Nenagh stumped by driven Holycross
GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship Group 3
Holycross/Ballycahill 0-24
Nenagh Éire Óg 0-19
Report: Noel Dundon at The Ragg
Nenagh Éire Óg’s County Senior Hurling Championship credentials took a serious hit on Sunday when they came a cropper against a fired up Holycross/Ballycahill in a tense encounter which was decided in the final minutes of an absorbing contest.
A brilliant save from Holycross keeper Euan Bourke from a Jake Morris drive in the 60th minute was followed by three unanswered points from the victors as they showed a composure which perhaps belied the experience of their nine starting under 21 players.
It was the energy of these players which helped to get the Mid men over the line as they finished the stronger despite having lost three players to injury – David Fogarty after 20 minutes; Ben Hennessy after half time; and Jack Ryan with nine minutes to go.
While Jake Morris was the go-to man for Nenagh with six points from play marking him as their biggest threat by far, veteran Mikey Heffernan was also a main man and he managed eight points, with half of those coming from placed balls.
But Nenagh needed more from others in an attacking sense, and they didn’t get it with the Holycross/Ballycahill defenders really relishing the challenge, especially Bryan O’Mara who hit 0-3 from centre back, Evan Morris, Jimmy Ryan, and Jim Ryan.
There was never much between the teams and by the eleventh minute they were level at 0-6 each – Jake Morris (2), Josh Keller, Mikey Heffernan (2) and Mason Cawley on target for Nenagh, while Bryan O’Mara, Darragh Woods (2), James Doyle, Robbie Ryan and Cathal Barrett were on song for the Mid men.
O’Mara and Morris traded scores before three in succession from David Fogarty, Joe Caesar and Woods gave Holycross an advantage which they were not to cough up for the remainder of the game.
Morris and O’Mara again traded scores as did Mikey Heffernan and Robbie Ryan on two occasions, but Holycross finished the half stronger with Darragh Woods and James Doyle scores to leave them four to the good at the break, 0-15 to 0-11.
It was developing into a cracking contest and Ben Hennessy’s second half opener extended the lead before Nenagh responded with Mikey Heffernan (2) and Morris points.
But this was a resilient Holycross/Ballycahill performance and Tadgh Gould and Darragh Woods managed to cancel two from Mikey Heffernan and Conor Hennessy, before goalkeeper Euan Bourke, with a massive free well inside his own 45 metre line, Eoin Craddock and James Doyle restored the five-point advantage for the Mid men with seven minutes to go.
It was tense on the pitch and on the sideline at this juncture, but the heightened blood pressure did not deter the leaders even though Jake Morris fired two in quick succession.
Then came Bourke’s fine save and though sub Killian Malone had the lead down to two, Holycross cantered away to a victory with Robbie Ryan, Cathal Barrett and Bourke cementing their victory deep in injury time.
Player of the Match: Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill)
Holycross/Ballycahill: Euan Bourke (0-2f, 9), Joe Caesar (0-1, 6), Jimmy Ryan (8), Evan Morris (8), Jim Ryan (7), Bryan O’Mara (0-3, 9), Jack Ryan (6), Eoin Craddock (0-1, 7), Tadgh Gould (0-1, 7), Ben Hennessy (0-1, 6), Cathal Barrett (0-2, 6), James Doyle (0-3, 7), Robbie Ryan (0-4, 8), Darragh Woods (0-5, 3f, 6), David Fogarty (0-1, 6).
Subs: Jimmie Lahart (6) for Fogarty (22 inj); Jack Dwan (6) for Hennessy (34 inj); Conor Ryan (6) for Jack Ryan (51 inj); Paraic Russell (NR) for Woods (60+1).
Nenagh Éire Óg: Dermot McTiernan (6); Barry Heffernan (8), Mark O’Farrell (7), Mark Carey (5); Conor Ryan (6), Paddy Murphy (6), Adam Healy (7); Mason Cawley (0-1, 6), Josh Keller (0-1, 6); James Mackey (7), Conor Hennessy (0-1, 6), Sean Phelan (5); Jake Morris (0-7, 1f, 9), Philip McIntyre (6), Mikey Heffernan (0-8, 4f, 8).
Subs: Cian Crowley (6) for Phelan (HT); Tommy Heffernan (6) for Mackey (49); Killian Malone (6) for McIntyre (55); Conor McCarthy (0-1, 6) for Cawley (60+1)
Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy).