On Tuesday March 29th, our under-16 camogie side made the trek to Newport for the opening match in this year’s championship and were unfortunately on the receiving end of a 2-11 to 1-3 score line which belies the true nature of the game.
With seven minutes left on the watch of referee Stephen Egan only three points separated the sides, however a late scoring burst from the hosts saw them rattled off 2-2 and ended any hopes Nenagh had.
The game was marred by a torrential downpour moments before throw in and it continued until mid way through the first half making the underfoot conditions impossible for the players however it failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the girls who put on an entertaining hours hurling for those present.
The home side started brightly and had four points on the board by the 17th minute and things looked like they were going to get a lot worse for the Blues when Newport created an excellent goal chance but Niamh Sheridan in the Éire Óg goal produced a magnificent save. Indeed, Sheridan had a fine game making a second solid save on 45 minutes and she looked comfortable dealing with highballs and made some excellent deliveries with her puck outs.
Nenagh’s opening score came on 23 minutes following a great run by Leah Kelly. She was fouled just outside the 21-yard line and up stepped Caroline Browne to take the resultant free. She shaped as if she were going to point it but instead blasted a low shot that gave the Newport backs on the line no chance. Newport responded with a point of their own before Leah Kelly treated the crowd to the score of the game. She raced 30 yards in what looked like the pursuit of a lost cause but eventually got to the 14-yard line right out on the sideline to spectacularly block down the Newport back before scooping up the sliothar and splitting the post from the tightest of angles. The halftime whistle sounded shortly after, leaving the scores at Newport 0-5 Nenagh Éire Óg 1-1.
Newport started to dominate the second half and shot four unanswered points to open up a five-point lead by the 47th minute. Ella Carey responded with a fine point after great work from Megan Grace. Becky McGrath won possession out near midfield and delivered an inch perfect pass to Caroline Browne who narrowed the gap to three and it looked like we were in for an exciting finish but Newport finished the game strongly, scoring 2-2 to end any Nenagh hopes.
Nenagh: Niamh Sheridan, Eva McKeogh, Abbie Sheedy, Katie Mannicle, Rachel Browne, Lily Purcell, Lily O Brien, Rachel O Connor, Megan Grace, Caroline Browne, Becky McGrath, Leah Kelly, Aisling Moran, Orlaith Kennedy, Ella Carey. Subs Orla Sheridan for Kelly, Meghan Morris for Kennedy, Saoirse Shanahan for Moran.
Referee: Stephen Egan (Portroe)
More photos are available on the Club’s Facebook Page: https://goo.gl/SNJC86
Sunday, January 10th 2016 Walsh’s of Nenagh North Tipperary
Under-21A Hurling Championship Final 2015
Nenagh Éire Óg 1-18
Kildangan 3-11
On Sunday last Nenagh Eire Og ended a long wait at this age for a divisional final when the team staged an amazing comeback to seal a memorable victory over a gallant and superb Kildangan side who had deservedly went in at the break seven points to the good having led by nine at one stage.
John Cahalan opened the scoring with a fine long range effort prior to the excellent Jack Loughnane levelling the sides and before Dan O Meara sent a blistering shot into the corner of Daire Gleeson’s goal. A pointed Shane Hennessy free and a fine Andrew Coffey effort reduced the margin to one but it was to be the closest Nenagh came to their opponents during the opening half hour.
Tadhg Gallagher and Loughnane both pointed to open the margin to a goal before James Mackey hit back with one of his own. Kildangan then benefitted from the blinding winters sun shining into the old scoreboard end when Jack Loughnane’s long range effort deceived the unfortunate Daire Gleeson for the champions second goal. The goal lifted Kildangan’s spirits and Gallagher and Johnny Horan both pointed to extend their lead.
Andrew Coffey, who was Nenagh’s best player throughout, pointed to briefly stem the Kildangan tide but full forward Paul Flynn found the unmarked Ciaran Kelly and blasted home their third goal and extend the lead to nine points. Few, if any in the large crowd could see any way back for the Blues’ at this stage. Points from Coffey, Mackey and Hennessy did offer the town side hope at the interval and with Kildangan getting one of their own, left seven between the sides at the break.
If Nenagh were to have any hope of a comeback it was vital that they get the first score of the second half but it was their opponents who struck first through Andrew Loughnane. Hennessy pointed well from a placed ball before scoring another in-between two fine efforts from Andrew Loughnane and Paul Flynn to leave eight between them in the 36th minute.
This Nenagh team have won a lot of championship honours through the age groups and have a resilience that was to stand to them for the remainder of the game. At no stage did they panic or start going for goals, instead they maturely kept picking off their points to get themselves back into contention. Shane Hennessy, Andrew Coffey, Gary Howard and super substitute Bob O Brien all pointed to reduce the margin to five, 0-14 to 3-10.
Kildangan were dealt a massive blow at this point when Tadhg Gallagher, arguable their best player up to this stage, left the field with an injury and three minutes later they received another sucker punch with a brilliant Gary Howard goal following great work from captain Barry Heffernan. Two more points from Hennessy and Coffey levelled the sides and it appeared as if Nenagh were about to, remarkably, pull this game out of the fire.
Six minutes from the end Andrew Coffey, from a tight angle, gave the Blues’ the lead and with two minutes of normal time remaining Philip Hickey doubled the margin much to the delight of their large and vocal supporters.
Kildangan did not go down easy and fought to the bitter end. Flynn reduced the margin to one and the Nenagh backs were under severe pressure but their discipline and determination held firm and time and again they cleared.
There was more drama in the 65th minute when referee Kieran Delaney awarded Kildangan a free 30 meters from goal. With their main free taker side-lined Barry Hogan was summoned from the goal but his effort went agonizingly wide.
Shortly after Delaney signalled full time much to the delight of players and fans of the Blues.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Darragh Gleeson, Gavin O’Connor, Michael Collins, Ger O’Gorman, Conor Ryan, Adam Gratton, Barry Heffernan (captain), Killian Gleeson, James Mackey (0-2), Andrew Coffey (0-6), Philip Hickey (0-1), John Cahalan (0-1), Gary Howard (1-1), Shane Hennessy (0-6, 0-4 frees), Aidan Healy. Subs: (38th) Bob O’Brien (0-1) for John Cahalan, (39th) Adam Carey for Aidan Healy, (56th) Christopher Ryan for Killian Gleeson, (62nd) Killian Gleeson for Christopher Ryan.
Kildangan: Barry Hogan, Darragh Molloy, Alan Flynn, Jim Minehan, James Quigley, Johnny Horan (0-1), Declan McGrath, Jack Loughnane (1-3), Tadhg Gallagher (captain, 0-2, 0-1 frees), Darren Moran, Dan O’Meara (1-0), Andrew Loughnane (0-2), Ciarán Kelly (1-0), Paul Flynn (0-2), Tom McLoughlin. Subs: (43rd) Darren Ryan for Tadhg Gallagher, (52nd) Cathal Hayes for Ciarán Kelly.
Referee: Kieran Delaney (Toomevara).
Greg Browne’s under-21A hurling team made an encouraging start to their championship campaign on Saturday afternoon in Moneygall when beating Roscrea by sixteen points.
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Greg Browne’s under-21A hurling team are preparing this week to launch their championship campaign while the minor A Camogie team are looking forward to a county semi-final against Newport. Our congratulations also go to Nenagh Handball Club’s Sinéad Meagher who has been crowned All-Ireland under-16 champion. Please read on for all the latest news, photos, reports and fixtures!
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Nenagh Éire Óg and Drom & Inch faced off in the final game of the round robin series and with both sides already through Sunday’s fixture was merely to decide the final group placings – in the end Drom & Inch won with a point to spare.
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Although our senior hurlers suffered county final heartache at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday afternoon the Nenagh Éire Óg junior a Camogie team capped off a wonderful season on Saturday when the Blues beat Toomevara by a single point after a titanic struggle in a county final played at The Ragg. Please read on for all the latest news, photos, reports and fixtures!
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Despite falling nine points behind in the opening half Éire Óg fought back manfully and pushed Thurles Sarsfields to the very limit – unfortunately the defending champions edged this dramatic contest with a late, late surge of scores.
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Nenagh Éire Óg capped off a wonderful season for the Blues when the junior A Camogie team beat Toomevara by a single point after a titanic struggle in a county final played at The Ragg on Saturday afternoon.
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Nenagh Éire Óg booked their place in the county senior hurling final following a thrilling one-point win over a fantastic Drom & Inch team at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday afternoon.
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Nenagh Éire Óg have qualified for the county junior A Camogie semi-final, where they will face neighbours Kildangan, following an entertaining encounter with Holycross-Ballycahill at MacDonagh Park on Saturday afternoon.
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