Newport and Treacys must go again in Premier Intermediate Relegation decider

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Relegation Hurling Final

Newport 1-18

Sean Treacys 2-15

Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Colin Floyd (Newport)

SCORERS – Newport: Colin Floyd 0-11 (6 frees, 1 ’65); Oran Connors 1-1; Pa Ryan 0-3; Shane Flanagan 0-2; Cian Flanagan, Conor O’Mahony 0-1 each.

Sean Treacys: Paddy Carey 0-9 (6 frees, 1’ 65); Patrick Deegan 0-4; Michael Feehan 1-1; Jody Ryan 1-0; Brian Carey 0-1.

Newport and Sean Treacys must go again to determine who falls into the intermediate grade after the Mulcair men battled from a five-points down in a teak-tough Premier Intermediate Relegation final played in tough conditions on Sunday.

Both sides went into this encounter determined to maintain their status in the second tier of hurling in the Premier County with Sean Treacys boosted by the return of both Brian Carey and Diarmuid Kennedy from Dubai. Newport were also buoyed by the return of Odhran Floyd and Sean O’Brien from overseas in what proved a hard-fought gutsy battle between the two near neighbours.

Playing with the aid of a gale-force gusting breeze, Newport were afforded an initial goal chance after Oran Connors broke through on goal but he didn’t gain enough purchase on his strike which was easily saved by Shane Stapleton in the Treacys goal.

Treacys responded with the opening point of the game from Brian Carey before Cian Flanagan flighted over a sublimely struck sideline cut on five minutes. Newport arrowed over three points on the bounce in response with two from Colin Floyd and a third from Oran Connors firing Tim Floyd’s charges into a two-point advantage.

Treacys were in no mood to capitulate though and successive efforts from Michael Feehan and Paddy Carey brough the sides level with just eleven minutes elapsed, 0-4 apiece.

With the rain now cascading down both sides struggled for supremacy with Brian Carey causing untold problems for Newport in the middle of the field. Paddy Carey and Colin Floyd arrowed over frees for their respective sides before efforts from Pa Ryan and Colin Floyd (free) edged Newport in front once more with 23 minutes elapsed.

Sean Treacys wrestled back the advantage with two on the bounce from Paddy Carey and Patrick Deegan before Shane Flanagan seized upon a poor Shane Stapleton puckout and linked up well with Oran Connors for a cracking low finish to the back of the net, 1-7 to 0-8.

Paddy Carey responded for Treacys with a close-range free before Shane Flanagan arrowed over sweetly struck point right on the cusp of half-time to ensure Newport lead by 1-7 to 0-9 at the break.

Sean Treacys were left waiting on the field for Newport prior to the start of the second half but within seconds of throw-in the game was turned on its head with Patrick Deegan tearing through the heart of the Newport defence and handing off to the inrushing Stevie Carr, who found Jody Ryan with an incisive ball and the Treacys full-forward roofed the sliotar into the back of the Newport net to hand the West side a timely fillip.

Paddy Carey added two further points to fire Treacys into a whirlwind three-point lead before Newport steadied the ship with efforts from half-time substitute Conor O’Mahony and Colin Floyd.

Paddy Carey responded with a 41st minute free from close-range before Michael Feehan raced through the centre of the defence, unleashing a rocket past the outstretched Paul Hogan in the Newport goal, 2-13 to 1-11.

Both the elements and the initiative were well and truly with the West men going into the final quarter but Tim Floyd’s charges had other ideas.

Newport belied the driving rain and gusting wind to rattle off six points without reply as they battled for all they were worth with Shane Flanagan and Pa Ryan picking off some well-worked points from play before Colin Floyd arrowed over a placed ball from a difficult angle close. Two further points from the Newport talisman, the first from a 65’ and the second a delicious effort from play brought Newport level with just five minutes remaining, 1-16 to 2-13.

Newport hit the front with another Colin Floyd free before Paddy Carey fired over a wind-assisted 65’ to level matters. As injury time approached, Paddy Deegan handed Treacys the advantage with his fourth point from play before Colin Floyd (free) stepped up to level matters once more in the 62nd minute.

Both sides battled to snatch a last gasp winner with Sean Treacys afforded the chance, but Cillian Kennedy’s effort blazed to the wrong side of the post and wide.

Both sides must now fight it out once more in a replay on Saturday week but the big question will be if the players who returned from overseas will be available to line out once more as Newport and Sean Treacys battle to maintain their Premier Intermediate status.

TEAMS - Newport: Paul Hogan (7), Conor Hickey (7), Conor Floyd (7), Cathal Floyd (7); Aidan Moloney (6), Thomas Floyd (7), Cian Flanagan (0-1, 7); Brendan Coffey (6), Diarmiuid O’Riordan (7); Sean O’Brien (7), Colin Floyd (8), Odhran Floyd (7); Shane Flanagan (7), Pa Ryan (7), Oran Connors (7).

Subs: Peter O’Sullivan (6) for Coffey (28); Conor O’Mahoney (0-1, 7) for Moloney (HT); Andrew Hickey (6) for T Floyd (45); Thomas Floyd for C Hickey (56 inj); Aaron O’Neill (NR) for O’Riordan (60+2).

Sean Treacys: Shane Stapleton (7), Christy Egan (7), Sean Hickey (7), Andy O’Brien (7); Brian Carey (7), Sean Ryan (7), Colm Kennedy (7); Patrick Deegan (8), Paul Nolan (7); Darragh Carr (7), Stevie Carr (7), Michael Feehan (7); Paddy Carey (7), Jody Ryan (7), Patrick Dawson (6).

Subs: Shane Fahy (6) for Egan (HT); Darragh Kennedy (7) for Dawson (47); Cillian Kennedy (6) for Fahy (56); Tom Hickey (NR) for D Carr (58); Christy Egan for O’Brien (60+3).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).