran leaving just a single point between the sides.

Cappawhite wrestled back the advantage though with three unanswered Dara McCarthy points (2 frees) and a Daire Duggan point finally seeing off a gusty Shannon Rovers side.

Player of the Match: Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers)

Cappawhite: Jerry O’Neill (7); Mikey O’Brien (7), Sean Ryan (7), Philip Gantley (7); Ryan Renehan (7), Gearoid Ryan (7), Tom Treacy (0-1, 7); Kevin Stapleton (7), Brendan Murphy (1-0, 7); Sam Carmody (0-1, 7), David Buckley (0-2, 1 s-cut, 7), Conor Martin (0-2, 7); Daire Duggan (0-1, 7), Dara McCarthy (0-12, 8f, 7), Willie Barry (0-8, 3f, 9).

Subs: Rian Doody (6) for McCarthy (52); Colm O’Dwyer (6) for Renehan (55); Gearoid Lennon (1-0, 7) for Carmody (56); Dara McCarthy for Doody (ET); Sam Carmody for Murphy (ET); Ryan Renehan for Stapleton (ET).

Shannon Rovers: John Flannery (9); Oisin McMahon (7), Alan Hannigan (7), Emmet Moran (7); Derek Horan (7), Conor Ryan (7), Matt Tierney (7); Marcus Esmonde (7), Michael Tierney (0-1, 7); George Hannigan (7), Conal Moran (1-19 (0-13f) 9), Andy Byrne (0-1, 7); Austin Tierney (0-1, 7), Eamonn Hough (0-1, 7), Tom Hogan (6).

Subs: Cathal Hogan (6) for Hogan (27); John O’Meara (0-1, 6) for Byrne (49); Sean Hough (0-1, 6) for C Hogan (60+3); Andy Byrne for M Tierney (60+4); Jack O’Sullivan for Horan (ET); Cathal Hogan for Esmonde (ET); Tom Hogan for O’Meara (ET); M Tierney for Byrne (ET).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens).