A deflected Joe Gallagher goal in the fourth minute of injury denied Éire Óg a first round win in the 2013 Hibernian Inn north Tipperary senior hurling championship.
Saturday, April 6th
Hibernian Inn
North Tipperary Senior
Hurling Championship
Nenagh Éire Óg 0-17
Kildangan 1-14
A deflected Joe Gallagher goal in the fourth minute of injury denied Éire Óg a first round win in the 2013 Hibernian Inn north Tipperary senior hurling championship. Following a Donnacha Quinn point on the hour Éire Óg led 0-17 to 0-12, but Kildangan converted two late frees before Joe Gallagher’s speculative effort earned Séamus Gleeson’s men a share of the spoils.
Points from Michael Heffernan (2), Tommy Heffernan and Kevin Tucker (two, one free) helped Éire Óg into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead during the opening quarter. Kildangan responded in kind and cut the deficit to two points (0-7 to 0-5) before late first half scores from Tommy Heffernan, two Kevin Tucker frees and a monster of a point from Barry Heffernan retired the sides at the break with five between them (0-11 to 0-6). It is worth noting, however, that Éire Óg had conceded a penalty in the 29th minute following a Barry Heffernan foul on Joe Gallagher – Darragh Egan’s subsequent flew narrowly over the bar.
Éire Óg, now facing the wind, began the second half in positive fashion and led 0-13 to 0-7 following two Kevin Tucker frees. Kildangan corner-forward Tadhg Gallagher was also shown a straight red card in the 36th minute following a challenge on Barry Heffernan.
Three consecutive Kildangan frees reduced the Éire Óg lead significantly (0-13 to 0-10).
Efforts from Kevin Tucker, Tommy Heffernan (2) and a Donnacha Quinn point on the hour mark forced Éire Óg into a 0-17 to 0-12 lead entering injury time.
In injury time Éire Óg conceded two frees which Kildangan converted before an ambitious Joe Gallagher shot was deflected past Nenagh ‘keeper Michael McNamara.
Éire Óg face Moneygall in the second round at Cloughjordan next weekend. Fixture details to be confirmed.
Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara, Mark Flannery, Noel Maloney, John Brennan, Daire Quinn, Barry Heffernan (0-1), Billy Heffernan, Alan Kelly, Pearse Morris, Kevin Tucker (0-8, 0-7 frees), Paddy Murphy, Tommy Heffernan (0-4), Donnacha Quinn (0-2), Michael Heffernan (0-2), Killian Gleeson. Subs: (28th) James Mackey for Killian Gleeson, (50th) Brian Quinn for Paddy Murphy (blood), (58th) Andrew Coffey for Alan Kelly.
Referee: Philip Kelly (Ballinahinch).
