Nenagh Éire Óg saw off north rivals Kildangan with eight points to spare in a Clean Ireland Recycling county senior hurling semi-final replay at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday afternoon.
Clean Ireland Recycling County Senior
Hurling Championship Semi-Final Replay
Nenagh Éire Óg 1-17 Kildangan 0-12
Nenagh Éire Óg saw off Kildangan with eight points to spare in a Clean Ireland Recycling county senior hurling semi-final replay at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday afternoon. Éire Óg dominated for long periods of the game and led 1-10 to 0-6 at half-time following a first half goal from Richie Flannery.
Three Ruairí Gleeson frees helped Kildangan into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead during the opening eight minutes. Kevin Tucker (free) and Michael Heffernan were responsible for Éire Óg’s opening efforts. Despite playing into the wind Éire Óg took over thereafter and held Kildangan scoreless for the ensuing seventeen minutes. A Michael Heffernan free levelled it in the ninth minute before a Paddy Murphy point gave Éire Óg the lead for the first time in the tenth – 0-4 to 0-3.
Two Kevin Tucker frees added to the Éire Óg tally and although Kildangan ‘keeper Darragh Egan made a series of fine saves during this semi-final replay Richie Flannery scored a vital three-pointer in the 21st minute following Andrew Coffey’s clever delivery – 1-6 to 0-3.
Two Ruairí Gleeson frees cut the Éire Óg lead to four points before Michael Heffernan and Kevin Tucker forced the Blues back into a six-point lead – 1-8 to 0-5.
Kildangan’s Eoin Gleeson notched his side’s first point from play in the 30th minute, but Éire Óg closed out the half in determined fashion with Michael Heffernan landing a long-range free and Kevin Tucker scoring a second point from play – 1-10 to 0-6.
Richie Flannery and Ruairí Gleeson traded points early in the second half before a point from Paul Ryan and a Michael Heffernan brace (one ’65) saw Éire Óg leading 1-14 to 0-7 with fifteen minutes to play.
A Darragh Egan free from a 21-yard line preceded a Paddy Murphy point before Paul Flynn and Michael Heffernan (free) traded efforts.
A Ruairí Gleeson point from play left nine in it (1-16 to 0-10) with eight minutes to play before a Michael Heffernan point brought the scoring to a close from an Éire Óg point of view in the 54th minute. To their credit Kildangan fought gamely on and were rewarded with late points from Jack Loughnane and Joe Gallagher.
The county senior hurling final will take place in Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday, October 13th. Your support would be much appreciated.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara, Mark Flannery, Noel Maloney (captain), John Brennan, Daire Quinn, Hugh Maloney, Billy Heffernan, Barry Heffernan, Kevin Tucker (0-5, 0-3 frees), Paul Ryan (0-1), Michael Heffernan (0-8, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Pearse Morris, Andrew Coffey, Richie Flannery (1-1), Paddy Murphy (0-2). Subs: (49th) James Mackey for Pearse Morris, (51st) Killian Gleeson for Paul Ryan, (57th) Alan Kelly for Andrew Coffey.
Kildangan: Darragh Egan (0-1, 0-1 frees), David Sweeney, Martin Minehan, Fergal Hayes, Hugh Flannery, Gerry Slattery, Gary Byrne, Jack Loughnane (0-1), Tommy Connors, Willie Connors, Joe Gallagher (0-1), Eoin Kelly, Tadhg Gallagher, Dan Hackett, Ruairí Gleeson (0-7, 0-6 frees). Subs: (29th) Eoin Gleeson (0-1) for Tommy Connors, (HT) Brian Kelly for Fergal Hayes, (48th) Paul Flynn (0-1) for Eoin Kelly, (54th) Páraic Kelly for Dan Hackett.
Referee: Keith Delahunty (Moyle Rovers).
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