Éire Óg got their competitive year off to an encouraging start when beating Burgess with nine points to spare at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Sunday afternoon in the Clean Ireland Recycling County Tipperary Senior Challenge Cup.
Clean Ireland Recycling County
Tipperary Senior Challenge Cup
Nenagh Éire Óg 4-14 Burgess 2-11
at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh
Nenagh Éire Óg got their competitive year off to an encouraging start when beating Burgess with nine points to spare at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Sunday afternoon.
A James Mackey goal in the opening minute set the Blues on their way while points from Tommy Heffernan and Donnacha Quinn (three) helped the home side into a 1-4 to no-score lead insider the opening eight minutes.
Burgess then out-scored Éire Óg by three points to one before Michael Heffernan buried a 21-yard free to hand the Blues a 2-5 to 0-3 advantage in the 17th minute. Nenagh closed out the opening half with points from Michael Heffernan, Andrew Coffey and Donnacha Quinn (three) helping the home side toward a 2-10 to 0-4 interval advantage.
Burgess started the second half in determined fashion and hit 2-3 without reply to leave just three between the sides by the 37th minute (2-10 to 2-7).
A Paul Ryan point in the 44th minute set Éire Óg on their way once more before goals from James Mackey and Tommy Heffernan saw the Blues into a 4-11 to 2-7 lead with 46 minutes played.
Points from Paul Ryan and Donnacha Quinn then added to the Éire Óg tally before Burgess responded with three of their own. In second half injury time Donnacha Quinn completed his nine-point haul.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara, Mark Flannery, John Brennan, Adam Grattan, Billy Heffernan, Hugh Maloney, Barry Heffernan, Andrew Coffey (0-1), Killian Gleeson, Paul Ryan (0-2), Tommy Heffernan (1-1), Donnacha Quinn (0-9, 0-4 frees, 0-2 ‘65s), Mark Tuite, Michael Heffernan (1-1, 1-0 frees), James Mackey (2-0). Subs: (11th) Donnacha Heffernan for John Brennan, (36th) Bob O’Brien for Michael Heffernan, (50th) Conor Ryan for Mark Tuite, (56th) John Cahalan for James Mackey.
Referee: Philip Kelly (Ballinahinch).
