Paddy Murphy celebrates his goal against Thurles Sarsfields. Photograph: Bridget Delaney

Sars give up Dan as Eire Og march into final

Nenagh Eire Og 2-18

Thurles Sarsfields 2-15

 

It proved to be a case of delaying the execution.

One wondered in the aftermath of Thurles Sarsfields late smash and grab win over Kilruane MacDonaghs in the quarter finals, whether it was the champions finding their way again or being the last sting of a dying wasp.

Well, it proved to be the latter as Nenagh Eire Og finally wrestled the Dan Breen Cup away from Thurles Sarsfields where it has called home for the past four years.

Eire Og would love nothing more than to bring it back to Nenagh for the first time in 23 years and a repeat of this performance in the final against Clonoulty/Rossmore, their long wait for a second county title could be at an end.

For the moment, they can reflect on a job well done as they took advantage of the vulnerabilities within the defending champions and while they had to withstand some nervy moments in the closing fifteen minutes, the final scoreline doesn’t do them justice.

On 45 minutes, they led 2-13 to 0-9 points, holding that much vaulted Thurles attack to just nine points as they copied the blueprint laid out by Loughmore and Kilruane MacDonaghs in recent games against Thurles but which they were unable to carry out fully, which was a huge effort and intensity to their play, which they brought right from throw-in, having 1-3 on the board inside three minutes, and from there they never looked back.

 

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