Mullinahone leave Nenagh red-faced

GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 1

Mullinahone 2-21

Nenagh Eire Og 1-16

Report: Ronan Loughnane in Templetouhy

Nenagh Eire Og will have to use their North Championship winning chip to stay in the County Senior Hurling Championship after this costly defeat to Mullinahone on Sunday who progress to the knockout stages from the group.

Having dug deep against the howling gale in the opening half to trail by eight points at half time, Nenagh looked likely winners of this contest once Ben West goaled in the opening minute of the second half. Ill-discipline proved their downfall however as three straight red cards put paid to any chance of victory and, appeals pending, will miss the preliminary quarter final.

Mullinahone won the toss and played with the elements in the opening half. They started in whirlwind fashion and had 1-2 on the board before Nenagh could draw breath. Enda Keane and Daire O’Brien had a point apiece before the impressive Eoin O’Dwyer grabbed the opening goal.

The Nenagh side-line were busy reorganising the defence in face of the onslaught and to their credit they gained a foothold and shared the next eight points to trail 1-6 to 0-4 after ten minutes. Paddy Murphy was sweeping well, Ben West worked incredibly hard while Josh Keller, Tommy Heffernan, Sam O’Farrell, and Mark O’Farrell grabbed the points. Jack Shelly (2), Mikey O’Shea and Eoin Kelly from a monster free were all on target for Mullinahone.

Four more courtesy of Sean Curran (2), Shelly and Michael Dunne stretched the lead to nine while Eoin Kelly made a smart stop from West in the sixteenth minute. James Mackey pulled one back for Nenagh in the 20th minute before some sloppy play in the Mullinahone defence allowed West in for another.

Neat work from Enda Keane and then O’Brien twice set up O’Dwyer for points with Tommy Heffernan replying on each occasion from placed balls. O’Brien had his second to bring the first half to a close with Mullinahone 1-13 to 0-8 ahead.

Eight points was not a difficult chase for Nenagh considering the elements and when Ben West reduced it to five within seconds of the restart, they looked the most likely. Enda Keane landed a lovely point from wide on the right in reply for Mullinahone before the very impressive Sam O’Farrell grabbed his second point.

Mikey O’Shea, who had a quiet first half by his standards, considerably upped his game in the second half and struck a lovely point in the 34th minute. Philip Hickey cut the lead to five before disaster struck for Nenagh in the 37th minute when referee Michael Kennedy, following consultation with his umpires, issued Tommy Heffernan with a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident.

Nenagh gritted their teeth and landed points from Adam Healy, Sean Phelan, and Barry Heffernan to cut the lead to two as the sizeable crowd suddenly came to life with eighteen minutes left.

O’Shea and Sam O’Farrell traded scores before the pivotal moment arrived in the 47th minute when Mikey O’Shea’s goal-bound shot was blocked. Already playing an advantage, referee Michael Kennedy brought the play back for a Mullinahone penalty. There were verbal’s galore as Eoin Kelly made his way up field with Ben West halting his progress on the halfway line. A second straight red followed for Nenagh as Kelly buried penalty, and it was game over.

Two men to the good Mullinahone comfortably saw out the remainder of the game with Danny Dunne, O’Shea, O’Dwyer and Shelly all pointing. A third straight red card for Nenagh arrived in injury-time when substitute Cian O’Farrell was dismissed for a late tackle.

Nenagh will be very disappointed with their lack of discipline having manoeuvred themselves into a winning position early in the second half. The loss of Mikey Heffernan with a groin strain on top of the continued absence of Jake Morris, were a blow but Sam O’Farrell, Barry Heffernan, Ben West, Paddy Murphy and substitute Adam Healy were all to the fore. Rumours of Jake Morris’s return to training will give them a much-needed boost ahead of the preliminary quarter-finals.

Following a disappointing defeat to Killenaule in the South semi-final, Mullinahone have re-grouped well to advance to the knockout stages. They are well organised with an excellent work ethic. Sean Curran, Danny Dunne, Eoin O’Dwyer, Enda Keane, Jack Shelly, and Mikey O’Shea (2nd half) all hurled well while goalkeeper Eoin Kelly’s distribution was excellent throughout.

Player of the Match: Eoin O’Dwyer (Mullinahone)

Mullinahone: Eoin Kelly (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1f) 7), Danny Dunne (0-1, 7), Paul Curran (6), Conor O’Brien (6); Eoin Fennelly (6), Sean Curran (0-2, 7), Eanna Ryan (6); Colin Shelly (6), Daire O’Brien (0-2, 6), Eoin O’Dwyer (1-3, 7), Michael Dunne (0-2, 6), Enda Keane (0-2, 7), Martin Kehoe (5), Jack Shelly (0-4, 1f, 1 65, 6), Mikey O’Shea (0-4, 7).

Subs: Kevin Walzer (6) for Kehoe (43), Alan Curran (6) for Ryan (50).

Nenagh Eire Og: Dermot McTiernan (0-1f, 6), Conor Ryan (6), Mark Carey (6), Mark O’Farrell (0-1, 7); James Mackey (0-1, 6), Paddy Murphy (6), Barry Heffernan (0-1f, 6); Conor Hennessy (5), Sam O’Farrell (0-4, 7), Ben West (1-1, 6); Philip Hickey (0-1, 6), Josh Keller (0-1, 6), Tommy Heffernan (0-3f, 5), Adam Carey (6), Sean Phelan (0-1f, 6).

Subs: Adam Healy (0-1, 6) for Keller (HT), Cian Crowley (NR) for Hickey (54), Anthony Walsh (NR) for Phelan (54), Cian O’Farrell (NR) for A Carey (59).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).