Tight finish as Emly see off a late Eire Og Annacarty Donohill challenge

Emly booked their place in the semi-finals of this years Tipperary Co-Op West Junior B Hurling Championship following a narrow one-point victory over Eire Og Annacarty Donohill in Emly on Sunday morning.

It was a game that Emly looked comfortable for large parts and helped by an Aidan O’Heney goal they led by ten points midway through the second half.

A spirited comeback however, from the Eire Og men would fall just narrowly short, though had Emly lost they certainly would have had only themselves to blame – while scoring 1-17 they hit a massive twenty wides during the course of the sixty minutes.

Emly dominated the opening quarter of which they led by 0-6 to 0-1. Paul O’Heney from long range frees and Aidan O’Heney added two each while Kevin Lonergan and Diarmuid O’Carroll scored from play. Liam O’Dwyer got Eire Og’s sole point in the eight minute.

Diarmuid Ryan got one back for Eire Og but this was cancelled out by James Cunningham. Emly missed a number of chances after this while Jamie O’Dwyer in the Eire Og goal then saved well from Shane O’Carroll.

The game changed somewhat in the twenty first minute. A Ronan O’Brien free about forty-five yards out near the road side went all the way to the Emly net. Despite Emly’s dominance and playing with the advantage of the wind they now held just a one-point advantage.

Jordan Hayes also saw his effort for a goal denied by Emly goalie James Purcell. Shane Carroll came more into the game and added a point as did Conor Bourke ensuring the home side led at the interval 0-9 to 1-3.

The difference of two to three points reminded between the sides for the opening eight minutes or so as both sides traded scores. Emly though then hit a purple patch hitting 1-5 in an eight minute spell.

James Cunningham added one of those points and his ability to win ariel ball was a huge addition to Emly especially in this period. The goal coming from Aidan O’Heney after he gather possession around a maze of Eire Og defenders close to goal before striking to the net.

Joey Lonergan added a point and it now looked as Emly would win comfortably holding a ten point advantage. Emly though would score just twice more after this.  

Eire Og replied with points from Thomas Quinn, Ronan O’Brien and Michael Buckley in the space of two minutes. With ten to go Liam O’Dwyer goaled to reduce the gap to a manageable four points before Diarmuid Ryan pointed to leave just three between the sides.

The sides traded points before John O’Brien on as a substitute pointed to push Emly back four in front as the clock now went into the red.

A late Thomas Quinn goal two minutes into injury time looked as if Eire Og were still within a chance but the final whistle blew on the puckout and Emly advanced by the minimum.

Scorers and Teams:
Emly: Aidan O’Heney (1-3, (0-2f)), Shane Carroll (0-4), Paul O’Heney (0-3f), James Cunningham (0-2), Kevin Lonergan (0-1), Diarmuid O’Carroll (0-1), Conor Burke (0-1), Joey Lonergan (0-1), John O’Brien (0-1)

Eire Og: Ronan O’Brien (1-3f), Liam O’Dwyer (1-1), Thomas Quinn (1-1), Diarmuid Ryan (0-2), Michael Buckley (0-2), Jordan Hayes (0-1)

Emly: James Purcell, Robert McEniry, Patrick McGrath, Declan Hennessy, Sean McGrath, Paul O’Heney, Jamie Carroll, Diarmuid O’Carroll, Brian Burke, James Cunningham, Aidan O’Heney, Conor Bourke, Shane Carroll, Joey Lonergan, Kevin Lonergan
Subs Used: John O’Brien, Kevin McGrath, James Condon

Eire Og: Jamie O’Dwyer, Mike Fox, Pat Aherne, Ciaran Loughman, Peter O’Dwyer, Eoin Kennedy, Philip McGrath, Richard O’Doherty, Cathal Coughlan, Ronan O’Brien, Liam O’Dwyer, Thomas Quinn, Jordan Hayes, Diarmuid Ryan, Jack Kingston
Subs Used: Willie O’Neill, Michael Buckley

Referee: Paul Carew (Lattin/Cullen)