Darcy runs amok on the Éire Óg defence to send Kilruane MacDonaghs into the last four

Hibernian Inn North Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-22 

Nenagh Eire Og 1-21 

By Liam Hogan 

Cian Darcy scored 1-7 from play as Kilruane MacDonaghs and Nenagh Éire Óg produced a seesaw battle at Dolla last Sunday evening, as MacDonaghs just about held out for a four-point win in a game that ebbed and flowed and produced some very exciting hurling.

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Darcy scored Kilruane’s second goal in the 49th minute to make it 2-17 to 0-19. It looked as if Kilruane had timed their run, but a goal by Tommy Heffernan plus a free by Jake Morris had the sides level for the third time in the game before Cian Darcy scored three more points as Kilruane outscored the light blues 0-5 to 0-1 in the final straight.

Kilruane won because they had the greater scoring power and a part from Darcy there was Conor Austin who scored four excellent points from distance while Willie Cleary was his usual from frees not forgetting young Shane Cleary who made his championship debut and scored 0-2 while Kian O’Kelly’s towering strength on the edge of the square was so valuable having a hand in both Kilruane’s goals. 

However, the win had its setback as their powerhouse centre back Craig Morgan had to limp off, bringing back memories of his absence due to a cruciate injury two years ago.  

Morgan had played a great game and had great support from the remainder of the backline, where Eoin Hogan and Aaron Morgan rarely put a foot wrong, not forgetting the efforts of Niall O’Meara, who put in a strong shift. 

Nenagh Eire Og played a huge part in making it a great game. Their preparations received a setback at the start as they had to line out without Tipp star Jake Morris. Morris came on as a replacement at half time and scored 0-3 (0-2 frees). 

Up to then, Michael Heffernan was the star man for the Blues as he scored six brilliant points from play in the first half while adding two more from frees as his side led 0-14 to 0-12 at half-time.

Barry Heffernan was a powerhouse at centre back and scored two first-half points, as did wing back Paddy Murphy, while midfielder Mason Cawley added one.

After Sam O’Farrell’s opening score, it was Kilruane who took charge, and they went three clear following back-to-back points by Shane Cleary and Cian Darcy (his fourth) to give Kilruane a 0-6 to 0-3 lead after four and a half minutes.  

Nenagh recovered and three points in two minutes by Barry Heffernan, Mason Cawley, and Michael Heffernan had the teams level at 0-6 each on 12. 

Nenagh were beginning to move better, and the lead stretched out to four after James Mackey made it 0-11 to 0-7 by the 19th minute. The efforts of Conor Hennessy and Conor Ryan were paying dividends, but up front Nenagh missed two opportunities to increase their lead, allowing Kilruane to hit back after Cian Darcy, from long range, closely followed by a Willie Cleary point from play, to leave two between the teams.

A good run by Josh Keller won a free for Nenagh, and Michael Heffernan converted while Cleary replied in kind before Nenagh went three clear after an injury-time score by Heffernan made it 0-14 to 0-11, leaving Conor Austin with the final say when collecting one of Paidi Williams' accurate puckout. Nenagh two in front at the break. 

Jake Morris was called into action, and his score in the 34th minute had Nenagh three in front (0-16 to 0-13), one more time. That stat changed drastically over the next five minutes as Kilruane hit 1-3 without a reply, starting with a Willie Cleary free, followed by well well-taken goal by Thomas Cleary after Kian O’Kelly’s great work in the air, before Conor Austin produced two valuable points from distance.

Kilruane then lost Craig Morgan at a stage when Michael Heffernan pointed a free. Three wides in a row curtailed their comeback, but Mason Cawley doubled his account just before Jake Morris made it level 1-17 to 0-20 after 45 minutes. 

Niall O’Meara’s influence at half back came to the fore, and he put Conor Austin through for the lead point. Four minutes later, Cian Darcy gave Dermot McTiernan no chance after another steal by O’Kelly. Kilruane leading 2-17 to 0-19. 

Despite the deficit, Nenagh stormed back. Barry Heffernan continued his impressive work in defence, and his team wasted no time in getting back on terms after Tommy Heffernan availed of a pass from Jake Morris before finding the net. 

Jake Morris added a free to level 2-17 to 1-20, but Kilruane came good again and hit a three-point run as Cian Darcy scored two either side of a Willie Cleary score from play after the ace shooter availed of a poorly executed short puck out strategy by Nenagh. 

It wasn’t the first time with Cleary scoring something similar in the first half. 

Nenagh responded, but Jerome Cahill denied Tommy Heffernan close in as Kilruane substitutes Cormac Doheny and Cathal England held up under the pressure. 

Yet Nenagh never gave up as Tommy Heffernan pointed on the hour mark. Four minutes of added time were signalled. Nenagh came strong again, but the scores were coming at the other end as Darcy and Cleary (free) completed the day as Kilruane face Borris-Ileigh in the semi-final. 

Kilruane MacDonaghs: Paidi Williams; Eoin Hogan, James Cleary, Conor Austin (0-4); Niall O’Meara, Craig Morgan, Aaron Morgan; Jerome Cahill, Mark O’Neill; Shane Cleary (0-2), Kieran Cahill, Willie Cleary (0-8, 0-6f); Thomas Cleary (1-0), Kian O’Kelly (0-1), Cian Darcy (1-7). 

Subs used: Cormac Doheny for C Morgan (42, inj); Cian Moyles for T Cleary (50); Cathal England for Hogan (54); Michael Cleary for K Cahill (59); Jack Peters for A Morgan (64). 

Nenagh Eire Og: Dermot McTiernan; Conor Hennessey, Mark Carey, Adam Gratton; Paddy Murphy (0-2), Barry Heffernan (0-2), Sam O’Farrell (0-1); Conor Ryan, Mason Cawley (0-1); Josh Keller, Michael Heffernan (0-10, 0-4f), James Mackey (0-1); Ben West, Philip Hickey, Sean Phelan. 

Subs used: Jake Morris (0-3, 0-1f) for Phelan (HT); Tommy Heffernan (1-1) for West (37); Adam Healy for Mackey (44); Adam Carey for M Heffernan (59). 

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)

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