Nenagh fall to rejuvenated Moycarkey

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 1

Moycarkey/Borris 2-16

Nenagh Eire Og 1-15

Report: Liam Hogan at The Ragg

Nenagh Eire Og hopes of a first win in this year’s County Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship came unstuck against a more determined Moycarkey/Borris side that produced the goods in the last quarter to claim a four-point win in a hard-fought Group 1 encounter on Friday evening.

Following their draw with Clonoulty/Rossmore in the first round, Nenagh entered the game as slight favourites against a Mid Tipp side that were badly beaten by Kilruane MacDonaghs but in a game that was very enjoyable there was very little separating the teams as the scores were level ten times approaching 49th minute mark when Nenagh conceded a second goal, and it gave Moycarkey the confidence to outscore the North champions four points to three in the final minutes.

At the end of the game, both sides displayed contrasting emotions but during all that there was sad news emerging from five miles up the road where the Kilruane MacDonagh versus Clonoulty Rossmore was abandoned. Gradually the news was becoming more serious as it emerged that Dillon Quirke had collapsed in Semple Stadium. Players and mentors stood around in a daze hoping for the best outcome, but later we learned that Dillon had passed away. The result mattered little by then.

The game itself was highly enjoyable, especially in the first half when scores were level seven times. Scores were level at 0-2 each before goalkeeper Rhys Shelly gave Moycarkey the lead with a shot from his own twenty metre line, following a short puckout to Chris McCullagh who returned possession to the keeper. Two minutes later the impressive, Tom Hayes doubled the lead from fifty metres.

However, Nenagh went on to enjoy their best period over the next ten minutes with Jake Morris’ brilliant goal the highlight after twelve minutes. Tommy Heffernan followed up with a point to see the game’s biggest margin at three (1-4 to 0-4) in Nenagh’s favour.

But the lead lasted just three minutes when after a Rhys Shelly point from a long range free, it was Kieran Morris who found the Nenagh net from close range free after Nenagh’s debutant keeper Dermot McTiernan was penalised for overcarrying.

Despite the setback, McTiernan, in place of the injured Mark Tuite, continued to do well as did Jake Morris who produced an excellent equaliser in the eighteenth minute. Over the next six minutes scores were level three times with Moycarkey taking the lead each time thanks to Kieran Cummins, John Bergin, and Darren Flood only for Nenagh to respond through Paddy Murphy, Jake Morris, and James Mackey.

Approaching the half hour, Nenagh regained the lead through Jake Morris, but John Bergin brought parity for the seventh time to leave the half time score reading 1-9 each.

Nenagh had use of the breeze in the second half but met early resistance from Moycarkey as Tom Hayes pointed in the 32nd minute. However, Michael Heffernan efforts were worthy and his angle free plus a point from play had Nenagh in front by the 40th minute.

With neither side prepared to let go, Moycarkey regained the lead through Kyle Shelly and Niall Heffernan with the former a point of real class after substitute Jack Fallon turned provider. Not to be outdone, Michael Heffernan continued his tour de force with an equalising free from his own 65 to make it level for the tenth time at 1-12 each.

But Rhys Shelly’s puckouts were enormous and with the strength of the breeze beginning to decline, he set up his team with another attack with Kieran Morris winning an aerial ball before turning provider for Fallon and Tom Hayes who dispatched the ball past a helpless McTiernan giving Moycarkey a 2-12 to 1-12 lead with nine minutes remaining.

The subs benches were busy and Nenagh lost Cian Crowley as Hugh Moloney (who played well) and Daire Quinn were introduced. Meanwhile Moycarkey went four in front thanks to close range free by Kieran Morris. Nenagh replied with Michael Heffernan scoring after Conor Ryan picked him out with a fifty-metre pass. The Nenagh push continued with Jake Morris flying down the wing before winning a free and Heffernan converted leaving two between the teams on the hour mark.

But with the Moycarkey defence growing stronger the supply to the forward line was more frequent and they went four in front with Tom Hayes and Chris McCullagh from long range scoring in the 62nd minute.

Michael Heffernan’s seventh point kept Nenagh within striking distance, but the striker had a difficult evening from placed balls towards the end (both sides struck fourteen wides each) and with play reaching the 67th minute it was JJ Dermody’s long range score which sealed victory much to the excitement of Moycarkey players and supporters alike.

Player of the Match: Tom Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris)

Moycarkey–Borris: Rhys Shelly (0-3, 2f) 8); Chris McCullagh (0-1, 7), Tom Ryan (7), Rory Darmody (7); Kevin Hayes (7), Pat Molloy (7), Rory Ryan (7); Kevin O’Regan (7), Kieran Cummins (0-1, 7); Kieran Morris (1-1f, 8), Tom Hayes (1-4, 8), John Bergin (0-2, 7); Kyle Shelly (0-1, 7), Darren Flood (0-1, 7), Niall Heffernan (0-1, 7).

Subs: Jack Fallon (8) for Bergin (39); Stephen Walsh (7) for R Ryan (51); JJ Darmody (0-1, 7) for O’Regan (58 inj).

Nenagh Eire Og: Diarmuid McTiernan (7); Adam Healy (7), Adam Gratton (7), Sean Phelan (6); Conor Ryan (7), Conor Hennessey (7), Conor McCarthy (8); James Mackey (0-1, 7), Michael Heffernan (0-7, 4f) 8); Paddy Murphy (0-1, 6), Tommy Heffernan (0-2, 6), Cian Crowley (7); Jake Morris (1-3, 8), Philip Hickey (0-1, 6), Josh Keller (6).

Subs: Ben West (6) for Hickey (38); Daire Quinn (6) for Keller (43 inj); Hugh Maloney (7) for Phelan (43); Killian Malone (6) for Crowley (51 inj); James Cottrell (NR) for Mackey (58).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)