Nenagh progress past injury-hit Kilruane

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 1

Nenagh Eire Og 3-19

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-17

Report: Liam Hogan at The Ragg

Two weeks after witnessing one of the saddest moments in Tipperary hurling, Kilruane MacDonaghs returned to the action on Sunday and produced a good performance but with injuries mounting they had to give way to a Nenagh Eire Og side that scored 2-2 in the last eight minutes to collect the two points and progress to the knockout stages of the County Senior Hurling Championship.

The result means that after finishing the group stage with three points, Nenagh have secured passage from the group as they cannot move from second place in the table, regardless of the outcome of the re-fixture between Kilruane and Clonoulty/Rossmore.

This is in contrast to Kilruane MacDonagh’s who were wondering if they could go again after their last game against Clonoulty/Rossmore where they witnessed the passing of Dillon Quirke. That they passed with flying colours is a testament to the side and for a stage it looked as if they were going to record a victory before Nenagh’s late burst.

Before the game, both sides lined up on the respective 45-metre lines for a moments silence. Both teams rested the number eleven shirt as well.

The opening half was tense with play interrupted by crowding and the concession of too many frees. As a result, it was a battle of the free-takers with Michael Heffernan scoring five of his eight points in the first half, two better than his opposite number Willie Cleary who scored six first half points.

By the eleventh minute, Michael Heffernan had registered five points as Nenagh opened a 0-7 to 0-3 lead, Tommy Heffernan and Jake Morris had scored the remainder.

Kilruane’s response was positive. Willie Cleary pointed a free with Cian Darcy adding another from play. Ben West increased Nenagh’s lead before Willie Cleary and Michael Heffernan traded frees. Kilruane continued to press but Mark Tuite denied Cian Darcy from close range before Michael Heffernan increased Nenagh’s lead to three in the 25th minute.

Willie Cleary narrowed the gap with a ninety-metre free and three minutes before the break, Niall O’Meara picked out Kian O’Kelly who scored his second point. In response, Hugh Maloney assisted for Sean Phelan to score from halfway.

Mark Tuite’s puckouts were lengthy and his latest found Michael Heffernan who scored but Conor Austin had the final say of the half to leave it 0-12 to 0-10 in favour of Nenagh.

Both free-takers were on duty early in the second half as Kilruane were beginning to look more dangerous with Jerome Cahill operating at full forward but Conor Hennessy did well with a timely hook close to goal. A long puckout by Paudie Williams worked in Kilruane’s favour as Aaron Morgan found space on the left wing to dissect the posts.

We had to wait until the 45th minute for the next score which saw Willie Cleary level matters at 0-14 each and three minutes later, Jerome Cahill gave Kilruane the lead.

Excitement levels were rising as Tommy Heffernan equalised in the 50th minute. Willie Cleary edged Kilruane in front with another free before Tommy Heffernan was on hand once more to level.

Nenagh upped the pressure with Tommy Heffernan giving Nenagh a 0-17 to 0-16 lead with three minutes remaining. The next score was important and what a score it turned out to be. After James Mackey’s long delivery, it was a race between Jake Morris and Eoin Hogan. Morris won by a head before expertly controlling and his left-handed flick gave Paudie Williams no chance.

Thirty seconds later, Morris increased Nenagh’s lead, however, Kilruane were not finished yet. Kian O’Kelly was unlucky to see Mark Tuite deny him at the expense of a 65 which Willie Cleary converted. There was more to come in the shape of a long clearance by Aaron Morgan which allowed Thomas Cleary to pick the ball out of the sky and fire home. At 1-18 to 1-17 in the 62nd minute, a draw was possible.

The subs bench was working for Nenagh, and a fresh Cian Crowley ventured into opposition territory and taking a pass from Jake Morris, he closed in before firing past a helpless Paudie Williams who wasn’t helped by a deflection from James Cleary’s hurley.

Crowley then added a point a minute later as Nenagh were running riot and as the game drew to a close Jake Morris had the finals say with Nenagh’s third goal to run out eight-point winners.

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

Nenagh Eire Og: Mark Tuite (7); Sean Phelan 0-1 (7), Adam Gratton (7), Conor McCarthy (8); Conor Ryan (7), Hugh Maloney (7), Conor Hennessy (7); James Mackey (7), Michael Heffernan (0-10, 8f) 8); Paddy Murphy (6), Tommy Heffernan (0-4, 8), Adam Healy (6); Jake Morris (2-2, 7), Philip Hickey (6), Ben West (0-1, 6).

Subs: Josh Keller (6) for Phelan (45); Cian Crowley (1-1, 8) for Hickey (47).

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paudie Williams (7); James Cleary (7), Jack Peters (7), Craig Morgan (7); Conor Austin (0-1, 7), Niall O’Meara (7), Sean McAdams (6); Mark O’Neill (7), Seamus Hennessy (6); Willie Cleary (0-11, 9f, 1’65) 7), Jerome Cahill (0-1, 7), Kian O’Kelly (0-2, 7); Aaron Morgan (0-1, 6), Thomas Cleary (1-0, 6), Cian Darcy (0-1, 6).

Subs: Eoin Hogan (6) for C Morgan (14 inj); Eanna Hogan (6) for J Peters (54); Eoin Carroll (6) for McAdams (56); Carl Williams (NR) for T Cleary (60+3).

Referee: John Lillis (Drom & Inch)