Flying Gortnahoe into quarter finals

Gortnahoe/Glengoole 4-17

Sean Treacy’s 2-14

Report: John O’Shea at Semple Stadium

2020 Intermediate champions Gortnahoe/Glengoole made it two wins from as many outings in Seamus O Riain Cup group 3 following victory over Sean Treacys on Saturday.

Despite the Treacy’s opening the scoring, it was the Mid men who made all the running. They dominated each of the four quarters and Treacys two late goals served only to colour the scoreline.

Gortnahoe hit four goals, three in the second half and were always comfortable. Throughout they were slicker, faster, and moved the ball with pace, especially around their forward division, with their goals coming from well-worked moves.

Sean Treacys, making their first appearance in the Stadium after a long number of years, got off the mark through Pat Carey after two minutes. Jack Moore equalised from the puckout before Carey and Pat Deegan eased the West men back in front.

The sides were level three times in the opening seven minutes, but gradually Gortnahoe got into their stride, opening up gaps in the Treacys defence with good running from Ronan Teehan, Fionn Cleary and Jack Moore. They led at the water break, 0-8 to 0-4 and when Fionn Cleary got through for their opening goal after seventeen minutes, it gave them a seven-point cushion which they held for the remainder of the game.

Sean Treacys were finding it hard to make inroads into the Gortnahoe defence where Davy Nolan and Martin Barnaville were particularly impressive. Seanie Ryan (Rogers) and Tom Hickey got in for points, but in the main they were over dependant on Pat Carey for scores. They were unable to get the goal that was needed to get them back into the game and Gortnahoe finished out the half with two converted close range frees to retain their seven-point lead, 1-13 to 0-9.

Sean Treacys needed a good third quarter, but it was the Mid men who continued to set the pace and when Ronan Teehan struck goal number two on 39 minutes, following a piercing run through the middle, the game was as good as over.

Gortnahoe had stretched their lead out to eleven points by the second water break, 2-16 to 0-11, with points from Jack Moore, Adrian Maher and Fionn Cleary, while the Sean Treacys points came from Seanie Ryan (Rogers) and Brian Carey.

The final quarter continued in the same vein with two further goals from Adrian Maher, when he picked up a cross from Kevin Slattery, and Jack Moore, they led by fifteen points as the game headed towards injury time.

Sean Treacys, to their credit, never gave up and continued to bring the fight to their opponents. They were rewarded with two goals in injury time from Pat Deegan and substitute Cillian Kennedy, but by this stage Gortnahoe/Glengoole were well and truly over the line and with two wins to their credit have booked a quarter final place.

They will be very happy, not only with this victory, but in their overall performance. They now have put their hand up as viable contenders.

Sean Treacys, never got up to the pitch of the game and following on their round 1 exploits against Killenaule, will be disappointed with this display and need to beat Ballina to have any chance of reaching the last eight.

Player of the Match: Ronan Teehan (Gortnahoe/Glengoole)

Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Timmy Dunne; Enda McCarthy, Davy Nolan, Philly Purcell, Brian Maher (0-3), Martin Barnaville, Colm Guilfoyle, Jack Moore (1-2), Karl Campion, Fionn Cleary (1-3, 0-1f), Ronan Teehan (1-6, 0-5f, 0-1 s-cut), Shay Butler, Gearoid Fahey, Kevin Slattery (0-2), Darragh Maher.

Subs used: Adrian Maher (1-1), Tommy Duggan, Jamie Moriarty, Davy Butler.

Sean Treacys: Shane Stapleton, Andy O’Brien, Sean Hickey, Willie Mackey, Chris Egan, Mikey Feehan, Paul Nolan, Jody Ryan, Pat Deegan (1-1), Tom Hickey (0-1), Brian Carey (0-1), Donncha O’Brien, Pat Carey (0-9, 5f), Mattie Feehan, Seanie Ryan (0-2).

Subs used: Darragh Kennedy, Stevie Carr, Philip Deegan, Pat Dawson, Brendan O’Dwyer, Cillian Kennedy (1-0).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).