The Éire Óg minor A football team lost a north semi-final by four points to Kildangan in Puckane on Thursday evening.
North Tipperary Minor A
Football Championship Semi-Final
Nenagh Éire Óg 0-10 Kildangan 3-5
The Blues started well, but their efforts were frustrated by six early wides. Éire Óg were also left cursing their misfortune in the fourth minute when Craig Himli’s rasping shot was saved by the Kildangan ‘keeper.
A free in the 13th minute got the hosts off the mark and three minutes later Kildangan doubled their advantage from play. Then, in the 17th minute, Kildangan struck for their opening goal and led 1-2 to no-score.
In the 18th minute the Kildangan goalkeeper saved well from Craig Himli before Niall McKeogh landed Éire Óg’s opening point. The Blues’ Ian McNamara made a stunning stop to deny the home side a goal in the 20th minute, but Kildangan converted the subsequent ’45 to open a five-point gap.
Adam Healy converted a free following a foul on Niall McKeogh to land Éire Óg’s second point of the evening and although Kildangan hit back with a point of their own the Blues closed out the half with a Jake Morris point leaving four between them at the break (0-3 to 1-4).
Two minutes into the second half Adam Healy converted a placed ball following a foul on Niall McKeogh to leave a goal in it. Kildangan, however, struck for their second goal and although Niall McKeogh responded with a point for Éire Óg and a third Kildangan goal materialised in the 37th minute. Seconds later Kildangan added a point to their tally and Éire Óg now trailed 0-5 to 3-5.
To be fair to the Éire Óg lads they never gave up and held Kildangan scoreless for the remainder of the game while also mounting an impressive comeback.
An Anthony Walsh point in the 39th minute got the Blues moving in the right direction while an excellent effort from Conor Bonnar in the 48th minute cut the deficit to seven points. With ten minutes to play Ian McNamara denied Kildangan a fourth goal with a fine reaction save before points from Craig Himli and Jake Morris cut the gap to five by the 53rd minute.
There was still plenty of time for Éire Óg to recover the situation, but despite the best efforts of the lads a converted Jake Morris ’45 in the 61st minute concluded the scoring.
Although this minor A football campaign ended in disappointment the players worked hard throughout and are now looking forward to a north Tipperary minor A hurling championship campaign which is scheduled to begin in July.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Ian McNamara, Jason McKenna, Anthony Walsh (0-1), Connie O’Reilly, Conor Bonnar (0-1), Gavin O’Connor, Jake Flynn, Adam Carey, Conor McCarthy, Craig Himli (0-1), Brian Tuite, Jake Morris (0-3, 0-1 ’45), Fiachra Starr, Niall McKeogh (0-2), Adam Healy (0-2, 0-2 frees). Subs: (29th) Peter Folan for Adam Carey (black card), (44th) Daniel Molamphy for Fiachra Starr, (57th) Jack McGrath for Craig Himli.
Referee: Martin O’Shea (Borrisokane).
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