Sunday, June 2nd
County Senior Hurling Challenge Cup
Dr Fogarty Cup Semi-Final
Nenagh Éire Óg 2-22 Kilruane MacDonagh’s 2-17
Nenagh Éire Óg enjoyed a five-point win over Kilruane MacDonagh’s at a sunny Cloughjordan on Sunday afternoon – Éire Óg will now face Burgess in the Dr Fogarty Cup final at a time, date and venue to be confirmed.
Éire Óg started well and led 0-4 to 0-1 after eight minutes with Tommy Heffernan (two), Donnacha Quinn (free) and Paddy Murphy responsible for these early efforts.
Mark O’Leary and Kieran Cahill responded for Kilruane and when Niall O’Meara cracked over a superb point in the 12th minute there was just the minimum between them – 0-5 to 0-4.
Éire Óg responded to the challenge with a third Tommy Heffernan point and a terrific Paddy Murphy goal – Murphy played a slick one-two with Killian Gleeson before finishing off his left in the 15th minute (1-6 to 0-4).
Killian Gleeson then added to the Éire Óg tally before Thomas Cleary plundered a great goal for Kilruane in the 18th minute.
It was tit-for-tat thereafter until a Donnacha Quinn free in the 25th minute helped Éire Óg into a 1-10 to 1-7 lead. Just then, however, Kilruane sparked into life with three consecutive points (Mark O’Leary and a Michael Costello brace) levelling matters.
All of Kilruane’s good work was undone however in the 28th minute when Paddy Murphy buried a second goal. James Mackey then added an Éire Óg point and Nenagh led 2-11 to 1-10 at the break.
Mark O’Leary opened the scoring for Kilruane in the second half, but Éire Óg responded with points from Killian Gleeson (two) and Barry Heffernan (two frees) to take a 2-15 to 1-11 lead.
To their credit Kilruane fought back with a second Thomas Cleary goal. The MacDonagh’s added two further points and with 19 minutes to play there was just two between them (2-15 to 2-13).
A tough battled ensued. Indeed, with eight minutes to play Kilruane were still within striking distance (2-16 to 2-18). Éire Óg, however, finished strongly with a late surge of points from Tommy Heffernan, Michael Heffernan, Andrew Coffey and Killian Gleeson ensuring that the Blues progressed.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara, Mark Flannery, Noel Maloney, John Brennan, Daire Quinn, Hugh Maloney, Billy Heffernan, Seán Geaney, Barry Heffernan (0-3, 0-2 frees), Killian Gleeson (0-4), Michael Heffernan (0-3), Tommy Heffernan (0-6), James Mackey (0-1), Paddy Murphy (2-1), Donnacha Quinn (0-3, 0-3 frees). Subs: (44th) Andrew Coffey (0-1) for Seán Geaney.
Referee: Martin Ryan.
