Cian Tucker’s junior B hurling team lost to Moneygall in a highly-entertaining contest on Saturday evening. Once more Éire Óg battled to the bitter end and should be proud of their endeavour and the quality of their hurling.
Watch Centre North Tipperary
Junior B Hurling League
Nenagh Éire Óg 1-10 Moneygall 1-13
The home side started well and led 0-3 to no-score after three minutes. Éire Óg fired two wides before Gavin O’Connor and Christopher Ryan combined to set up Paul Lillis for a smashing point in the eighth minute. Moneygall added a brace to their tally, however, and led 0-5 to 0-1 by the 14th minute.
The Blues rallied with three consecutive points to cut the deficit to one (0-4 to 0-5) by the 23rd minute. Michael Hallinan set up Christopher Ryan for a fine right-handed effort before Hallinan won a free which Paul Lillis converted in the 22nd minute. Christopher Ryan was then fouled a minute later and Kieran Duffy landed a rousing long-range free.
Éire Óg were also misfortunate not to find the net during this period of dominance. David Cleary blazed wide in the 18th minute and three minutes later Paul Lillis pulled on a Brian Darcy delivery and was unlucky not to beat the Moneygall ‘keeper.
A Moneygall free in the 24th minute helped the home side into a two-point advantage, but Éire Óg hit back impressively. Aodhán Geaney set up Jack Sheedy for a fine right-handed point in the 25th minute and five minutes later Sheedy gathered Michael Hallinan’s clever cross-field ball and belted over an equaliser.
Cruelly Éire Óg conceded a goal in first half injury time – ‘keeper Brian Darcy made a great save initially, but Moneygall bundled home the rebound and the home side led 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.
A point in the 32nd minute helped Moneygall into a four-point advantage, but Éire Óg responded brilliantly to the challenge and hit 1-2 without reply during a three-minute period to take a 1-8 to 1-7 lead.
In the 36th minute Paul Lillis saw his snap shot saved at the expense of a ’65 which centre-back Kieran Duffy converted to leave a goal between the sides. The Moneygall ‘keeper made another terrific save from the raiding Christopher Ryan a minute later, but Michael Hallinan was on hand to bury the rebound and the sides were level. Then, in the 39th minute, Paul Lillis got on to a breaking ball following an Aodhán Geaney delivery. Lillis fired over from close range and the Blues led 1-8 to 1-7.
Full credit to the home side as Moneygall responded in kind and hit three points without reply to lead 1-10 to 1-8 with fourteen minutes to play. Moneygall may have enjoyed a more significant lead, but Éire Óg ‘keeper Brian Darcy pulled off a stunning reaction save in the 45th minute.
A David Cleary point in the 48th minute dragged the Blues to within one of their hosts and although Moneygall responded with a point of their own Cleary was fouled for a free in the 51st minute which Paul Lillis converted to leave the minimum between them (1-10 to 1-11).
Four minutes later Brian Tuite won a free for Éire Óg, but Paul Lillis’ free was waved wide. The Blues were convinced that this potential equaliser was between the posts.
Éire Óg ‘keeper Brian Darcy made another fine save in the 57th minute while Moneygall added to their tally in the 58th and 62nd minutes.
The Watch Centre North Tipperary Junior B Hurling League will be played on a two-group system this year with the top two teams in each progressing to the semi-finals.
Nenagh Éire Óg have been drawn in group one alongside Toomevara, Newport, Shannon Rovers, Moneygall & Portroe. Meanwhile group two features Borrisokane, Ballina, Borris-Ileigh, Lorrha-Dorrha & Kildangan.
Éire Óg lost their opening game against Portroe on a 0-9 to 0-13 scoreline.
The Nenagh Éire Óg team are managed this year by Cian Tucker (manager), Mark Long, Paddy Flynn and John Paul King.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Brian Darcy, John Kelly, Ger O’Gorman, Brian Duffy, Aodhán Geaney, Kieran Duffy (0-2, 0-1 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Lenny Ryan, Jamie Gallagher, Thomas O’Brien, Christopher Ryan (0-1), Paul Lillis (0-4, 0-2 frees), Gavin O’Connor, Jack Sheedy (0-2), David Cleary (0-1), Michael Hallinan (1-0). Subs: (39th) Brian Tuite for Gavin O’Connor, (47th) Adam Healy for Michael Hallinan, (51st) Alex Jones for Jamie Gallagher, (56th) John Donnellan for Jack Sheedy.
CLUB LOTTO
The Nenagh Éire Óg Club Lotto represents the club’s key fundraising initiative.
Please consider supporting the Blues by playing our club lotto online: click here!
Just watch how far we can stretch your €2!
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