Morris the difference as Nenagh eire Óg squeeze past rivals Toomevara

Hibernian Inn North Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

Nenagh Éire Óg 0-24

Toomevara 0-21

By Liam Hogan

Holders, Nenagh Eire Og just about held on to victory in a sea saw battle with Toomevara following an entertaining tie at Dolla last Sunday evening.

Played in glorious sunshine after an evening of heaving rain both sides refused to bow as scores level seven times with the lead never stretching to more than four points which Nenagh held on four occasions in the final five minutes of ordinary time plus the six minutes of additional time.

Toomevara, fresh from their league final defeat at the hands of Kiladangan, had to line out without Jake Ryan who was a major loss to the team and yet they showed real ambition in the opening bouts cutting swards through the Nenagh defence as Shane Nolan scored 0-2 while Toome went 0-5 to 0-2 in front inside the opening six minutes. Darragh McCarthy, a last-minute replacement for Adam Hall was also on the scoresheet with Mark McCarthy scoring twice from frees.

But Nenagh settled down as Mark Carey, Barry Heffernan, Paddy Murphy and Adam Healy got on a lot of ball and by the 13th minute they were level at 0-5 each after Jake Morris, Sean Phelan, and Josh Keller each scored from play in between pointed frees from Michael Heffernan.

Toome were two in front by the 14th minute after David Nolan and Darragh McCarthy scored at a time when Nenagh found the Toome defence to be well on top thanks to the work rate of Liam Ryan, Andrew Ryan, Josh McCarthy and Jack Ryan.

For all that, Jake Morris found space to score but Toome were two in front once more before Michael Heffernan (free) and Barry Heffernan from (eighty metres) had scores to level 0-8 each after twenty minutes. It was the start of Nenagh’s best spell to date as they went two in front through Jake Morris from half-way quickly followed by another score by the industrious Conor Hennessey.

Yet, Toome recovered and were level at 0-11 each by the 28th minute but the Heffernan brothers, Michael and Barry were on target once more before Kevin McCarty narrowed the gap to one leaving Michael Heffernan with the chance to move Nenagh two in front with a free just in time for the half time whistle at 0-14 to 0-12.

The second half was just eight seconds old when Adam Healy had Nenagh three in front but Toome enjoyed a three-point run through Shane Nolan and Mark McCarthy (free) before Jack Delaney scored a super point from close to the sideline making it level for the sixth time at 0-15 each.

Nenagh regained the lead through Michael Heffernan from a free. Toome responded with a wide ball. Dermot McTiernan’s restart was long and high where Jake Morris won possession and scored on the turn. Nenagh were two clear but scores were level by the 43rd minute after Mark McCarthy’s free was quickly followed by a long score by Shane Nolan.

Nenagh moved Barry Heffernan to centre forward and Nenagh began to get on top and matched their dominance with four unanswered points, three Michael Heffernan frees before Jake Morris, in his now familiar overhead tennis swing, made it 0-21 to 0-17.

Toomevara looked in trouble but they ended their 15 minute barren spell with a Mark McCarthy free in the 58th minute but that was quickly cancelled out by a Michael Heffernan free a minute later.
Toome’s recovery was growing in stature but Dermot McTiernan denied Paddy Grace with a great save at the expense of a point.

Five extra minutes were signalled and Jake Morris had the margin back at four for the third time before two Mark McCarthy frees left both sets of supporters on tenterhooks. The five minutes had elapsed but there was one last move by Nenagh and Josh Keller’s rasper flew over the bar with a goal chance very much on the offering.

Nenagh Éire Óg: Dermot McTiernan; Conor Ryan, Mark Carey, Sam O’Farrell; Paddy Murphy, Barry Heffernan (0-2), Adam Healy; Michael Heffernan (0-11, 0-9f), Ben West; Josh Keller (0-2), Philip Hickey, Conor Hennessey (0-1); Tommy Heffernan, Jake Morris (0-7), Sean Phelan (0-1).

Subs used: James Mackey for T Heffernan (51).

Toomevara: Conor Grace; Liam Ryan, Andrew Ryan, Seamus O’Farrell; Colm Canning, Josh McCarthy, Jack Ryan; Darren Delaney (0-1), Robbie Quirke; Jack Delaney (0-3), Kevin McCarthy (0-2), David Nolan (0-1); Mark McCarthy (0-7f), Shane Nolan (0-4), Darragh McCarthy (0-2).

Subs used: Adam Hall for Canning (blood 42-43); Adam Hall for D Nolan (46); Paddy Grace (0-1) for S Nolan (56); Sean Flaherty for D Delaney (59).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess)