Nenagh Eire Og hit the ground running in senior hurling championship in Tipperary

Nenagh Eire Og 1-26 Thurles Sarsfields 3-15

Nenagh Eire Og set down an impressive marker for this year’s FBD Insurance County Senior Hurling Championship when streaking away from Thurles Sarsfields in the last quarter of this first round game at The Ragg for a deserved win that sets them up nicely for a serious challenge for the title.

In recent years there has never been much between these sides and so it was to the three-quarter stage here. Nenagh, aided by a fortuitous James Mackey goal after 46 minutes, quickly added two points to establish a four points lead, and then defended it stoutly as the Thurles team sought to redeem the situation.

With games against Cashel and Mullinahone to come, Nenagh are justifiably fancying their chances of coming through the group to reach the quarter-finals, and if they can improve a shade on this level of performance, they will surely be in the reckoning when the knockout stages arrive.

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Following on from their Mid semi-final defeat by Moycarkey, this is a further setback for Sarsfields. While they will still be optimistic about their chances of qualifying from the group for the quarter-finals, they had some work to do to energise their game and cut down on some uncharacteristic waywardness in their use of possession.

Sarsfields opted for a two-man full forward line, with Liam McCormack and Paddy Creedon giving the Nenagh defence plenty to think about. After Creedon was fouled in the fifth minute, Ronan Maher netted the penalty for a 1-1 to 0-2 lead for Sarsfields. Mikey Heffernan and Conor Stakelum for Sarsfields were unerring from frees and Sarsfields were 1-6 to 0-7 ahead in the 24th minute when Liam McCormack set up Darragh Stakelum for a second goal.

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With the breeze behind them Sarsfields reached the break with a 2-8 to 0-10 lead but they were not moving as fluently as usual. Nenagh were very much in the game, as they quickly demonstrated with four unanswered points at the start of the second half to level at 2-8 to 0-14.

Sarsfields struggled all through to counter Barry Heffernan’s sweeping role for Nenagh but were still in front 2-11 to 0-16 in the 46th minute when James Mackey’s long delivery skewed into the net off Patrick McCormack’s hurley for a Nenagh goal, the ‘keeper seemingly blinded by the sun. Mikey Heffernan levelled for Nenagh and Jake Morris nudged them ahead 1-18 to 2-11, and now the ball was vey much in Nenagh’s court.

Sarsfields threw everything into attack, and in the spell coming up to the hour shared six points with their rivals, Nenagh maintaining their advantage. Darragh Stakelum’s second goal for Sarsfields in injury time had it back to a goal deficit but Jake Morris and Mikey Heffernan made it safe for Nenagh with late points, much to the delight of their large following.

This was a  big win to boost Nenagh confidence facing into the coming rounds, and was fully deserved. They showed greater urgency than their rivals and used the ball intelligently throughout. In Mikey Heffernan, Sam O'Farrell, Barry Heffernan and Jake Morris they had leaders on the field  to keep them to their task. They received ample support from Philip Hickey, Josh Keller, Mason Cawley and Ben West early on.

Sarsfields will be disappointed at the outcome and this defeat puts them on the back foot in their bid to come through the group stages. Fortunately for them they have the chance to make amends in the coming rounds but there is now no room for error.  Aidan McCormack and Pa Bourke were unavailable because of injury and Billy McCarthy has returned to the fold after being out of the country, so there is scope for improvement.

Denis Maher and Ronan Maher were solid at the heart of their defence, while Liam McCormack and Paddy Creedon were the big threat in attack. Conor Stakelum, deputising as free-taker, did well from placed balls and Darragh Stakelum took his goals well. but the overall performance was simply not good enough.

Nenagh scorers: M Heffernan (0-10,6fs), S O'Farrell (0-5), J Morris (0-4), J Mackey (1-0), P Hickey (0-2), A Healy, B West, M Cawley, J Keller, C Ryan (0-1 each).

Sarsfields scorers: C Stakelum (0-6,4fs), D Stakelum (2-0), R Maher (1-1), P Creedon (0-3), L McCormack (0-2), R Stapleton,  S Butler, C Moloney (0-1 each).

Nenagh Eire Og: Dermot McTiernan; Conor Hennessy,  Mark Carey, Conor Ryan; Paddy Murphy, Barry Heffernan, Jake Donelan Holohan; Sam O'Farrell, Mason Cawley; Josh Keller, Jake Morris, Adam Healy; Ben West, Philip Hickey, Mikey Heffernan.

Subs: James Mackey for Carey (27 mins), Adam Gratton for Murphy (46 mins), Sean Phelan for West (57 mins), Adam Carey for Hickey (63 mins).

Thurles Sarsfields: Paddy McCormack; Harry Fitzgibbon, Denis Maher, Paul Maher; Stephen Maher, Ronan Maher, Cathal Moloney; Stephen Cahill, Tommy Doyle; Darragh Stakelum, Conor Stakelum, Eoin Purcell; Liam McCormack, Paddy Creedon, Kieran Costello.

Subs: Michael Cahill for Costello (41 mins), Seanie Butler for Purcell (44 mins), Keith Loughnane for S Cahill (49 mins), Robbie Stapleton for Doyle (51 mins).

Referee: John McCormack, Knockavilla/Donaskeigh Kickhams.