Nenagh still progress despite defeat to Loughmore

Never had a last-minute free so many permutations!

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Group 3 Round 3

Loughmore/Castleiney 2-20

Nenagh Eire Og 1-22

Report: Ronan Loughnane at Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh

Two points down, a goal from Jake Morris’ strike would send Nenagh Eire Og to the top of group 3, Loughmore/Castleiney to the runners-up spot and Holycross/Ballycahill to the dreaded relegation battle. However, his well-struck shot was deflected over the bar leaving Nenagh to sweat and they were done a massive favour by Lorrha whose win over Holycross/Ballycahill was enough for Eire Og to advance to the last eight on score difference. With such drama attached, the future of the present format looks very safe.

This game started in a whirlwind too with an Ed Connolly’s goal inside forty seconds for unbeaten Loughmore. Noel McGrath was very dominant in the opening quarter, and he was at the heart of every Loughmore move. He clipped over two points from play, as did his cousin Tomas to add to further points from Tommy Maher, Ciaran & John McGrath.

Nenagh had points in reply from Mikey Heffernan (2), Sam O’Farrell and the very impressive Tommy Heffernan, while they also had goalkeeper Dermot McTiernan to thank in the eleventh minute as he thwarted Tomas McGrath’s goal attempt.

The Nenagh management moved to curb Noel McGrath’s influence by sending over Sam O’Farrell, a move that had a big influence on the game. Nenagh outscored Loughmore 0-10 to 0-5 in the second quarter with the Tipp U20 star having a big say in proceedings.

An ankle injury to Joey Hennessy slowed him down and Tommy Heffernan made hay landing three points in seven minutes while Jake Morris, Mason Cawley, Ben West, and Mikey Heffernan added four more.

Loughmore’s scoring rate had slowed considerably but they plugged away and added three minors through John McGrath (2) and Ciaran McGrath to leave them two clear after 24 minutes.

The game hit its only lull and we had to wait five minutes for our next score courtesy of a Mikey Heffernan free. John McGrath added two frees in reply to points from O’Farrell and another Heffernan free to leave Loughmore 1-12 to 0-14 ahead at the break.

Loughmore had the elements behind them after the interval, but the Nenagh backs really stood up to the challenge in a low-scoring third quarter in which the sides shared eight points with Barry Heffernan, Conor McCarthy, Paddy Murphy, and O’Farrell all upping the ante.

Lorcan Egan had been introduced for the ailing Hennessy at the break for Loughmore and he curbed Tommy Heffernan’s influence while Ciaran Connolly really stood up when his side needed leadership. He landed a great point from play to add to two more frees from John McGrath and another from Liam McGrath.

Nenagh replied through Morris, O’Farrell and one each from Tommy & Mikey Heffernan to leave Loughmore 1-16 to 0-18 ahead on 48 minutes.

Jake Morris’s influence was growing and when Ed Meagher needlessly pulled him down a minute later, he billowed Aidan McGrath’s net from the penalty to give them the lead for the first time.

They had strong momentum now, but Ciaran Connolly powered forward once more to point for Loughmore before John McGrath levelled from a free. Substitute Adam Healy restored the Nenagh lead with a good point from play before McGrath and Heffernan traded frees to leave Nenagh one up with four minutes to go.

Then came the pivotal moment when Tomas McGrath fed substitute Ciaran McCormack who made no mistake to grab Loughmore’s second goal. Ed Connolly put them three up before Sam O’Farrell’s third point led to the late drama, but Loughmore survived to top the group.

They will be reasonably happy with their performance, particularly in the latter stages when the pressure was on. Ciaran Connolly, Noel McGrath, Ed Meagher, John Ryan, Tomas McGrath and Lorcan Egan when introduced all had a strong influence on the game.

Nenagh Eire Og contributed handsomely to an entertaining game but will be somewhat disappointed that they didn’t push on after the penalty. Conor McCarthy (until his late dismissal, two yellows), had a fine game at corner-back as did all the Heffernan’s, Sam O’Farrell, Paddy Murphy, and Jake Morris playing with a broken thumb.

Player of the Match: Ciaran Connolly (Loughmore/Castleiney).

Loughmore/Castleiney: Aidan McGrath (6); Ed Meagher (6), Joey Hennessy (5), Willie Eviston (6); John Ryan (6), Brian McGrath (7), Eoin O’Connell (6); Tomas McGrath (0-2, 7), Ciaran Connolly (0-2, 8), Tommy Maher (0-1, 6), Noel McGrath (0-2, 8), Ciaran McGrath (0-2, 6), John McGrath (0-9, 8f 6), Ed Connolly (1-1, 6), Liam McGrath (0-1, 6).

Subs: Lorcan Egan (6) for Hennessy (HT); Ciaran McCormack (1-0, 6) for C McGrath (50); Darragh McCahey (6) for O’Connell (56); Paul McCahey (NR) for Maher (60); Philip O’Connell for T McGrath (60+3).

Nenagh Eire Og: Dermot McTiernan (7); Conor Ryan (6), Mark Carey (5), Conor McCarthy (7); Paddy Murphy (6), Barry Heffernan (8), Conor Hennessy (6), Mason Cawley (0-1, 6), James Mackey (6), Sam O’Farrell (0-3, 7), Tommy Heffernan (0-5, 8), Mikey Heffernan (0-8, 7f, 7), Philip Hickey (6), Jake Morris (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-1f) 6), Ben West (0-1, 6).

Subs: Sean Phelan (5) for Hickey (34 inj), Adam Healy (0-1, 7) for West (53); Filip McIntyre (6) for Phelan (57).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).