The Blues survived a battle with Moycarkey-Borris in Littleton on Saturday evening to book their place in the semi-finals of the Dr Fogarty Cup.
Clean Ireland Recycling County
Senior Hurling Challenge Cup
Dr Fogarty Cup Quarter-Finals
Nenagh Éire Óg 2-14 Moycarkey-Borris 0-18
Moycarkey-Borris started well and led 0-5 to 0-2 after sixteen minutes. Éire Óg initially struggled against an enthusiastic home side with a James Mackey free and an effort from John Cahalan getting the Blues off the mark.
A John Cahalan point in the 17th minute reduced the margin to two before Philip Hickey set up team captain Paddy Murphy for a goal which presented Nenagh with the lead (1-3 to 0-5) for the first time in the 19th minute. Four minutes later a clever James Mackey pass sent Tommy Heffernan through on goal, Heffernan finished well and Éire Óg led by four.
To be fair to the opposition Moycarkey-Borris responded to the challenge in admirable fashion and struck four consecutive points (two frees) to tie the game (2-3 to 0-9) by the 29th minute.
Éire Óg closed out the half positively with points from Paddy Murphy and Barry Heffernan helping the visitors into a 2-5 to 0-9 interval lead.
Efforts from Andrew Coffey and James Mackey (free) helped Éire Óg into a four-point lead immediately after the break. Moycarkey-Borris responded once more, however, and out-scored the Blues by three points to one to close the gap to two (2-8 to 0-12) by the 39th minute. Moycarkey-Borris were misfortunate to miss out on a three-pointer in the 37th minute when Michael McNamara made a telling save at his near post.
Philip Hickey found the side netting in the 42nd minute before points from Paul Ryan and Tommy Heffernan helped the Blues into a 2-10 to 0-12 advantage entering the final quarter.
Moycarkey-Borris responded with a point, but further efforts from Andrew Coffey and James Mackey (free) left five in it before a converted free from the home side reduced the margin to four with ten minutes to play (2-12 to 0-14).
Thanks to points from Dáire Quinn and Andrew Coffey Éire Óg led 2-14 to 0-15 with five minutes to play, but full credit to Moycarkey-Borris, the home side converted three late placed balls to reduce the deficit to two. However, Moycarkey-Borris struggled to conjure the goal-scoring opportunity which was required to rescue the situation.
The three remaining quarter-finals in the Dr Fogarty Cup take place on Sunday, March 22nd – Mullinahone v Moneygall, Lorrha-Dorrha v Cappawhite & Éire Óg Annacarty v Burgess.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara, Mark Flannery, Hugh Maloney, John Brennan, Adam Gratton, Dáire Quinn (0-1), Barry Heffernan (0-1), Andrew Coffey (0-3), Billy Heffernan, John Cahalan (0-2), Killian Gleeson, Tommy Heffernan (1-1), Philip Hickey, Paddy Murphy (captain, 1-1), James Mackey (0-4, 0-3 frees). Subs: (HT) Conor Ryan for Adam Gratton, (HT) Kevin Tucker for Billy Heffernan, (HT) Paul Ryan (0-1) for Killian Gleeson.
Referee: Seán Bradshaw.
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!
Alternatively you can also support Nenagh Éire Óg by paying your club membership. Membership for 2014 is now due and can be paid to any club officer or online. The cost of membership is priced at €25.
Help us to make the dreams of our players come true!
If you need to contact Éire Óg please do so via our Contact page. You can also keep in touch by accessing our Facebook page or by following @nenagheireog on Twitter.
