The Blues go through to the county semi-final following one-point win over 2011 champions Drom & Inch

Liam Heffernan’s determined Nenagh Éire Óg senior side saw off the 2011 Tipperary county senior hurling champions Drom & Inch in a ferocious county quarter-final battle at Templemore this afternoon.

The Blues saw off the 2011 county senior hurling champions Drom & Inch after a ferocious battle at Templemore this afternoon. Éire Óg started well and led 1-8 to 0-6 at the break. Drom & Inch responded to the challenge like champions in the second half and with ten minutes to play there was just a single point between them (1-12 to 1-11). Despite playing into the wind Éire Óg settled to their task once more and charged into a 1-15 to 1-11 lead before a late David Butler goal left a single point between them.

Tommy Heffernan and Séamus Callanan (free) traded early efforts before a searching Billy Heffernan delivery in the third minute broke to Paddy Murphy following Trojan work from Richie Flannery; Murphy made no mistake and smacked home a left-handed goal – 1-1 to 0-1.

Drom & Inch responded with two efforts (1-1 to 0-3) before points from Paddy Murphy (two), Michael Heffernan (two) and Tommy Heffernan helped a rampant Éire Óg into a 1-6 to 0-3 lead by the 19th minute.

Johnny Ryan and David Collins responded for Drom & Inch, but efforts from Michael Heffernan and Richie Flannery forced Éire Óg back into a six-point lead (1-8 to 0-5) by the 25th minute. A Séamus Callanan free closed out the opening half and the sides retired with five between them.

Points from Michael Heffernan and Kevin Tucker (free) during the opening six minutes of the second half opened a seven-point gap (1-10 to 0-6) before Drom & Inch responded with three points of their own to leave four between them in the 44th minute.

A Michael Heffernan brace restored Éire Óg’s six-point advantage (1-12 to 0-9) with fourteen minutes to play.

Séamus Callanan roused the Drom & Inch supporters with a terrific left-handed point in the 47th minute and a minute later Callanan struck for a goal to leave just two between them. Callanan then struck for another point; with the deficit reduced to the minimum (1-12 to 1-11) and Drom & Inch playing with the wind you could have been forgiven for fearing for the Éire Óg lads.

The Blues, however, responded to the challenge in great style. Éire Óg stood their ground and after seven scoreless minutes Michael McNamara picked out Michael Heffernan and Mikey drilled over a superb point to settle the nerves. A minute later Paddy Murphy swung over another while Richie Flannery forced Éire Óg into a four-point advantage in the first minute of injury time.

A David Butler goal in the 62nd minute left one between them, but Éire Óg, deservedly, found themselves celebrating at the final whistle.

Well done lads!

Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara, Mark Flannery, Noel Maloney (captain), John Brennan, Daire Quinn, Hugh Maloney, Billy Heffernan, Barry Heffernan, Kevin Tucker (0-1, 0-1 frees), Paddy Murphy (1-3), Michael Heffernan (0-7, 0-1 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Pearse Morris, Brian Quinn, Richie Flannery (0-2), Tommy Heffernan (0-2). Subs: (HT) James Mackey for Tommy Heffernan, (42nd) Killian Gleeson for Brian Quinn, (51st) Donnacha Quinn for James Mackey, (56th) Seánie Geaney for Pearse Morris.

Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla Kickhams).

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