Éire Óg enjoyed a twelve-point win over a determined Portroe side at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday afternoon. Despite trailing by eight points at the break Portroe fought back manfully to close the gap to four, but the Blues surged clear in the final quarter to book their place in the semi-finals of the Clean Ireland Recycling County Senior Hurling Championship.
Clean Ireland Recycling County Senior
Hurling Championship Quarter-Final
Nenagh Éire Óg 0-27 Portroe 1-12
Portroe took the lead in the first minute before Tommy Heffernan responded with a point for Éire Óg. A converted ’65 then forced Portroe back into a slender advantage in the eighth minute. The Blues, however, then burst into life and hit nine points without reply between the ninth and 18th minutes. Three James Mackey efforts (two frees) featured during this period as did points from Michael Heffernan, Tommy Heffernan (two), Paddy Murphy (two) and Dáire Quinn.
With Éire Óg leading 0-10 to 0-2 Portroe needed to respond and did so in the 21st minute thanks to a John Sheedy free. Portroe added further points thanks to a James Ryan brace, but Éire Óg closed out the half with points from Shane Hennessy and Andrew Coffey (two) to lead 0-13 to 0-5 at the interval.
It is worth noting that Éire Óg ‘keeper Michael McNamara was asked to make a save to deny Portroe a goal in the 27th minute.
The sides traded points immediately after the break before a Jimmy Creamer goal in the 32nd minute closed the gap to five (0-14 to 1-6). Ruadhan Mulrooney then added to the Portroe tally and with twenty-five minutes to play Éire Óg led by four.
Two James Mackey frees got the Blues moving in the right direction once more, but Portroe responded with efforts from Kevin O’Halloran (sideline) and Michael Sheedy. Once more Éire Óg hit back with a James Mackey free before Kevin O’Halloran converted another sideline ball in the 46th minute to leave four between them. Michael Heffernan and John Sheedy then traded frees and with ten to go there was little to choose between the sides (0-18 to 1-11).
Éire Óg, however, seized the initiative and hit seven points without reply to lead 0-25 to 1-11 by the 55th minute. Points from Andrew Coffey (two), Michael Heffernan (three, two frees), Tommy Heffernan and James Mackey (free) featured during this dominant spell.
A John Sheedy free in the 56th minute concluded the scoring from a Portroe point of view while efforts from Tommy Heffernan and Michael Heffernan (free) brought the Éire Óg scoring to a conclusion.
Éire Óg’s Michael Heffernan (51st minute) and Portroe’s Mark Gennery (64th minute) were denied late goals by a couple of terrific saves from the respective goalkeepers Darren Gleeson and Michael McNamara.
Semi-Final Draw
The draw for the semi-finals of the Clean Ireland Recycling County Senior Hurling Championship is expected to take place on Monday evening. The semi-finalists are: Nenagh Éire Óg, Thurles Sarsfields, Drom & Inch and Kilruane MacDonagh’s. Please keep an eye on the club website and the respective social media channels for updates. The semi-finals are scheduled to take place on the week-ending Sunday, October 11th in Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Match Details
Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara, Mark Flannery, Noel Maloney, John Brennan, Barry Heffernan, Hugh Maloney, Conor Ryan, Dáire Quinn (0-1), Michael Heffernan (0-6, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65s), Pearse Morris, Paddy Murphy (0-2), Andrew Coffey (0-4), Donnacha Quinn, Tommy Heffernan (0-5), Shane Hennessy (0-1). Subs: (3rd) James Mackey (0-8, 0-6 frees) for Donnacha Quinn, (47th) Philip Hickey for Pearse Morris, (59th) Kevin Tucker for Conor Ryan, (60th) Adam Gratton for Mark Flannery, (61st) John Cahalan for Shane Hennessy.
Referee: Paddy Ivors (Ballingarry).
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 2015 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 through!
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.
