The Blues register ten-point win over Templederry

Éire Óg made a winning start to their north Tipperary senior hurling championship campaign when they beat Templederry by ten points at Cloughjordan on Sunday evening.

Following a recent encounter between the sides in the county championship this clash with Templederry was expected to be another tough match. And, it did not disappoint. In the end Éire Óg registered a fine win, but Templederry lost nothing in defeat. The Kenyons are a fine side which no one should take for granted.

Éire Óg got off to an enterprising start at MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan on Sunday evening and led 1-3 to no-score after ten minutes.

Playing with the wind early points from Barry Heffernan, Tommy Heffernan and Donnacha Quinn set the Blues on their way before Tommy Heffernan lashed a shot into the roof of the Templederry net from a placed ball in the seventh minute.

Adrian Ryan and Donnacha Quinn then traded frees before Éanna Murray stole in for a Templederry goal in the 14th minute – 1-4 to 1-1.

Points from Tommy Heffernan and Michael McNamara (free) were responded to by Templederry to leave three between them (1-6 to 1-3) by the 21st minute.

Three Nenagh points, courtesy of Killian Gleeson, Barry Heffernan and Michael Heffernan, stretched the Éire Óg led to six and although Adrian Ryan responded for the Kenyons the Blues hit five points without reply in the closing minutes of the opening half to leave ten in it at the break – 1-14 to 1-4. Killian Gleeson, Michael Heffernan (two), Tommy Heffernan and Barry Heffernan were responsible for these efforts.

Points from Adrian Ryan and Gearóid Ryan cut the deficit to eight points immediately after the break before Michael Heffernan turned over a Templederry defender and booted in a terrific goal in the 36th minute (2-14 to 1-6).

Adrian Ryan then converted a ’65, but Éire Óg hit back with points from Barry and Tommy Heffernan to leave twelve points in it (2-16 to 1-7) with seventeen minutes to play.

Michael McNamara made a fine save to deny Gearóid Ryan a goal in the 48th minute. McNamara then saved an Adrian Ryan penalty in the 53rd minute and while a brace of Adrian Ryan frees cut the Éire Óg lead to ten points by the 54th minute Liam Heffernan’s men always looked capable of a response.

Indeed, two late points from Michael Heffernan sealed the win. Templederry converted two late ‘65s to bring the scoring to a conclusion from their point of view while Michael McNamara was asked to save once more from Éanna Murray in the first minute of injury time.

Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara (0-1, 0-1 free), Mark Flannery, Noel Maloney, Daire Quinn, Billy Heffernan, Hugh Maloney, Seánie Geaney, Kevin Tucker, Andrew Coffey, Killian Gleeson (0-2), Tommy Heffernan (1-4, 1-0 free), Barry Heffernan (0-4), Donnacha Quinn (0-2, 0-1 frees, 0-1 ’65), Michael Heffernan (1-5), Mark Tuite. Subs: (HT) Conor Ryan for Andrew Coffey, (48th) Paul Ryan for Mark Tuite.

Referee: Philip Kelly (Ballinahinch).

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