Shannon Rovers ease to North Junior 'A' Football title

GAA: North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Football Final

Shannon Rovers 4-2-19 (35)

Nenagh Eire Og 2-1-3 (11)

Report: Liam Hogan at Gardiner Park, Borrisokane

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Rory Fox (Shannon Rovers).

SCORERS - Shannon Rovers: Marcus Esmonde 2-5 (1x2play, 0-1free); Rory Fox 0-9 (1x2free, 3x1free); Conal Moran 1-4; Cathal Og O’Sullivan 0-3; Eoin Kelly 1-0; John O’Meara 0-2.

Nenagh Eire Og: Conor McMahon 2-1; Ciaran Barr 0-2 (2free); Denis Ryan, Michael Aherne 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers captured their seventh North Tipperary Junior ‘A’ Football title and their first since 2013 when comprehensively beating Nenagh Eire Og in the final on Tuesday of last week.

Leading from start to finish, the winners were never really in bother except for a period mid-way through the first half when the concession of two quick goals had their lead whittled from seven down to two.

After the restart, Rovers moved up through the gears and when Marcus Esmonde scored his side’s first goal in the 39th minute to make it 1-15 to 2-3. One felt there was only one outcome.

Rovers had plenty of players willing to take the baton as they enjoyed moving the ball at pace. As a result, the forwards wasted no time in getting the scoreboard moving, especially Rory Fox, the eighteen-year-old having three points in the board including a two-point free which he kicked straight off the ground.

Full forward Conal Moran had opened the scoring in the first minute and added two more from play in the third and eleventh minutes while Cathal Og O’Sullivan chipped in with one as Rovers led 0-7 to nil after twelve minutes.

Nenagh had produced one or two threatening moments but were easily dealt with by Matt Tierney plus Sean & Eamon Hough before the light blues were rewarded with a Conor McMahon point in the 14th minute.

Both George Hannigan and John O’Meara organised matters around the midfield area as Rory Fox raced clear to score once more.

Nenagh came once more and a move commenced in their half led to a well-taken goal by Conor McMahon. Rory Fox replied with a fisted point before Nenagh came raiding again when Conor McCarthy kicked low to give Niall Cahalan no chance, 0-9 to 2-1.

A Fox free restored order momentarily but at the other end, Niall Cahalan was quick off his line to deny Michael Aherne from close range before Denis Ryan raised a white flag in the 24th minute.

Rovers regrouped and a quick-fire combination had the Nenagh defence in trouble where Liam Heffernan, Eoin Garrigan, Mark Carey and Billy Moran were doing their best to thwart the onslaught as Rory Fox added two more frees either side of a Cathal Og O’Sullivan point from play.

Indeed, O’Sullivan’s effort could have been a goal but for a fingertip save by Nenagh keeper Ciaran Barr as the Rovers led 0-13 to 2-2 at the break.

Nenagh were first to score seconds after the restart through Michael Aherne but from that moment on it was one-way traffic. A free by Rory Fox quickly followed by a Marcus Esmonde point from play, quickly followed by an Esmonde goal with Andy Byrne and Cathal Og O’Sullivan were involved in the build-up. Further points by Fox and Esmonde made it 1-17 to 2-3.

Nenagh brought on Michael Sayers for Zac Keller with Sayers taking over the goalkeeping duties which allowed Ciaran Barr to operate in the attack. In the 45th minute, Barr had scored a two-point free which left nine points the difference.

From there the flood gates really opened as Rovers hit 3-6 without reply. A two-pointer from Marcus Esmonde was the start with substitute Eoin Kelly scoring his team’s second goal in the 51st minute.

Conal Moran scored the third three minutes later and Marcus Esmonde crowned a great evening with the team’s fourth goal to become the games highest scorer on 2-5 while team captain John O’Meara added two points.

TEAMS - Shannon Rovers: Niall Cahalan (7); Sean Hough (7), Matt Tierney (7), John O’Dwyer (7); Michael Dolan (7), Eamonn Hough (7), Cathal Hogan (7); George Hannigan (8), John O’Meara (Capt, 8); Rory Fox (8), Marcus Esmonde (8), Michael Tierney (7); Vincent Mulvihill (7), Conal Moran (8), Cathal Og O’Sullivan (7).

Subs: Andy Byrne (6) for Mulvihill (36); Jack O’Sullivan (6) for Hannigan (44); Derek Horan for C Hogan (50); Matthew Harney for Fox (51); Eoin Kelly (7) for Og O’Sullivan (51).

Nenagh Eire Og: Ciaran Barr (7); Dylan Armstrong (6), Liam Heffernan (7), Eoin Garrigan (6); Dan O’Donovan (NR), Mark Carey (6), Billy Moran (6); Brendan Long (6), Mark O’Farrell (6); Conor McMahon (7), Zac Keller (6), Michael Aherne (6); Conor Robinson (6), Conor McCarthy (6), Dylan McKenna (6).

Subs: Kieran O’Donoghue (6) for O’Donovan (6 inj); Denis Ryan (6) for Aherne (49); Kenny Farrell (6) for Eoin Garrigan (53).

Referee: Pat O’Mahoney (Kiladangan).