Red card sways Junior ‘C’ title to Nenagh

GAA: North Tipperary Junior ‘C’ Hurling Championship Final 2020

Nenagh Eire Og 1-16

Ballinahinch 0-12

Report: Liam Hogan in Kilcolman

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sean Shanahan (Nenagh Eire Og)

SCORERS - Nenagh Eire Og: Sean Shanahan 0-9 (4 frees); Niall Cahill 1-0; Conor Robinson 0-2; Brendan Long, Gavin O’Connor, Sean McTiernan, Daniel Molamphy, Liam Heffernan 0-1 each.

Ballinahinch: Mark Kelly 0-8 (5 frees, 3 ’65s); Liam Berkery 0-2; David Ryan, Michael Lynch 0-1 each.

Nenagh Eire Og defeated fourteen-man Ballinahinch to claim the 2020 North Tipperary Junior ‘C’ Hurling Championship title in an enjoyable contest on Sunday evening.

Bright sunshine made the occasion extra special as the extra man told a tale with Evan Kearns dismissal in the 48th minute proving crucial for Ballinahinch and from there on Nenagh scored seven unanswered points to seal win.

Extra man or not, the winners had the more firepower upfront and in addition Sean Shanahan led the way with the midfielder producing a man of the match performance, scoring nine points, with five from play.

Not far behind in terms of importance was goalkeeper Daire Gleeson who in the opening twenty minutes made four important saves. One wonders if Ballinahinch had secured at least one goal what might have happened?

The first of those saves came as early as the fourth minute when he denied full forward Lim Berkery at the expense of a sixty-five. Mark Kelly converted to level after Nenagh had taken an early lead through Brendan Long. By the ninth minute, Ballinahinch had increased their lead after Mark Kelly had added two frees and at that stage it looked as if it was going to be their day such was their dominance with their backline well in command through the efforts of Michael Lynch and Cathal Ryan at half back with Liam Lennon making a few fine clearances.

In the thirteenth minute Gleeson made save number two to deny Phelim O’Reilly before Nenagh turned defence into attack allowing Gavin O’Connor to score his team’s second point. Meanwhile another King save denied David Ryan giving Mark Kelly the chance to convert another sixty-five with the teams then leaving the field for the first water break.

When play resumed it was Nenagh who took advantage as Conor Robinson and Sean McTiernan secured a point each to level by the nineteenth. Three minutes late came a decisive score when Niall Cahill found time and space to clip a low ball to the Ballinahinch net.

Ballinahinch hit back immediately through David Ryan followed by an excellent score by Michael Lynch from halfway made it Nenagh 1-4 Ballinahinch 0-6 before three unanswered points by Sean Shanahan gave Nenagh a nice cushion approaching half time.

But Ballinahinch refused to give up and their fightback yielded two Mark Kelly frees, either side of a Liam Berkery score, as Nenagh led 1-7 to 0-9 at the interval.

When the match resumed, Ballinahinch were defending the Ballywilliam end and forced a sixty-five which Kelly converted once again. The gold and blue continued their good play as Kelly added a free after Berkery was fouled. Both sides squandered a few chances until Sean Shanahan stepped forward to level from a free on halfway. Three minutes later Niall Cahill should have doubled his goal tally after failing to connect a well-placed pass.

A minute later Dan Molamphy gave Nenagh the lead with his first touch after introduced in the 43rd minute. Liam Berkery levelled three minutes later as the teams continued to battle approaching the final waterbreak but not before Kearns was red carded for an off the ball incident.

Ballinahinch moved David Ryan to centre back in a switch with Mike Fitzgerald, but Nenagh moved forward and in a six-minute period Sean Shanahan pointed three frees from various distances before he added another from play in the 56th minute.

Nenagh moved on with Shanahan’s quick lineball reaching Stephen Hallinan who scored at a second attempt, quickly followed by a Conor Robinson score. With Nenagh completely on top Liam Heffernan left his centre back spot to score from halfway to seal Nenagh’s win, and to add to Ballinahinch’s woes they had to replace David Ryan following an accidental collision with Sean Shanahan.

Sean Shanahan was Nenagh’s best player with Daire Gleeson, Fiachra Starr and Liam Heffernan providing good support. Aodhan Geaney and his full backline were solid while up in attack Brendan Long, Conor Robinson, Sean McTiernan had their moments. Substitute Dan Molamphy caught the eye.

For Ballinahinch, Cathal Ryan was their best player with Michael Lynch, Liam Lennon, Raphael Ryan, and Colin Hogan steady in defence. Mark Kelly was particularly good from frees and placed balls, but the Ballinahinch attack needed more where Liam Berkery was the biggest threat.

TEAMS – Nenagh Eire Og: Daire King; Brian Duffy, Aodhan Geaney, Paul Ryan; Fiachra Starr, Liam Heffernan, Gavin Dooley; Stephen Hallinan, Sean Hanahan; Conor Robinson, Brendan Long, Gavin O’Connor; Sean McTiernan, Niall Cahill, Michael Hallinan.

Subs: Dan Molamphy for M Hallinan (43); Michael Hutchinson for Robinson (60); Leonard Ryan for McTiernan (60), Conor Malone for O’Connor (60).

Ballinahinch: Shane Fitzgerald; Liam Lennon, Raphael Ryan, Colin Hogan; Michael Lynch, Mike Fitzgerald, Cathal Ryan; Evan Kearns, Liam King; Mark Kelly, Marcus Ryan, Niall Harrington; Phelim O’Reilly, Liam Berkery, David Ryan.

Subs: Andrew Ryan for O’Reilly (45); RJ Ryan for M Fitzgerald (60); Conor Lynch for D Ryan (60 inj).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).