Nenagh overcome slow start to win North title

GAA: North Tipperary Under 19 ‘B’ Football Final

Nenagh Eire Og 4-6

Newport 2-10

Report: Liam Hogan in Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Cian Carmody (Nenagh Eire Og)

SCORERS – Nenagh Eire Og: Cian Carmody 2-4 (0-4 free); Aodán O’Connor 2-0; Ben Connolly, John O’Reilly 0-1 each.

Newport: Diarmuid O’Riordan 2-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 ’45); Niall Duffy, Luke Collins 0-1 each.

Outscoring their opponents 1-2 to 0-1 in the final seven minutes, Nenagh Eire Og defeated Newport by two points to win their first North Under 19 ‘B’ Football title in a very exciting contest played last Saturday evening.

Scores were level three times with the entertainment value top drawer with neither side deserving to lose in a contest that would not be out of place in the ‘A’ championship.

In the opening bouts it seemed that Newport were going to romp home as they scored 1-3 without reply in the opening seven minutes. Brian Tobin had a point after ten seconds as play was then held up as Nenagh midfielder Filip McIntyre had to leave the field after receiving an accidental facial injury during the throw-in.

When play resumed Luke Collins doubled the Newport lead before Diarmuid O’Riordan kicked over a close range free. It was all Newport and in the seventh minute, O’Riordan had the game’s first goal after taking an assist from Donal Ryan.

The Nenagh defence was in tatters, but they received some solace when John O’Reilly got them on the scoreboard before Diarmuid O’Riordan put Niall Duffy through for another Newport point in the ninth minute.

As Newport were held scoreless over the next seven minutes, Nenagh began to believe, and Cian Carmody pointed two frees in the 10th & 15th minute mark. However, Newport’s Jay Ryan remained a constant threat to the Nenagh defence as his fast pair of feet caused problems and after he was fouled it was O’Riordan who pointed the resulting free.

Nenagh fought back and in the 16th minute they won a penalty which Cian Carmody fired past Newport keeper Mark Forde. Forde is an excellent keeper and he showed just that with two good saves in the next five minutes, either side of a Mark O’Riordan 45 at the other end.

At this stage Nenagh were much more assured and they were rewarded with an Aodán O’Connor goal in the 29th minute. The Newport defence now had their worries and three minutes later O’Connor struck again for a second goal with Michael Moylan providing a neat assist.

The half time score read Nenagh 3-3 Newport 1-6, and after the teams changed ends, Newport began the second half, just like the first, with a string of good moves but good defensive work by Charlie Kavanagh and Mason Cawley kept Nenagh in front before Newport’s efforts paid off in the 38th minute with Diarmuid O’Riordan’s close-range free deceived keeper Eoin Corrigan as the ball dipped under the crossbar to bring the teams’ level.

One minute later, O’Riordan gave his side the lead with a 45. However, Newport suffered a setback when Donal Ryan was black-carded for a foul near his own goal and Cian Carmody pointed the resulting free to level.

Seconds later both sides had fourteen players each when Jack McLoughlin was also on the receiving end of a black card. Meanwhile, Newport, helped by the influential Daniel Egan at midfield, went two points in front thanks to two O’Riordan frees.

Ten minutes remained and not to be outdone Nenagh came back to take the lead with a Cian Carmody goal in the 56th minute. Ben Connolly increased Nenagh’s lead but through to form Diarmuid O’Riordan pulled one back to leave the minimum between the sides as play past the hour mark.

But Nenagh had the upper hand by now and Cian Carmody completed his man of the match performance with one more pointed free to see Nenagh win by two.

TEAMS - Nenagh Eire Og: Eoin Garrigan (7); Keelan Rice (7), Charlie Kavanagh (8), Sean Moylan (7); Andrew Ryan (7), Mason Cawley (8), Cian Connolly (7); Filip McIntyre (NR), Ben Connolly (7); Aodán O’Connor (7), Brian McEvoy (7), Cian Carmody (8); John O’Reilly (7), Jamie Kennedy (7), Jack McLoughlin (7).

Subs: Michael M Moylan (7) for McIntyre (1 inj); Cathal Dervan (7) for Aidan Ryan (47).

Newport: Mark Forde (8); Kevin O’Brien (7), Stephen Coffey (8), Stephen McCormack (7); James Tobin (7), Aidan Ryan (7), John Lee (7); Niall Duffy (7), Daniel Egan (7); Luke Collins (7), Diarmuid O’Riordan (8), Jay Ryan (8); Brian Tobin (7), John Ryan, Donal Ryan (7).

Subs: Shane Flanagan (7) for O’Brien (HT); Colm Forde (7) for J Ryan (47).

Referee: Pat O’Mahoney (Kiladangan)