Boherlahan begin life in second tier with impressive win over Gortnahoe

Mid Premier Intermediate Hurling Quarter-Final

Boherlahan Dualla   0-16

Gortnahoe       0-13

Ronan Loughnane at Littleton

Last year’s County Intermediate champions Boherlahan Dualla made a winning start to life in the Premier Intermediate grade as they saw off the challenge of Gortnahoe Glengoole in front of a reasonable crowd at Littleton on Sunday evening. 

In a game that never really caught fire, it was the sharper Boherlahan attack that proved the difference. Gortnahoe, playing with the aid of a stiff breeze in the opening half, dominated possession but they left their shooting boots at home as they amassed thirteen wides before the break, while Boherlahan were that bit more efficient when the opportunities arose. 

Seamus Leahy was very lively in the early stages for Boherlahan and he opened the scoring with a point from play in the third minute. Keane Hayes replied from a free for Gortnahoe in the fifth minute before the impressive Tomas Ryan landed two from play in the 11th and 15th minutes to put Boherlahan 0-3 to 0-1 ahead at the end of the opening quarter. 

While there was plenty of endeavour on both sides the shooting was well below par at times, but Boherlahan upped the ante before the break as they landed six points in the final ten minutes. Leahy (2), Ryan, Jack Canny, Euan Ryan, and Fionn McCullagh were all on target in reply to three from Gortnahoe thanks to Gearoid Fahey, Darragh Maher, and Hayes. 

Leading 0-9 to 0-4 and turning to play with the breeze one would have expected Boherlahan to pull away after the break. And while they never really looked like losing the game Gortnahoe kept them honest right to the end. 

Hayes and Ryan traded frees in the opening minutes of the second half before Oisin Cleary landed a nice point from play for Gortnahoe. Tomas Ryan continued his excellent form and grabbed two from play in the fifth and ninth minutes. 

Hayes and Adrian Maher pointed from play to make it 0-12 to 0-8 after 40 minutes before a big turning point a minute later. Darragh Lacey in the Boherlahan failed to deal adequately with a dropping ball, resulting in a Gortnahoe penalty. 

But the young keeper redeemed himself as he dived to his right to save brilliantly from Hayes. It was a real shot in the arm for Boherlahan and they responded in style with an excellent point from Jack Canny following great approach work from the hard-working Darragh Hickey. 

Back came Gortnahoe with points from Jack Moore and Hayes to cut the gap to three. Boherlahan always seemed to have a response however and Hickey put the finishing touch to Euan Ryan’s approach in the 50th minute to leave them 0-14 to 0-10 ahead. 

A cracking Johnny Ryan point from distance put them five up in the 53rd minute before Hayes landed another free two minutes later. Hickey blocked another bullet with five minutes left before Euan Ryan stuck another long-distance point on 58 minutes. 

Darragh Maher reduced the lead to a single score with two points in injury-time but Boherlahan stood firm in a frantic finish as Gortnahoe pushed hard for an equalising goal. 

The winners will be delighted to clear their first hurdle at this grade as they go forward to meet Thurles Sarsfields in the semi-final. While they still have plenty to work on they will be pleased with many aspects of their play. 

Darragh Hickey, Charlie Ryan, Ger O’Dwyer, Euan Ryan, and Tomas Ryan were all to the fore while the entire full-forward line were a constant threat. Gortnahoe will rue those first-half misses when they were well on top which ultimately cost them victory. 

Their best performers were in defence where Davy Nolan, Brian Maher, and Conor Gleeson all hurled well. A normally potent attack didn’t fire on Sunday evening but the return to the starting lineup of Damien Corbett, Fionn Cleary, and Kevin Slattery in the coming weeks will be a welcome boost. 

Boherlahan Dualla:  Darragh Lacey; Charlie Ryan, Tomas Bourke, Johnny Ryan (0-1); Dylan Fogarty, Martin Paul O’Dwyer, Ger O’Dwyer; Euan Ryan (0-2), Cathal Darcy; Laurence Devane, Fionn McCullagh (0-1), Tomas Ryan (0-6, 0-4f); Jake Canny (0-2), Darragh Hickey (0-1), Seamus Leahy (0-3).

Subs used: David Clarke for McCullagh (40); James Murphy for Hickey (58, inj).

Gortnahoe Glengoole: Timmy Dunne; Martin Barnaville, Davy Nolan, Liam Hayes; Brian Maher, Conor Gleeson, Davy Lanigan; Jack Moore (0-1), Aidan Guilfoyle; Gearoid Fahey (0-1), Keane Hayes (0-6, 0-5f), Adrian Maher (0-1); Bobby Doheny, Darragh Maher (0-3), Oisin Cleary (0-1). 

Subs used: Kevin Slattery for Doheny (50); Colm Guilfoyle for Fahey (59).

Referee: Johnny Dooley (Thurles Gaels)