Nenagh's industry wears down Loughmore
Nenagh Eire Og 2-17
Loughmore/Castleiney 0-18
By Liam Hogan in Dolla
An energetic Nenagh Eire Og performance over the opening forty minutes was enough to help survive a second half comeback by Loughmore/Castleiney to book a place in the last four of the County Senior Hurling Championship last Sunday.
First half goals by Philip Hickey and Tommy Heffernan helped the beaten North semi-finalists to a 2-13 to 0-11 lead with twenty minutes remaining. They looked home and hosed but Loughmore staged a mighty surge and might have come a lot closer only for a brave tackle by Conor McCarthy who denied Aidan McGrath a possible goal chance in the 60th minute. An injury time minute point by man of the match Jake Morris came at the right time to seal a great win.
In fairness it would have been a travesty if Nenagh had to lose. From start to finish they were in charge with Hugh Maloney, Conor McCarthy and Daire Quinn giving little away in defence. Pearse Morris worked hard at midfield while Michael Heffernan, Jake Morris and Paddy Murphy, who won so much ball especially in the air, proved to be the difference up front.
And while Nenagh were the fresher (perhaps losing a North semi-final to Kiladangan played into their hands) Loughmore were anything but a fully fit team. They commenced without the injured Aidan McGrath but he appeared before half time while John McGrath was clearly a shadow of his former self. Liam McGrath was another player who played through injury.
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