The Éire Óg minor hurlers lost to Limerick champions Doon in the final of the inaugural Munster Minor Hurling Championship at Dr Morris Park on Saturday afternoon.
Éire Óg lost to Limerick champions Doon (0-7 to 0-9) in the final of the inaugural Munster Minor Hurling Championship at Dr Morris Park on Saturday afternoon.
Despite playing into the wind in the opening half of the final the Blues trailed by just three points (0-4 to 0-7) at the interval. Four minutes into the second half, however, a very disappointing refereeing decision saw Éire Óg reduced to fourteen men when Aodhán Geaney was shown a straight red card. Doon packed their defence thereafter and were ultimately crowned champions.
The participating hurling clubs were: Nenagh Éire Óg (Tipperary champions), Causeway (Kerry), Doon (Limerick) and De La Salle (Waterford). Cork champions Blackrock and the Clare champions did not participate in the competition.
First Round
In the opening game Éire Óg beat Waterford champions De La Salle 1-12 to 1-6. The Blues led 1-6 to 0-3 at the break with John Cahalan accounting for the Éire Óg goal. Nenagh conceded a three-pointer in the opening minute of the second half, but were always comfortable thereafter.
Nenagh Éire Óg v De La Salle: Brian Gubbins, Conor Ryan, Michael Collins, Brian Flynn, Aodhán Geaney, Barry Heffernan, Jack Molamphy, Christopher Ryan, Andrew Coffey (0-3), Killian Gleeson (captain, 0-1), Donnacha Quinn (0-4, 0-1 frees, 0-1 ‘65), John Cahalan (1-4), James Mackey, Gary Howard, Anthony Walsh. Subs: Luke Kennedy for Anthony Walsh, Aidan Healy for James Mackey, Oisín Ryan for Conor Ryan, Gavin O’Connor for John Cahalan, Jack Sheedy for Gary Howard.
Semi-Final
In the semi-final Éire Óg took on Kerry champions Causeway and won thanks to a 2-10 to 1-3 scoreline. The Blues led this encounter 1-4 to 0-2 at the break.
Nenagh Éire Óg v Causeway: Brian Gubbins, Gavin O’Connor, Michael Collins, Brian Flynn, Aodhán Geaney, Barry Heffernan, Jack Molamphy, James Mackey, Andrew Coffey (0-1), Killian Gleeson (captain, 0-3), Donnacha Quinn (1-3, 0-2 frees), John Cahalan, Christopher Ryan, Gary Howard (0-2), Anthony Walsh (1-0). Subs: Oisín Ryan for Jack Molamphy, Luke Kennedy for Barry Heffernan, Aidan Healy (0-1) for Christopher Ryan, Jack Sheedy for Anthony Walsh, Michael Hallinan for Michael Collins, Brian Tuite for Killian Gleeson, Christopher Ryan for James Mackey, Anthony Walsh for Donnacha Quinn.
Final
In the final Doon started with the breeze and took a three points to no-score lead inside the opening six minutes before a Donnacha Quinn free got Éire Óg off the mark. Doon added two further scores to edge four points clear (0-5 to 0-1) before a Donnacha Quinn free in the 14th minute cut the deficit to three.
Doon then converted a ’65, but points from Donnacha Quinn (free) and Andrew Coffey reduced the Doon advantage to a manageable two points (0-4 to 0-6). Doon did edge three points clear just before the break, but considering the breeze Éire Óg enjoyed a good opportunity to over-turn that 0-4 to 0-7 interval deficit.
A Donnacha Quinn free three minutes into the second half left two between them before Aodhán Geaney was shown a straight red card – a very disappointing decision by the referee. Doon elected to pack their defence thereafter and managed to restrict Éire Óg to just two further points from placed balls.
Nenagh Éire Óg v Doon: Brian Gubbins, Gavin O’Connor, Michael Collins, Brian Flynn, Aodhán Geaney, Barry Heffernan, Jack Molamphy, Conor Ryan, James Mackey, Andrew Coffey (0-1), John Cahalan, Donnacha Quinn (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Killian Gleeson, Gary Howard, Anthony Walsh. Subs: Christopher Ryan for Anthony Walsh, Oisín Ryan for John Cahalan.
