Moyne repeat relegation playoff win over Newport

A five-star performance from Gearoid O’Connor was enough for Moyne-Templetuohy to overcome the Newport challenge in this County Premier Intermediate Hurling relegation semi-final in Dundrum on Sunday.

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Relegation Semi-Final

Moyne-Templetuohy 1-23

Newport 1-18

He hit the first five scores for Moyne-Templetuohy before fellow county star Conor Bowe struck the sixth, as the Mid-side got off to a strong start in the game which proved important in the end.

By the tenth minute, they were 0-7 to 0-3 up with Newport a little over-reliant on Pa Ryan from placed balls.

Moyne kept their noses in front throughout the half, never allowing Newport to come close on the scoreboard with Tomas Hamill, Eanna Guilfoyle and Ciaran Lloyd winning an amount of breaking ball.

As the half wore on the northerners did work their way into the game. A lovely pick up 'toe to hand style' from Peter O'Sullivan on eighteen minutes set up Oran Connors and the corner forward made no mistake giving the Newport supporters something major to cheer about with his goal on nineteen minutes.

It was a wake-up call for Moyne-Templetuohy as after all their good work they were just three points up 0-11 to 1-5.

They responded almost immediately; Gearoid O’Connor went on the attack and had the vision to see Martin Kelly in a favourable position with Kelly calmly collecting and slotting past the onrushing keeper.

By half time Moyne had pushed it on to 1-15 against 1-6 and that was the period of the game that gave them the cushion to withstand the strong comeback in the second half from Newport.

Sensing the game slipping away a revitalised Newport emerged after the break and straight away they set about their task with Pa Ryan striking two frees before a couple of smashing points by the impressive Cian Flanagan.

Newport dictated the next quarter but just didn’t make hay with all the scoring chances they created. Conor O’Mahony and Colin Floyd were warmed up and introduced so by now the dynamic had changed in the game.

By the 45th minute there was just five points in it 1-16 to 1-11 before Sean Hayes got a lovely point over the shoulder to kick-start a mini Moyne surge again.

With Conor O’Mahony making his presence felt, scoring two points, Newport kept in touch, working hard in the forwards to keep the ball in the vicinity of the Moyne goal.

Tomas Hamill had dominated for Moyne with booming clearances, but the ball started to stick with O’Mahony now in the Newport attack. The 2010 All-Ireland winner set up Brendan Coffey for a rousing Newport point leaving five in it with five minutes to play. They then got within three of their opponents with one minute of normal time left.

Newport were winning ball after ball, but a couple of rushed shots resulted in wides allowing Moyne to catch their breath and the steadiness of Gearoid O’Connor allowed Moyne-Templetuohy to see it out, much to the relief of man of the match Gearoid O'Connor.

“We were in a good position at half time, nine points up but to be fair to Newport they came back in the second half and had us on the ropes for a good while, but I’d say the experience of last year stood to us,” he said.

“We played them in the same fixture last year and we dogged that one out, so it stood to us.”

Newport now play neighbours Sean Treacys in a fascinating relegation final on Sunday week in Nenagh.

Player of the Match: Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy).

Moyne-Templetuohy: Paul Maher (7); Kieran Larkin (6), Tomas Hassett (6), Mark Ryan (7); Pearse Meade (7), Ciaran Lloyd (6), Tomas Hamill (8); Conor Bowe (0-1, 7), Paudie Gleeson (6); Eanna Guilfoyle (0-1, 6), Sean Hayes (0-2, 7), Diarmuid Fogarty (7); Tom Meade (0-3, 8), Martin Kelly (1-0, 7), Gearoid O’Connor (0-15, 10f, 9).

Subs used: Ben Ryan (6), Cormac Deegan (0-1, 7), Shane Lowe (6).

Newport: Paul Hogan (7); Conor Hickey (6), Conor Floyd (7), Cathal Floyd (6); Aidan Moloney (7), Thomas Floyd (7), Cian Flanagan (0-3, 8); Jack Ryan (6), Diarmuid O'Riordan (7); Peter O'Sullivan (0-1, 7), Jack Delahunty (6), Brendan Coffey (0-1, 7); Shane Flanagan (6), Pa Ryan (0-11, 10f, 7), Oran Connors (1-0, 7).

Subs used: Colin Floyd (7), Conor O'Mahony (0-2, 7), Aaron O'Neill (6).

Referee: PJ Nolan (Killea).