Despite trailing by seven points with fourteen minutes to play the Éire Óg junior Bs mounted a spirited rally at Kilcolman which just fell short.
North Tipperary Junior B
Hurling Championship
Nenagh Éire Óg 2-12
Portroe 3-12
Although the Éire Óg junior B hurlers lost on this occasion plenty of positives could be taken from the performance. Indeed, the spirit of the players and their determination to work hard for one another will be crucial in the Blues’ final group game against Newport. Having beaten Silvermines in the opening round Éire Óg remain in a good position to make the quarter-finals at the very least.
Portroe started well and led 1-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes with Anthony Walsh (free) responsible for Éire Óg’s opening point. Enda O’Sullivan made a neat save to deny Portroe a second goal in the ninth minute before two Anthony Walsh frees cut the deficit to two points (0-3 to 1-2).
In the 13th minute Conor Kirwan set Anthony Walsh up for Éire Óg’s first point from play before the Portroe ‘keeper made a telling save to deny Oisín Ryan a goal following enterprising work from the influential Conor Kirwan.
In the 16th minute an Oisín Ryan point tied the game (0-5 to 1-2), but between the 18th and 24th minutes three frees helped Portroe to scoot into a significant advantage.
Points from Thomas O’Brien and Anthony Walsh (’65) reduced the margin to one approaching half-time before another free helped Portroe into a 1-6 to 0-7 interval lead.
In the opening minute of the second half Brian Duffy’s shot was saved by an alert ‘keeper and within seconds Portroe raced down the field to score a goal of their own. Two minutes later Dinny Hogan was fouled for a penalty which Portroe elected to tap over the bar – 0-7 to 2-7.
Éire Óg needed to respond and respond they did in the 34th minute when a combination of Oisín Ryan and Conor Kirwan set up Brian Duffy to belt home a rousing goal.
Thomas O’Brien set up Aidan Healy for a terrific right-handed point soon after, but Éire Óg conceded two frees which Portroe converted before Portroe scored a third goal in the 39th minute (1-8 to 3-9).
The sides traded frees thereafter before an Anthony Walsh free cut the deficit to six points with ten minutes to play (1-10 to 3-10).
A Portroe point in the 54th minute opened a seven-point gap once more before Conor Kirwan set up Niall O’Gorman for an effort which flew narrowly wide. With five minutes to play Thomas O’Brien grabbed Enda O’Sullivan’s puck-out and picked out Conor Kirwan who laid off to Aidan Healy. Healy made no mistake with his cracking shot and the deficit was down to a manageable four (2-10 to 3-11).
Oisín Ryan and Anthony Walsh (free) then added to the Éire Óg tally, but the Blues struggled to create one final goal-scoring opportunity and a Portroe free brought the game to a conclusion.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Enda O’Sullivan, Paddy Flynn, John Kelly, Alex Jones, Jamie Gallagher, Lenny Ryan, Kevin Gubbins, Thomas O’Brien (0-1), Michael Hynes, Kieran Duffy, Conor Kirwan, Anthony Walsh (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Oisín Ryan (0-2), Brian Duffy (1-0), Aidan Healy (1-1). Subs: (46th) Jack Sheedy for Jamie Gallagher, (52nd) Niall O’Gorman for Brian Duffy, (59th) Paul Slattery for Oisín Ryan.
Referee: Pat Gibson (Burgess).
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!
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