Nenagh prove too strong for Rovers

GAA: North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Football Final

Nenagh Eire Og 2-8

Shannon Rovers 1-5

Report: James Hayden in Nenagh

Nenagh Eire Og overcame Shannon Rovers to capture the North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Football title following an absorbing final on Saturday.

The ‘Sky Blues’ fought back from an early four-point deficit to deservedly take the spoils, but they were pushed all the way by a determined Shannon Rovers side on their home turf after the game was moved from Moneygall with Nenagh winning the toss for venue.

Playing into the teeth of a stiff breeze, the Rovers were 1-1 to no score up after just seven minutes following an Eamonn Hough point, coupled with a well-struck Conal Moran penalty.

The impressive James Mackey opened Eire Og’s account on fourteen minutes before Jake Morris arrowed over a well-taken free from a difficult angle. Another Morris free on twenty minutes ensured his side trailed 0-3 to 1-1 at the water break before a third Morris free on 25 minutes brought Nenagh level.

Shannon Rovers, however, were afforded the opportunity to regain the lead as the interval approached after Conal Moran was fouled by Barry Heffernan inside the large parallelogram. Moran stepped up to take his second penalty but on this occasion his effort cannoned off the crossbar and over for a consolation point to ensure his side were one point in front, 1-2 to 0-4, at the break.

Undoubtedly the turning point came eight minutes after the interval. Man of the match Adam Healy had just levelled proceedings with a close-range point when Nenagh’s full-forward Philip Hickey was adjudged to have been held back by Conal Moran as he tried to find the back of the net. Referee, John Cleary awarded a contentious penalty which Healy duly converted with a sweet right-foot strike to the bottom left corner before a major schemozzle broke out on the 20 metre-line. When calm was finally restored Shannon Rovers goalkeeper Derek Horan received a straight red card after he departed his net-minding duties to become involved in the fracas.

To the Rovers side-line the dismissal appeared unduly harsh, yet they were forced to introduce substitute goalkeeper Vincent Mulvihill and sacrifice corner-forward Paddy Heenan in a bid to re-jig their side.

With scores hard to come by for both sides, only one point was registered between the sending off and the water-break with Conal Moran flighting over a close-range free on 45 minutes to see the Rovers trail 1-5 to 1-3.

Nenagh’s numerical advantage eventually began to tell and when Adam Healy netted again in the 56th minute there was no way back for the Rovers. They battled on gamely though with Andrew Byrne responding with a fine point before Paddy Murphy and substitute, Mark Carey extended Nenagh’s lead and in doing so ensured a wholly deserved six-point victory.

Impressive for Nenagh were Barry Heffernan, Daire Quinn, Conor Ryan, Conor Hennessy, James Mackey, Jake Morris, and Adam Healy while Conal Moran, George Hannigan, Andrew Byrne and Padraig O’Meara caught the eye for the Rovers.

Player of the Match: Adam Healy (Nenagh Eire Og)

Nenagh Eire Og: Mark Tuite (7), Ger Mitchell (6), Barry Heffernan (7), Adam Gratton (7); Sean Phelan (6), Conor Hennessy (7), Daire Quinn (7); Brendan Long (7), Paddy Murphy (0-1, 7); Jake Morris (0-3f, 7), Conor Ryan (7), James Mackey (0-2, 7); Sean Shanahan (6), Philip Hickey (7), Adam Healy (2-1 (1-0 pen) 7).

Subs: Mark Carey (0-1, 7) for Long (47); Alan Kelly (6) for Mitchell (52); Tommy Heffernan (NR) for Shanahan (56); Danny Ryan (NR) for Mackey (56); Conor White (NR) for Healy (60+2).

Shannon Rovers: Derek Horan (6), Kieran O’Sullivan (6), James O’Sullivan (6), Emmett Moran (7); Michael Slattery (6), Padraig O’Meara (7), Sean O’Sullivan (6); Andrew Byrne (0-1, 7), Conal Moran (1-3 (1-1 pens, 0-2f) 7); Eamonn Hough (0-1, 7), George Hannigan (7), Alan Hannigan (7); Paddy Heenan (6), Austin Tierney (6), Marcus Esmonde (6).

Subs: Jack McLoughney (6) for S O’Sullivan (47); John Flannery (6) for Tierney (52); Sean Moran (6) for Hough (54).

Referee: John Cleary (Knockshegowna).