Kilruane take chances to complete Minor ‘A’ double
GAA: North Tipperary Minor ‘A’ Football Final
Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-13
Nenagh Eire Og 1-9
Report: Liam Hogan in Puckane
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Cillian Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
SCORERS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Michael Cleary 0-6 (3 frees); Cillian Healy 0-3 (1 free); Lucas Jones, Cormac Kennedy, Cormac Gaynor, Michael Henley 0-1 each.
Nenagh Eire Og: Daniel Connelly 0-4 (1 free); Michael Cleary MacLoone 0-3 (1 free); Dylan McKenna 1-0; Michael Ryan, Eanna Tucker 0-1 each.
Kilruane MacDonaghs survived a late Nenagh Eire Og comeback to win their fourth North Tipperary Minor ‘A’ Football title, and first since 1984, last Friday night.
Kilruane made it an under 17 North hurling and football double in game that was typical of what close neighbours can produce.
There was never more than three points separating the sides and in the closing stages Kilruane were three points to the good but typical of Nenagh they fought back with two quick points before they produced one last attack which yielded a close range free giving them a chance to level and force extra time, but Michael Cleary MacLoone’s free was low and saved with the final whistle coming seconds later in.
Perhaps, Nenagh supporters will suggest that the game could have gone their way had they taken their goal chances in the first half while Kilruane, who were slightly the more dominant team in terms of possession, could have rued the number of wides (ten in total) some from very scoreable positions, especially in the second half.
A Lucas Jones point for Kilruane, after just fourteen seconds, was the perfect start for MacDonaghs who enjoyed dominance in the opening five minutes but failed to increase their lead with three wides.
But the Nenagh defence deserve credit in making life difficult for the Kilruane attack where James Heffernan impressed along with Adam Boland while Emmet Jones, Phelim Creagh and Aodhan Tucker prominent.
Slowly but surely Nenagh’s entries to the Kilruane half were increasing and promised much but the Kilruane defence, led by Ferghal Doheny and Tommy O’Meara, had the ability to produce turnovers.
However, the Nenagh pressure finally paid off in the tenth minute when full forward Dylan McKenna received a well-placed effort by Eanna Tucker to tuck the ball low to the net.
The goal gave the game a lift as both sides used the next five minutes in swapping scores with Cillian Healy and Michael Cleary MacLoone trading frees with Michael Cleary added another free but for Cleary MacLoone to respond in kind to make it 1-2 to 0-3 after eighteen minutes.
With play drifting from end to end, Kilruane had a chance of a goal, but Dylan Ashman was equal to an effort by Michael Henley. At the other end, Nenagh could have goal number two when Johnny Naughnane was forced to save Eanna Tucker’s chance from close range.
Michael Cleary’s close range free in the 25th minute helped Kilruane close the gap to one before Cillian Healy levelled three minutes later.
The game was opening up a little more with Nenagh growing in confidence, but Michael Cleary MacLoone gave the sky blues the lead, and they should have increased it, but their wides tally increased to six while Kilruane went to the dressing rooms with four. Half time: Nenagh Eire Og 1-3 Kilruane 0-5.
Whatever the first half lacked was certainly replaced in the second half as both teams increased the tempo especially Kilruane who hit the high road with three unanswered points in the opening ten minutes with Cormac Kennedy scoring first before being involved in the second point assisting for Michael Cleary with Kilruane finally taking the lead in the 40th minute through Cleary after Henley created a run through the Nenagh cover.
One minute later, Nenagh were level thanks to a free by Daniel Connolly before Michael Cleary gave Kilruane the lead with a free in the 45th minute.
With Kilruane now on top thanks to the workrate of their half backline and midfield, while their half forward line were to the fore as they continued to create chances and by the 51st minute the lead was out to three after points by Michael Cleary and Cillian Healy.
Nenagh came fighting back and Michael Ryan, thanks to good work by substitute Jake Donellan-Houlihan had the deficit reduced but Cormac Gaynor’s point had restored Kilruane’s three point advantage.
It was exciting stuff now and Nenagh fought back with a Daniel Connolly point before a Michael Henley free in the 58th minute made Kilruane’s title hold a little more secure.
But Nenagh were having none of it as Eanna Tucker’s point reduced the margin to two before Michael Cleary MacLoone further reducing the deficit to one just on the hour mark with Nenagh having one final chance to force extra time which came to nothing.
TEAMS - Kilruane MacDonaghs: Johnny Naughnane; Charlie Kennedy; Fearghal Doheny, Jack Quinlisk; Cormac Gaynor, Tommy O’Meara, Fiachra Aherne Woods; Tommy Burris, Cillian Healy; Cathal McIntyre, Michael Henley, Cormac Kennedy; Lucas Jones, Shane Cleary, Michael Cleary.
Sub: Andy Austin for Jones (49).
Nenagh Eire Og: Dylan Ashman; Michael Kennedy, Conor Hodgins, James Heffernan; Emmett Jones, Adam Boland, Phelim Creagh; Aodhan Tucker, Michael Cleary MacLoone; Eanna Tucker, Valters Janitens, Daniel Quinn; Michael Ryan, Dylan McKenna, Daniel Connolly.
Sub: Jake Donellan-Houlihan for Creagh (41).
Referee: Pat O’Mahony (Kiladangan).