Nenagh Éire Óg claimed their eighth Tipperary county minor A title at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday afternoon thanks to a dramatic one-point win over an excellent Holycross-Ballycahill team.
Clean Ireland Recycling County
Minor A Hurling Championship Final
Nenagh Éire Óg 3-10 Holycross-Ballycahill 1-15
Nenagh Éire Óg claimed their eighth Tipperary county minor A title at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday afternoon thanks to a dramatic one-point win over an excellent Holycross-Ballycahill team. Sunday’s victory capped a campaign which featured the club’s 21st divisional title and seventh North title in-a-row (2007-13).
Éire Óg led by a single point in the first minute of injury time when Ciarán Maher won a penalty for Holycross-Ballycahill. However before Jamie Woods could address the placed opportunity the Holycross-Ballycahill management team attempted to change the ball – referee Paddy Ivors spotted the infraction and elected to throw the ball in as a result. After a fierce battle Éire Óg cleared their lines.
Holycross-Ballycahill started brilliantly and led 0-4 to no-score before Gary Howard got Éire Óg off the mark in the tenth minute. Two Donnacha Quinn frees kept the scoreboard ticking over from an Éire Óg point of view, but the Blues trailed 0-3 to 0-6 by the 22nd minute.
A fine Donnacha Quinn point from play cut the deficit to two points, but Holycross-Ballycahill responded with a Shane Ryan free to leave three between them.
Another Donnacha Quinn point in the 27th minute left two in it once more before Éire Óg struck for their first goal in the 28th minute – Ger O’Gorman cleared his lines in inspirational style before Killian Gleeson raced through and buried a super goal – 1-5 to 0-7.
Peter Gavin and Donnacha Quinn (free) traded points thereafter before Holycross-Ballycahill ‘keeper Shane Skelly made a fine save to deny James Mackey.
Éire Óg struck for their second goal against the wind in the 34th minute of the opening half – this time Philip Hickey won possession before floating in a superb ball toward Andrew Coffey. Coffey buried a left-handed shot and Éire Óg now led 2-6 to 0-9.
Donnacha Quinn converted a sideline ball in the opening minutes of the second half, but a very determined Holycross-Ballycahill team attacked relentlessly and reduced the Éire Óg lead to a single point (2-7 to 0-12) by the 39th minute.
Éire Óg responded with points from Donnacha Quinn and Anthony Walsh, but Liam Moloney hit a brace for Holycross-Ballycahill before ‘keeper Brian Gubbins made a fine save to deny Peter Gavin a goal in the 44th minute. Three minutes later, however, Gavin guided home a three-pointer when his clever flick found the Éire Óg net. Holycross-Ballycahill now led 1-14 to 2-9.
Brian Gubbins saved once more from Peter Gavin with ten minutes to play while seconds later Shane Skelly saved from James Mackey in a frantic spell of hurling. Holycross-Ballycahill cleared their lines at the expense of a sideline ball which Donnacha Quinn floated in with nine minutes to play – Gary Howard turned the incoming ball past a helpless Shane Skelly and, suddenly, Éire Óg held the advantage once more – 3-9 to 1-14.
A Liam Moloney point in the 54th minute tied the game, but Donnacha Quinn (free) fired Éire Óg back into a precious one-point lead in the 56th minute following a foul on the Blues’ John Cahalan (the first free won by the Blues in the second half). Holycross-Ballycahill enjoyed late opportunities to equalise, but it was not to be for the Mid champions.
The club would like to thank the management team – comprising Greg Browne, Michael McNamara and Con Morris – for their efforts in preparing the minor A team this year.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Brian Gubbins, Conor Ryan, Michael Collins, Ger O’Gorman, Aodhán Geaney, Barry Heffernan, Jack Molamphy, Andrew Coffey (1-0), James Mackey, John Cahalan, Donnacha Quinn (0-8, 0-4 frees, 0-1 sideline), Killian Gleeson (captain, 1-0), Philip Hickey, Gary Howard (1-1), Anthony Walsh (0-1). Panel members: Aaron Hogan, Brian Flynn, Christopher Ryan, Aidan Healy, Gavin O’Connor, Oisín Ryan, Paul O’Leary, Jack Sheedy, Niall O’Gorman, Michael Hallinan, Luke Kennedy, Shane Hennessy, Brian Tuite, Peter O’Reilly, Adam Carey, Gerard Mitchell.
Holycross-Ballycahill: Shane Skelly, David Carroll, Conor Ryan, Ray Nally, Jack Skehan, Shane Ryan (0-2, 0-2 frees), Kieran O’Dwyer, Páraic Russell (0-1), Matty Stakelum (0-1), Luke O’Meara (0-1), Ciarán Maher, Peter Gavin (1-1), Jamie Woods (0-3, 0-2 frees), Liam Moloney (0-4), Brian Hanrahan (0-2). Subs: (57th) Cian Hehir for Kieran O’Dwyer.
Referee: Paddy Ivors (Ballingarry).
Nenagh Éire Óg’s County Minor A Hurling Titles (8): 1969, 1977, 1978, 1991, 1992, 2008, 2012 & 2013.
Previous Winning Captains: Matt Sheary (1969), Michael Kennedy (1977), Brian Heffernan (1978), Fergal Hynes (1991), Shane Connolly (1992), Paddy Murphy (2008), Bob O’Brien (2012) & Killian Gleeson (2013).
This is the third time that Nenagh Éire Óg have managed to put county minor A hurling titles back-to-back (1991-92, 1977-78 & 2012-13). Five other clubs have managed a similar feat: Thurles Sarsfields (2006-07, 2000-01 & 1954-57), Roscrea (1966-67 & 1958-1963), Toomevara (1986-87) & Cashel King Cormacs (1974-75).
Results
Clean Ireland Recycling County
Minor A Hurling Championship
Final Nenagh Éire Óg 3-10 Holycross-Ballycahill 1-15
Semi-Final Nenagh Éire Óg 5-19 Carrick Swans 0-14
Ger Gavin North Tipperary
Minor A Hurling Championship
Final Nenagh Éire Óg 4-22 Toomevara 3-20 AET
Semi-Final Nenagh Éire Óg 1-20 Borris-Ileigh 0-9
Nenagh Éire Óg 2-23 Kildangan 5-7
Nenagh Éire Óg w/o Kilruane MacDonagh’s scr
Nenagh Éire Óg 3-13 Toomevara 2-12
Nenagh Éire Óg 1-17 Roscrea 2-17
Nenagh Éire Óg 2-19 Borris-Ileigh 1-11
Nenagh Éire Óg 1-18 Newport Gaels 0-17
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