O'Connor and Bowe come good for Moyne Templetuohy as they maintain their status for 2024

FBD Insurance Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Relegation Semi-Final

Moyne Templetuohy 0-23

Newport 1-14

By Mark Dunne

Moyne Templetuohy produced a much-needed and desired display to dismiss a gallant Newport side and send them to a relegation final with fellow North side Portoe on Sunday afternoon last.

A brief shower just before throw-in made conditions slippery and greasy for both sides a factor that held its head throughout. 

The opening attack on the Newport goal almost saw Tom Meade release a shot however the conditions saw him fumble and send the ball wide. Newport responded with their player of the game Colin Floyd pointing. 

Moyne Templetuohy responded with an O’Connor free before a long-range Tom Meade score and another from O’Connor put the Mid side two points up. Colin Floyd pointed in the 10th minute following good build-up play before O’Connor who had settled into the affair pointed from a placed ball. 

With conditions slippery underfoot, a solid free taker was crucial and Floyd again pointed to put the minimum between the sides. In a game where physicality was key both sides really went for it in the way a relegation semi-final should be played. Moyne Templetuohy had another chance of a goal with O’Connor finding Meade but his shot was blocked with O’Connor pointing the 65. 

Newport responded well with Floyd once again the provider with two quick points to his name, the latter a short free with the Mid side leaving the danger man free. Level game on 17 minutes. 

Moyne Templetuohy boosted by a fantastic display from County hurler Conor Bowe kicked on with four unanswered points the pick of them wing back Jack Taylor pointing following a lung-busting run. Former Tipperary hurler Conor O’Mahoney was being well marshalled on the edge of the square but he picked up his first score on 26 minutes venturing into the half-forward line and pointing. 

Conor Bowe who was now dictating proceedings through mid-field scored two quick points to push his side further in front. The score of the half came from the stick of Cian Flanagan but it was Oran Connors beautiful pass that made it so. 

Bowe and O’Connor pointed the last two of the half for their side with Colin Floyd keeping his side in the encounter with another before the half-time whistle. 0-13 to 0-8 the half-time score. 

With only five points in the difference at the break, this game still had plenty to offer. Colin Floyd pointed the opening free of the half and reduced the deficit to four. Gearoid O’Connor quickly cancelled it out with a monstrous score that lifted his side. 

Tossy Hamill who would be more accustomed to defence played at fourteen and he gave his side a six-point advantage on 37 minutes. 

O’Connor pushed them further in front in a good spell for the green and gold. Floyd interrupted their pattern with another free on 17mins reducing the gap to seven.  O’Connor was becoming unmarkable at this point and got the next two points in quick succession. 0-19 to 0-10 the scoreboard read. Newport needed something and it nearly came on 22 minutes. 

Newport were fouled inside the large parallelogram; up stepped Paul Hogan but his shot from the spot went left and wide. 

Credit to Newport who rallied and scored the only goal of the encounter when Colin Floyd expertly found Peter O’Sullivan and he shot passed Paul Maher. 

O’Connor again scored from a placed ball before Newport got their patch in the encounter with the next three scores. 

Tommy and Colin Floyd reduced the deficit to five with as much left on the clock. Aidan Moloney ventured up from his wing back berth to put only four between the sides. 

A brace of wides from both sides down the home stretch did little to help both sides cause. 

O’Connor capped off a fine day with the next two points for his side before Colin Floyd who left it all on the field got his side's final score of the encounter. 

Ciarán Lloyd tagged on the insurance score with a fine score to see Moyne Templetuohy preserve their Premier Intermediate status for 2024.

Moyne Templetuohy: Paul Maher; Eoin Gorman, Ciarán Lloyd (0-1), Tommy Hassett; Jack Taylor (0-1), Pierce Meade, John Coughlan; Shane Lowe, Conor Bowe (0-3); Tom Meade (0-1), Gearoid O’Connor (0-16, 0-7f), Éanna Guilfoyle; Ben Ryan, Tossy Hamill (0-1), Diarmuid Fogarty. 

Subs used: Mark Ryan for John Coghlan (inj); Sean Hayes for Éanna Guilfoyle; Damien Cantwell for Ben Ryan; Paudie Gleeson for Shane Lowe; Diarmuid Leahy for Diarmuid Fogarty.

Newport: Paul Hogan; Kealan Floyd, Sean O’Brien, Rob Houlihan; Aidan Moloney (0-1), Oisín O’Brien, Conor Floyd; Cian Flanagan (0-1), Pa Ryan; Tommy Floyd (0-1), Colin Floyd (0-10, 0-5f), Peter O’Sullivan (1-0); Oran Connors, Conor O’Mahony (0-1), Lee Ryan. 

Subs used: Daniel Ryan for Lee Ryan; Andrew Hickey for Oran Connors; Brian Tobin for Pa Ryan; Keith Hogan for Oran Connors. 

Referee: Donie Horan (Éire Óg Annacarty)