Heffernan’s to the fore as Nenagh fend off Kilruane

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Nenagh Eire Og 1-24

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-15

Report: Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Michael Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Og)

SCORERS – Nenagh Eire Og: Michael Heffernan 0-12 (5 frees, 2 65s); Jake Morris 1-3 (1-0 pen); Sam O’Farrell, Tommy Heffernan 0-3 each; Mason Cawley 0-2; Conor Ryan 0-1.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Willie Cleary 0-6 (4 frees, 1 65); Thomas Cleary 1-1; Michael Cleary 0-3; Kieran Cahill 1-0; Niall O’Meara 0-2; Craig Morgan, Kian O’Kelly, Cian Darcy 0-1 each.

Nenagh Eire Og’s ruthless efficiency proved the difference as they progressed past a luckless Kilruane MacDonaghs in a lacklustre Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship quarter final.

Whether the half hour delay due to extra time in the first of Sunday’s quarter finals had anything to do it but this local derby never fully ignited, although there was plenty of spikiness throughout, particularly going down the tunnel at end of the first half.

Nenagh manager Hugh Maloney was particularly annoyed with his own players for getting involved in the minor pushing and shoving, wanting them to focus on what they needed to do in the second half and they did so in pulling clear for a deserved victory.

They led 0-14 to 1-10 at the end of an even first half but they were getting their scores that bit easier with Michael Heffernan to the fore right from the start at centre forward, drifting off Craig Morgan to great effect with two points inside the first five minutes, going onto finish with twelve in all (5 from play).

He was ably supported by Jake Morris, despite being hampered by a hand injury to his catching hand, but such is his class he manipulated his ability to win the ball superbly to land two points from play, in a terrific duel with Aaron Morgan who was still one of Kilruane’s leading performers in the game.

The contest was evenly poised when on thirteen minutes when Kilruane scored their first goal to nudge in front 1-4 to 0-5, the combination of Kian O’Kelly and Thomas Cleary working a treat once more as the former broke a high ball down to Cleary who showed great strength to fire to the net under pressure.

Nenagh’s response was impressive with back to back points from Sam O’Farrell who was impactful in the opening half, as was Michael Cleary for Kilruane who shot two points from play, with Willie Cleary, Cian Darcy, Aaron Morgan, and Niall O’Meara also on target.

Mason Cawley started at corner back for Nenagh but his ability to play further up the field was shown in his ability making surging runs, as well as coming off the shoulder and two points from play helped open a two point lead, before a second Willie Cleary free left it at 0-14 to 1-10 at the break.

However, the moments before half time proved costly for Kilruane with Jerome Cahill forced off with a recurrence of a hamstring injury while Niall O’Meara appeared to sustain an abdominal injury. The Kilruane captain was relocated to the attack upon the resumption after Thomas Cleary failed to reappear which was another blow as he had been impactful in the first half.

The enforced changes blunted Kilruane who struggled for scores in the second half, managing just 1-5, Barry Heffernan’s positioning as a deep-lying centre back taking away their preferred long ball option.

Nenagh slowly increased their lead with Michael Heffernan adding four points to his tally before his brother Tommy was introduced, and was quickly on the scoresheet with the first of three points from play.

Nenagh skipper Conor Ryan added his name to the scoresheet as the lead stretched to five but points from Michael Cleary and Niall O’Meara, and Willie Cleary frees kept Kilruane on their coat-tails but they needed a big break and it came in the form of a Kieran Cahill goal in the 55th minute, the raiding wing back played in by Shane Cleary for a clinical finish.

Just one point separated the sides but Nenagh didn’t panic and in the next sequence of play, substitute Ben West got in behind the Kilruane cover and was fouled inside the square, and awarded a penalty, from which Jake Morris sent Paidi Williams the wrong way.

Kilruane’s much-needed momentum goal was immediately snuffed out and with it went the potential of a grandstand finish, and while they piled on the pressure with Dermot McTiernan making a fine save from Cian Darcy, the 2022 champions couldn’t add further to the scoreboard as points from Michael & Tommy Heffernan put the tin hat on a good days work for Nenagh Eire Og who now look forward to a first semi-final since 2020 and a clash with Drom & Inch.

TEAMS - Nenagh Eire Og: Dermot McTiernan (7); Jake Donelan-Houlihan (5), Mark Carey (6), Mason Cawley (8); Conor Hennessy (7), Barry Heffernan (8), Paddy Murphy (6); Conor Ryan (6), James Mackey (6); Josh Keller (6), Michael Heffernan (9), Sam O’Farrell (8); Philip Hickey (6), Jake Morris (8), Adam Carey (6).

Subs: Adam Healy (6) for Donelan-Houlihan (HT); Tommy Heffernan (8) for A Carey (38); Ben West (7) for Mackey (50); Sean Phelan (NR) for M Heffernan (60+3 inj).

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paidi Williams (7); James Cleary (7), Aaron Morgan (7), Jack Peters (7); Niall O’Meara (7), Craig Morgan (7), Kieran Cahill (7); Jerome Cahill (6), Cormac Doheny (6); Shane Cleary (6), Cian Darcy (7), Kian O’Kelly (7); Willie Cleary (7), Thomas Cleary (7), Michael Cleary (8).

Subs: Mark O’Neill (6) for J Cahill (30 inj); Darragh Peters for T Cleary (HT); Sean McAdams (6) for M Cleary (42); Eoin Hogan (6) for Doheny (47); Thomas Cleary for O’Kelly (49).

Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams)