Nenagh withstand Roscrea rally

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 4

Nenagh Eire Og 2-22

Roscrea 0-26

Report: Shane Brophy in Toomevara

Nenagh Eire Og kept their County Senior Hurling Championship ambitions in their own hands, but only just, after holding off Roscrea in a hugely entertaining second round contest on Saturday evening.

Eire Og deserved the victory but had to withstand a strong Roscrea rally in the final quarter where they will rue some very scoreable chances to have gotten something from the game, however, the Rossies are now condemned to a relegation battle for a second year in a row, even with one group game to come against Kilruane.

However, manager John Carroll will have been pleased by the overall performance of his side which was much improved on the opening round loss to Borris-Ileigh. There was much more pace and cut to their hurling and conjured up some tremendous scores from the long range, particularly from Evan Fitzpatrick and Alan Tynan who scored twelve between them.

However, they didn’t carry the goal threat that Nenagh did, and it was the goals from Philip Hickey and Tommy Heffernan in either half which were ultimately the difference between the sides, while they also had opportunities for a couple more.

Playing in a roving role for much of the game, Michael Heffernan ran the show for Nenagh, particularly in the first half as the open nature of the game played into his hands as he found pockets of space, not only to score himself, but also create chances for others. He wasn’t as prominent after the break but still nailed some important frees at a time when Roscrea were on top.

Jake Morris was another thorn in Roscrea’s side with four points from play and played integral roles in both goals for a Nenagh side who still look vulnerable defensively, despite Barry Heffernan impressing back at centre back, although he moved back to full back after Daire Quinn left the game with a rib injury.

Referee Peter Carroll’s allowing of quick puckouts helped the game develop into a very fast-paced game from the off when Philip Hickey could have goaled inside thirteen seconds, saved by Daryl Ryan for a 65 which Michael Heffernan converted, the first of his eleven points in the game.

Jake Morris quickly doubled the lead, but Roscrea were quick to get going with Evan Fitzpatrick, Alan Tynan, and Conor Sheedy on target before Adam Healy levelled for Nenagh with a long range effort.

Paddy Murphy and Shane Fletcher traded points before Roscrea edged in front with Tynan and Fitzpatrick on target again. Their two-point lead was brief as Philip Hickey goaled on thirteen minutes, reacting to a rebound after Jake Morris had been denied by Daryl Ryan, 1-4 to 0-6. Michael Heffernan quickly doubled the lead, but Evan Fitzpatrick was a thorn in their side as he scored his third. He would end the half with six points from play, with Tynan on four as Roscrea kept pace with Nenagh until just before half time when points from Tommy Heffernan and Anthony Walsh gave Eire Og a 1-15 to 0-13 advantage.

The second half continued in the same vein with Conor Phelan and Conor Sheedy on target for Roscrea to comeback within three but when Tommy Heffernan was picked out by a sublime Jake Morris pass for a 37th minute goal, Nenagh looked to be in control and a subsequent Heffernan point, again from a Morris pass, had them 2-17 to 0-16 in front.

However, Roscrea were up for the fight and answered with five points on the trot and by the second water-break where three adrift, 2-18 to 0-21. Nenagh were starting to struggle up front and relied on Michael Heffernan frees to keep the scoreboard ticking over as Roscrea enjoyed more of the ball as Shane Fletcher, Luke Cashin and Alan Tynan brought them back within two, but they missed three great chances to get even closer with Nenagh sub Killian Malone winning a crucial free which Heffernan converted once more.

Luke Cashin added his fourth free in added time, but time ran out on Roscrea and their championship aspirations for another year, while for Nenagh they are in knockout mode with their final group game against Borris-Ileigh a winner-takes-all affair.

Player of the Match: Michael Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Og)

Nenagh Eire Og: Mark Tuite (7); Adam Gratton (7), Daire Quinn (6), Mark Carey (6); Conor Ryan (6), Barry Heffernan (8), Adam Healy (0-1, 6); Michael Heffernan (0-11, 5f, 2 ‘65s) 9), Killian Gleeson (7); Paddy Murphy (0-1, 6), Pearse Morris (0-1, 6), Jake Morris (0-4, 9); Tommy Heffernan (1-2, 7), Philip Hickey (1-0, 6), Anthony Walsh (0-1, 7).

Subs: Paul McLoughlin (7) for Quinn (16 inj); James Mackey (6) for P Morris (HT); Killian Malone (0-1, 7) for Murphy (42); Ben West (6) for Hickey (46); Pearse Morris for Walsh (54).

Roscrea: Daryl Ryan (7); Dan Ryan (7), Keith McMahon (7), James Synnott (7); Glen Loughnane (6), Shane Davis (7), Conor Phelan (0-1, 6); Darragh Tynan (0-1, 7), Evan Fitzpatrick (0-7, 9); Alan Tynan (0-5, 9), Conor Booth (6), Conor Sheedy (0-3, 7); Shane Fletcher (0-2, 7), Sam Conlon (0-1, 7), Luke Cashin (0-5, 4f) 7).

Subs: Jason Fitzpatrick (0-1, 7) for Booth (HT); Luke Seacy (6) for Conlon (51).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess).