Lorrha survive Clonakenny scare to claim berth in final four this weekend

FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Quarter Final 

Lorrha 1-20

Clonakenny 2-15

By Liam Hogan 

If Lorrha are to go on and win this year’s County Premier Intermediate Hurling title they will surely look back on this two-point victory over a gallant Clonakenny side as the one that made it possible. 

Last Saturday’s win at Nenagh was perhaps the perfect tonic for the side that entered the game as favourites but were made to fight all the way with three unanswered points in a blistering five minutes, which included over three minutes of added time, proving to be the winner.

That late late burst was Lorrha’s best hurling in the whole game. Yes, they led by six points on at least six occasions, the latest after 41 minutes when the scoreline stood at 1-13 to 0-10 after Michael Dolan delivered one of his three long-range frees. 

But from that moment the game turned on its head as Clonakenny, backed by the stiff breeze really took the game to Lorrha and almost snatched what would have been a great victory for the Mid Tipp runners-up. 

Lorrha finished the stronger but we wondered what might have happened if Clonakenny had taken their three-goal chances in the first half, a half that began with Cian O’Dwyer opening the scoring with a free inside a minute. 

Alan O’Meara’s well-struck sideline ball bisected the posts with precision thirty seconds later before Colm Fogarty began his whirlwind performance with a free in the third minute. 

The first half began in a whiz and it almost exploded into a frenzy as Clonakenny came storming up the field before John Joe Ryan levelled when a goal seemed easier to score. 

Ryan was one of Clonakenny’s best and he troubled Lorrha from time to time he had able assistants in Bobby O’Dwyer and Cian O’Dwyer while Willie Ryan and Delacy Byrne shored up the defence with many clearances. 

Meanwhile, Lorrha had recovered from the early fright and began to settle down with Colm Fogarty pointing a free before showing a clean pair of heels as he scored his second from play. 

O’Meara won another ball and cut through the Clonakenny cover but Bobby Bergi’s timely flick cleared the danger before Clonakenny had the Lorrha goal area under threat when Cian O’Dwyer’s effort was cleared off the line.

Lorrha had nine lives but they eventually settled down and with Michael Dolan and Tom Duggan cutting off any further danger from the Mid runners up and at the other end they increased their lead to five by the 14th minute after Colm Fogarty’s free was aided by two well-taken points by Eoin McIntyre. 

Two Clonakenny points inside five minutes through Willie Ryan and John Joe Ryan brought Clonakenny three behind and they almost scored a goal but Tom Duggan denied Cian O’Dwyer before Diarmuid Ryan scored a great point in the 26th minute.   

As much as they tried, Lorrha were unable to reach the plateau of what we have come to expect with Patrick Maher and Cian Hogan not much involved but the latter soon made amends when he scored a really brilliant goal in the 27th minute. 

Colm Fogarty’s pointed free had Lorrha six clear but Cian O’Dwyer’s free had the margin back to five before Michael Dolan’s ninety metre free had Lorrha six clear and looking safe as the teams went into their dressing rooms at 1-9 to 0-6. 

The opening five minutes of the second half saw both sides match each other point for point with Matthew O’Sullivan scoring first for Clonakenny only for Ciaran Hough to reply as Cian O’Dwyer and Michel Dolan swapped scores from placed balls. 

Two Cian O’Dwyer frees had the margin back to four as Lorrha were guilty of conceding their fifth offence in seven minutes before points from Alan O’Meara and Michael Dolan from a  free had Lorrha ahead by six for the sixth and final time.  

A minute later, Clonakenny posed danger close to the Lorrha goal with Matthew O’Sullivan fouled and Cian O’Dwyer converted the said free. There was more coming from the ever-improving Mid men and a minute later Cian O’Dwyer had Michael Kennedy beaten with the Clonakenny following in full voice. 

Lorrha’s most potent forward, Colm Fogarty had Lorrha three in front as the game had really come to life. Fogarty was Lorrha’s shining star but he needed more assistance from his fellow forwards. Eoin McIntyre was a big help with his three points while Michael Dolan held the Lorrha backline together with Daniel O’Donoghue and Tom Duggan keeping tabs on an improving Clonakenny attack.

Meanwhile, Clonakenny replied through Michael John Carroll after Nicky Ryan combined. It was end to end and Christopher Fogarty was fouled in pursuit of a goal, and Colm Fogarty increased his tally from frees before Cian O’Dwyer matched Fogarty on the free count. 

Another Fogarty free had Lorrha three in front after Bonner Maher won a free when cutting through the Clonakenny cover. But Stephen Russell’s puckouts, helped by the breeze, had John Joe Ryan in possession before he found Bobby Bergin with the latter having the Lorrha net bulging. 

Christopher Fogarty put Lorrha in front once more but Cian O’Dwyer levelled with a free as the scoreline read 1-17 to 2-14 with seven minutes remaining. 

Lorrha needed something but Patrick Maher’s shoot at goal was Lorrha’s first wide of the second half before Clonakenny responded again and they deservedly secured the lead for the first time thanks to another O’Dwyer free with three minutes on the clock. 

The North champions appeared to be in trouble but they responded through Eoin McIntyre who grabbed his third and most important point. His point coincided with Lorrha strengthening their defence by bringing Darragh Guinan back to wing back instead of the midfield role he resided in during the previous fifty minutes or so. 

Lorrha raised the heat with nothing passing their half backline and with Cian Hogan and Patrick Maher taking over on the forty, Lorrha came good after two efforts by Christopher Fogarty and Ciaran Hough had strayed wide before the steady hand of Colm Fogarty scored two vital points to seal the win for Lorrha who now take on Cashel King Cormacs in the semi-final next Saturday in a contest that will test the North champions. 

Lorrha: Michael Kennedy; Denis O’Meara, Daniel O’Donoghue, Tom Duggan; Conor Hogan, Michael Dolan (0-3f), Darragh Guinan; Alan O’Meara (0-2, 0-1 s-cut), Ciaran Hough (0-1); Colm Fogarty (0-10, 0-6f), Patrick Maher, Niall McIntyre; Christopher Fogarty (0-1), Cian Hogan (1-0), Eoin McIntyre (0-3).     

Subs used: David Fogarty for Conor Hogan (50); Martin Gorman for N McIntyre (62). 

Clonakenny: Stephen Russell; Donie Greed, John Costigan, Cain Russell; Alexei Harty, Willie Ryan (0-1), Delacy Byrne; Diarmuid Ryan (0-1), John Joe Ryan (0-2); Conor Shanahan, Cian O’Dwyer (1-8, 0-7f), Michael John Carroll (0-1); Bobby Bergin (1-0); Nicky Ryan, Matthew O’Sullivan (0-1).

Subs used: Paul Bergin for W Ryan (20-22 blood); Paul Bergin for C Russell (HT);  Peadar Byrne (0-1) for O’Sullivan (53); John O’Meara for Carroll (58). 

Referee: John Dooley (Thurles Gaels)