GARRYSPILLANE were defeated by Tallow 3-18 to 3-16 in the Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final on Saturday afternoon in Fraher Field, Dungarvan after extra time.
The Bouncers trailed for the majority of the contest but showed incredible character to fight their way back into the game, yet Tallow produced an impressive performance to just edge past their opponents in extra time. Limerick senior hurler Hugh Flanagan was in oustanding scoring form hitting 3-11 for Garryspillane. Tommy Ryan and Paul O'Brien were on target with 3-8 between them for the victors.
Garryspillane last competed in the Munster IHC in 2018, when they were beaten by Clonea of Waterford at the quarter-final stage. They return to the competition after securing their spot by defeating Effin 3-0 on penalties in the Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final, following a 4-19 to 2-25 draw after extra-time. In Waterford, Tallow lost the IHC final to Ballygunner’s second team, but as second teams cannot take part in provincial competitions, Tallow went forward as the county’s representative.
Garryspillane were left to rue a series of missed opportunities in the first half, hitting eight wides in the opening 30 minutes.
Tallow started strongly, with full-forward Paul O’Brien capitalising on a long delivery at the edge of the square, driving his shot into the roof of the net. Garryspillane quickly regrouped, however, with Ryan Tobin and Hugh Flanagan reducing the deficit to a single point on seven minutes.
The Waterford side restored their three-point lead through the accuracy of Darah Buckley, who converted a free and a 65 to make it 1-2 to 0-2. Flanagan responded immediately, adding two consecutive placed balls to keep the Bouncers within striking distance. Buckley and Calum Sheehan exchanged points in a lively four-minute spell.
Buckley added his fourth point of the day on 29 minutes, and Tallow seemed on the verge of a second goal when former Waterford senior hurler Tommy Ryan threaded a pass across to Robbie Geary. Garryspillane defender Ciaran Sheehan, however, executed a superb interception to deny the chance.
Aaron Considine’s side launched a rapid counterattack, with Garryspillane captain Colin Ryan pointing from distance, only for Geary to respond and leave Tallow 1-5 to 0-6 ahead at the interval.
In the second half, Tommy Ryan took over the free-taking duties for Tallow. In the early stages of the second half Ryan and Flanagan traded scores, before Ryan extended Tallow’s lead to 1-8 to 0-8. Garryspillane responded with an excellent team move finished by Flanagan, the Limerick senior hurler drilling his shot past Tallow goalkeeper Billy Murphy to level the game.
In the third quarter, John English and Flanagan combined to give Garryspillane a narrow 1-10 to 1-9 lead. Tallow then hit back impressively, scoring 1-3 without reply. A clever puckout from Murphy found Tommy Ryan, who raced through the centre of the Garryspillane defence to fire Tallow’s second goal of the afternoon.
With injury time approaching, Garryspillane trailed 2-12 to 1-10, but they mounted a remarkable comeback. Dylan O’Shea sent a long delivery into the square, and when Murphy failed to deal with the ball, Hugh Flanagan stayed alert to finish the sliotar into the back of the net. Flanagan then converted two late frees to force extra time.
Referee Patrick O'Mahoney dished out four red cards in the second half. Callum Sheehan and Mark O'Brien received their marching orders for an off the ball incident, while Ciaran Sheehan and and Robbie Geary also received red cards for an off the ball incident.
Tallow regained control early in extra time, with full-forward Paul O’Brien scoring his second goal in the first half of extra time, leaving Garryspillane trailing 3-14 to 2-14 at the interval. However, Garryspillane refused to give in, with Flanagan netting his third goal in the second half of extra time. When Declan Heavey reduced the deficit to a single point, it gave the South Limerick side renewed belief, but Stephen Murphy sealed a narrow two-point victory for Tallow in the closing stages of extra time.
GARRYSPILLANE: Hugh Flanagan (3-11, 0-8 frees), Declan Heavey, John English, Colin Ryan and Calum Sheehan 0-1 each
TALLOW: Tommy Ryan (1-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65), Paul O'Brien 2-1, Darah Buckley (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), Ian Beecher 0-2, Jordan Henley, Robbie Geary and Stephen Murphy 0-1 each
GARRYSPILLANE: Adam Sheehan; James O’Sullivan, Robert Sampson, Ciaran Sheehan; Declan Heavey, Dylan O’Shea, Eoin O'Mahony; Josh Dineen, Jamie Morrissey; John English, Michael Donovan, Ryan Tobin; Calum Sheehan, Colin Ryan, Hugh Flanagan. SUBS: Shane Ryan for Donovan (57 minutes), Cian Ryan for Tobin (57 minutes), Ryan Tobin for English (60 minutes), Michael Donovan for Colin Ryan (60 minutes).
TALLOW: Billy Murphy; Eoin McGrath, Ken Kearney, Jamie Beecher; Jordan Henley, Joseph McDonnell, Mark O'Brien; Robbie Geary, Kieran Geary; Ian Beecher, Thomas Ryan, Callum McCarthy; Darah Buckley, Paul O'Brien, Stephen Murphy. SUBS: Kevin O'Brien for Kieran Geary (50 minutes), Shane Martin for McCarthy (54 minutes), Conor Henley for Buckley (60 minutes).
REFEREE: Patrick O'Mahoney (Cork).
