A dominant Nenagh Éire Óg enjoyed a twelve-point win over a determined Mullinahone side at Boherlahan in the second round of the county senior hurling championship on Friday evening.
County Senior Hurling Championship Round Two
Nenagh Éire Óg 1-18 Mullinahone 0-9
Éire Óg struggled to get into a decent rhythm in the opening half and led by just three points (0-10 to 0-7) at the break. Kevin Tucker (free), Tommy Heffernan (two), Donnacha Quinn, Brian Quinn, Seánie Geaney (two) and three superb efforts from Michael Heffernan accounted for the Éire Óg scores while Eoin Kelly notched two from play and five frees to keep Mullinahone in touch.
The Blues spurned a handful of notable goal chances in the opening half, but upped their performance considerably after the break. Indeed, Éire Óg held Mullinahone scoreless for twenty-two minutes of the second half and in the meantime raced into a 1-16 to 0-7 lead. The crucial goal arrived in the 48th minute when Tommy Heffernan won a ball at full-forward and beat Mullinahone ‘keeper Alan Walsh with a rasping shot. In all Mullinahone’s Alan Walsh made six saves.
Michael Heffernan set the tone in the second half when converting a sideline ball in the 37th minute. Seánie Geaney (two), James Mackey, Donnacha Quinn and Tommy Heffernan added the points before Mullinahone responded through an Eoin Kelly free in the 52nd minute. A Kevin Tucker free and Donnacha Quinn’s third point closed out the scoring from an Éire Óg point of view while Eoin Kelly (free) had the final say in the matter.
Éire Óg now progress to round three of the county senior hurling championship. The draw will be made on Monday night and could see the Blues facing one of the following round two winners: Borris-Ileigh, Moycarkey-Borris, Roscrea, Toomevara, Templederry Kenyons, Burgess or Cappawhite, Upperchurch-Drombane or Holycross-Ballycahill. It is understood that since Éire Óg have already played Toomevara that the sides will not be asked to play each other in the third round.
Éire Óg’s progression to the third round also ensures the Blues’ place in tier one of the re-structured county senior hurling championship which kicks into gear in 2014. Tier one will feature: Nenagh Éire Óg, Borris-Ileigh, Moycarkey-Borris, Roscrea, Toomevara, Templederry Kenyons, Burgess or Cappawhite, Upperchurch-Drombane or Holycross-Ballycahill, Killenaule, Carrick Swans, Drom & Inch, Loughmore-Castleiney, Éire Óg Annacarty, Clonoulty-Rossmore, Silvermines and Kildangan.
Meanwhile tier two will feature: Burgess or Cappawhite, Upperchurch-Drombane or Holycross-Ballycahill, Mullinahone, Carrick Davins, JK Bracken’s, Portroe, Knockavilla Kickhams, Kilruane MacDonagh’s, Ballingarry, Borrisokane, Golden-Kilfeacle, Lorrha, Moneygall, Thurles Sarsfields, Boherlahan-Dualla and Cashel King Cormacs.
One of the following sides will be relegated this year and be replaced by the 2013 county intermediate hurling champions: Boherlahan-Dualla, Golden-Kilfeacle, Moneygall, Cashel King Cormacs or Carrick Davins.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara, Mark Flannery, Noel Maloney, John Brennan, Daire Quinn, Hugh Maloney, Barry Heffernan, Alan Kelly, Kevin Tucker (0-2, 0-2 frees), Seánie Geaney (0-4), Michael Heffernan (0-4, 0-1 sideline), Tommy Heffernan (1-3), Donnacha Quinn (0-3), Paddy Murphy, Brian Quinn (0-1). Subs: (40th) James Mackey (0-1) for Brian Quinn, (59th) Andrew Coffey for Donnacha Quinn, (59th) Johnny Slattery for Seánie Geaney, (60th) Adam Grattan for Barry Heffernan.
Mullinahone: Alan Walsh, Luke Mullally, AJ Cronin, Kevin Walzer, Eoin Fennelly, Paul Curran, Niall Curran, Edwin O’Meara, James Connolly, Kevin Bolger, Dónal Cody, Alan Curran, Seán Walzer, Eoin Kelly (0-9, 0-7 frees), Michael Dunne. Subs: (52nd) Eddie Carey for Michael Dunne, (52nd) Ky Vaughan for Seán Walzer, (58th) David Walzer for Alan Curran, (58th) Joe O’Meara for Kevin Bolger.
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla).
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