Darcy stars as Kilruane edge Nenagh

GAA: The Hibernian Inn North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-22

Nenagh Eire Og 1-21

Report: Liam Hogan in Dolla

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs).

SCORERS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Cian Darcy 1-8; Willie Cleary 0-8 (6 frees); Conor Austin 0-4; Thomas Cleary 1-0; Shane Cleary 0-2.

Nenagh Eire Og: Michael Heffernan 0-10 (4 frees); Tommy Heffernan 1-1; Jake Morris 0-3 (1 free); Barry Heffernan, Paddy Murphy, Mason Cawley 0-2 each; James Mackey 0-1.

1-8 from play from Cian Darcy proved decisive as Kilruane MacDonaghs edged a see-saw battle with Nenagh Eire Og on Sunday evening in the final quarter final of the North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship.

Darcy scored Kilruane’s second goal in the 49th minute to make it 2-17 to 0-19. It looked as if MacDonagh’s had timed their run but a goal by Tommy Heffernan plus a free by Jake Morris had the sides level for the third time before Darcy scored three more points as Kilruane outscored the opponents 0-5 to 0-1 in the final stretch.

Kilruane’s greater scoring power won the day and apart from Darcy, there was Conor Austin with four excellent points from distance while Willie Cleary was his usual accurate self from frees, not forgetting young Shane Cleary who made his championship debut scoring two points, while Kian O’Kelly’s towering strength on the edge of the square was so valuable having a hand in both goals.

However, the victory came at a cost as powerhouse centre back Craig Morgan had to limp off in the 45th minute with a leg injury. Morgan had played a great game and had great support from his bother Aaron, as well as Eoin Hogan while Niall O’Meara also put in a strong shift.

Nenagh Eire Og played a huge part in making it a great game. Their hopes received a setback prior to the start with Tipp star Jake Morris unable to line-out but came on as a replacement at half time and scored 0-3 (2 frees). Up to then, Michael Heffernan was the star man for the blues scoring six brilliant points from play in the first half while adding two more from frees as his side led 0-14 to 0-12 at the break. Barry Heffernan was a powerhouse at centre back in that opening half, scoring two points, as did wing back Paddy Murphy while midfielder Mason Cawley added one.

After Sam O’Farrell’s opening score, it was Kilruane who took charge and went three clear following back-to-back points by Shane Cleary and Cian Darcy to give Kilruane a 0-6 to 0-3 lead. Nenagh recovered and three points in two minutes by Barry Heffernan, Mason Cawley and Michael Heffernan had them level at 0-6 each on twelve minutes.

Moving on, their lead stretched to four after James Mackey made it 0-11 to 0-7 by the nineteenth minute. The efforts of Conor Hennessy and Conor Ryan were paying dividends, but up front Nenagh missed two simple opportunities allowing Kilruane to hit back after Cian Darcy and Willie Cleary left two between the teams.

A good run by Josh Keller won a free for Nenagh and Michael Heffernan converted. Willie Cleary replied in kind before Nenagh went three clear after an injury time score by Michael Heffernan with Conor Austin having the final say of the half in collecting one of Paidi Williams accurate puckouts and pointing. Nenagh two in front at the break.

Jake Morris was called into action and his score in the 34th minute had Nenagh three in front once more. That changed drastically over the next five minutes as Kilruane hit 1-3 without reply, starting with a Willie Cleary free followed by well-taken goal by Thomas Cleary with Kian O’Kelly’s great work in the air proving crucial before Conor Austin added two valuable points from distance.

Kilruane then lost Craig Morgan to injury at a stage when Michael Heffernan pointed a free. Three wides in a row curtailed the Nenagh comeback but Mason Cawley doubled his account just before Jake Morris made it level, 1-17 to 0-20, after 45 minutes.

Niall O’Meara’s influence at half back was growing as Austin scored the lead point. Four minutes later, Cian Darcy gave Dermot McTiernan no chance after another steal by O’Kelly, Kilruane led 2-17 to 0-19.

Nenagh stormed back; Barry Heffernan continued his impressive work in defence and his team were on terms after Tommy Heffernan availed of a pass from Jake Morris before finding the net.

Morris added a free to level, but Kilruane regained the lead with a three point run as Cian Darcy scored two either side of a Willie Cleary point from play after the ace-shooter availed of a poorly executed short puckout by Nenagh. It wasn’t the first time with Cleary scoring something similar in the first half.

Nenagh responded but Jerome Cahill denied Tommy Heffernan as Kilruane substitutes Cormac Doheny and Cathal England held up under the pressure. Nenagh never gave up as Tommy Heffernan pointed on the hour mark. Four minutes of added time were signalled. Nenagh came strong again but the scores were coming at the other end as Darcy and Cleary (free) completed the day as Kilruane set up a semi-final with Borris-Ileigh.

TEAMS - Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paidi Williams (8); Eoin Hogan (7), James Cleary (7), Conor Austin (8); Niall O’Meara (8), Craig Morgan (8), Aaron Morgan (7); Jerome Cahill (6), Mark O’Neill (6); Shane Cleary (7), Kieran Cahill (6), Willie Cleary (7); Thomas Cleary (7), Kian O’Kelly (7), Cian Darcy (8).

Subs: Cormac Doheny (6) for C Morgan (42 inj); Cian Moyles (6) for T Cleary (50); Cathal England (6) for Hogan (54); Michael Cleary (6) for K Cahill (59); Jack Peters (NR) for A Morgan (60+4).

Nenagh Eire Og: Dermot McTiernan (6); Conor Hennessy (7), Mark Carey (7), Adam Gratton (7); Paddy Murphy (7), Barry Heffernan (8), Sam O’Farrell (7); Conor Ryan (7), Mason Cawley (7); Josh Keller (7), Michael Heffernan (8), James Mackey (6); Ben West (6), Philip Hickey (6), Sean Phelan (6).

Subs: Jake Morris (7) for Phelan (HT); Tommy Heffernan (7) for West (37); Adam Healy (6) for Mackey (44); Adam Carey (NR) for M Heffernan (59).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).