Gortnahoe show too much forward power for Loughmore to clinch U19B Hurling crown

Mid Tipperary U19B Hurling Championship Final

Gortnahoe Glengoole 2-21

Loughmore Castleiney 2-15 AET

By Ronan Loughnane

Gortnahoe Glengoole claimed the silverware at a wet and windy Templetuohy on Wednesday evening last as they finally saw off the stubborn challenge of Loughmore Castleiney, thanks to eight points in the second period of extra time.

In truth, they should have had this game wrapped up much earlier in the evening, but a succession of wides left Loughmore in the game. And when they were awarded a penalty in injury time Philip O’Connell made no mistake with the last puck of the game to force 20 additional minutes.

Loughmore got off to a flyer with Philip O’Connell netting inside 38 seconds, but Gortnahoe settled with points from Billy Hogan, Damian Corbett, Tomas Meaney (ground stroke) and Kevin Laffan.

O’Connell was posing plenty of problems for the Gortnahoe defence and he landed a point from play and another from a free.
A great run from joint-captain Liam Hayes saw him feed Bobby Doheny who made no mistake for Gortnahoe’s opening goal in the eleventh minute.

Lorcan Bourke and Joey Quinn traded points from play, the latter after a lovely run, to leave Gortnahoe 1-5 to 1-3 ahead on 15 minutes.

Damian Corbett had been quiet by his standards in that opening quarter but 1-1 from play in the space of a minute pushed Gortnahoe six clear against a healthy wind and they looked likely winners.

Loughmore dug deep and two points apiece from the O’Connell brothers in reply to a Corbett free closed the gap to a single score at the short whistle, 2-7 to 1-7.

The hurling deteriorated after the break as the conditions worsened with the swirling wind and heavy mist causing havoc. Scores were as rare as hens’ teeth with the sides sharing just six points in the second half before Paul McCahey was fouled in injury-time to present O’Connell with the opportunity from the resultant penalty.

He made no mistake to send the game to extra-time as the sides finished tied on 2-10 apiece. They shared six more in the opening half of additional time, O’Connell accounting for Loughmore’s with Corbett (2) and Hayes replying for Gortnahoe.

The Loughmore dam finally burst in the final ten minutes as Corbett (4), Bourke (3), and Laffan (1) all pointed to leave clear water between the sides.

The impressive O’Connell replied with a point from play and two more from frees to leave Gortnahoe 2-21 to 2-15 ahead at the long whistle.

On the balance of play Gortnahoe deserved their victory and would have been kicking themselves had they not brought home the cup.

Brandon Ryan Webster and David Lanigan were strong at the back while their midfield pairing of Liam Hayes and the very impressive Conor Gleeson were dominant.

They had plenty of attacking options with five of their forwards on the scoring sheet, while Aaron O’Dwyer was instrumental in many of their attacks.

While Loughmore will be disappointed to have lost they can take comfort from a great battling performance, hanging in on several occasions when the tide was against them.

Jay Shorley and Mikey Ryan battled manfully in defence while Eoin O’Connell was to the fore at midfield. They were over-reliant on Philip O’Connell for scores in attack where Richard Morris and Joey Quinn played well.

Gortnahoe Glengoole: Lee Norton; Paddy Norton, Brandon Ryan Webster, Luke Kavanagh; Adam Butler, David Lanigan, Tomas Meaney (0-1); Liam Hayes (0-1), Conor Gleeson (0-1); Billy Hogan (0-1), Bobby Doheny (1-0), Aaron Dwyer; Kevin Laffan (0-2), Damien Corbett (1-11, 0-7f), Lorcan Bourke (0-4).

Subs used: Declan Teehan for Dwyer; Jack Gleeson for Hogan; David Stanley for Laffan.

Loughmore Castleiney: Joseph Maher; Paul Cormack, Jay Shorley, Colm Gleeson; Daniel McCahey, Mikey Ryan, Tomas Larkin; Eoin O’Connell (0-2), Bill Ryan; Joey Quinn (0-2), Paul McCahey, Cathal Ryan; Philip O’Connell (2-10, 0-6f, 1-0 pen), Aaron Hickey, Richard Morris (0-1).

Subs used: Billy Meade for Hickey.

Referee: PJ Nolan (Killea)