Emly are Tipperary Division 6 hurling champions after closely-fought final

Emly 0-15 Newcastle 0-14

Emly held on by their fingernails to pip Newcastle by a single point, 0-15 to 0-14, in the FBD Insurance County Hurling League Division 6 (Pauline Coonan Cup) Final at Cahir on Sunday. A brilliant display from Aidan O’Heney proved vital to the Emly win but it was heartbreak for Newcastle, who saw a superb final quarter revival fall just short.

With O’Heney in stunning form, Emly led by five points at the interval, 0-11 to 0-6, and had stretched the lead to seven points by the 11th minute of the second half, 0-15 to 0-8, outscoring the South Tipp side by four to two.

However, Emly failed to score again for the final twenty minutes. Newcastle, who had struggled to match their West Tipp opponents for much of the game, suddenly took over, and with Eoin O’Sullivan, Sean Fitzpatrick and Maitiú McGrath in sparkling form, they knocked over six points without reply by the 59th minute.

They still had the momentum as they searched for the equaliser that would have taken the keenly-contested final to extra time but time ran out, with their supporters disappointed that only one minute of injury time was played.

The Emly players celebrated at the final whistle, as their efforts for the first forty minutes proved vital and the cup was headed west.

Newcastle led 0-2 to no score after a minute but that was the last time they led. Caoimhin McGrath won a turnover after thirty seconds to set Andrew Fitzpatrick up for the opener before Padraig O’Loughlin doubled the lead thirty seconds later.

But then the influence of Aidan O’Heney decided the outcome of the final. He opened Emly’s scoring in their first attack and equalised with a superb sideline cut in the fourth minute.

Paul O’Heney took a pass from Brian Burke to put Emly ahead for the first time, and Shane Carroll doubled the lead after he was set up by Conor Burke.

When Conor Burke scored himself at the end of the first quarter to make 0-5 to 0-2, it looked like the game was slipping away from Newcastle.

However, within five minutes they were level. Sean Fitzpatrick pointed a free to reduce the lead; Eoin O’Sullivan took a pass from Emmet Prendergast to bring the margin down to the minimum, and then O’Sullivan showed his blistering pace again to draw the sides level at 0-5 each.

Thirty seconds later, Aidan O’Heney restored the Emly lead when he burst through the centre and pointed when a goal might have been on.

That kickstarted a period of dominance for Emly, who went on to add another five points without reply. Brian Burke started the run, followed by Aidan O’Heney, Burke again, Jamie Carroll and then O’Heney again from a free, to make it 0-11 to 0-5 with three minutes left to the break. An Andrew Fitzpatrick free in the 29th minute was Newcastle’s first score in ten minutes to leave it 0-11 to 0-6 at half time.

Forty seconds into the second half Conor Burke extended the lead to six. Another great run and score from Eoin O’Sullivan opened Newcastle’s second half account and when Sean Fitzpatrick pointed a free following a foul on Maitiú McGrath, the margin was down to four again, 0-12 to 0-8.

However, within three minutes it had gone to seven. Brilliant play from Aidan O’Heney down the standside saw him hit a super score, Shane Carroll added another within thirty seconds and a free from O’Heney made it 0-15 to 0-8 with just eleven minutes of the half gone.

Then as the Emly scoring dried up, Newcastle went on a scoring spree with six without reply. Bit by bit they ate into the Emly lead. Maitiú McGrath started the run, followed by three from Sean Fitzpatrick, two from frees.

Newcastle nearly got in for a goal from Padraig O’Loughlin but Tom Healy made a great reflex save in the Emly goal. However the traffic remained one-way, with a great point from Caoimhin McGrath followed by another Fitzpatrick free.

The momentum was certainly with Newcastle, as Emly struggled to retain their grip on the game. They were still searching for the leveller when time ran out on them.

It was fitting that Aidan O’Heney ended with a winner’s medal. He was Emly’s biggest threat in attack and his seven-points total included four superb efforts from play, a majestic sideline cut and two frees. However, he had good support from Brian Burke, Shane Carroll and Conor Burke, all three hitting two points each. Conor Phipps was solid at full back, with a fine display from centre back Paul O’Heney as well.

Newcastle gave everything in defeat and very nearly forced extra time. Eoin O’Sullivan’s pace proved a major threat to the Emly defence and he hit three excellent points. Maitiú McGrath and Caoimhin McGrath were busy throughout while Sean Fitzpatrick’s five points from frees and one from play was a huge contribution.

Emly: Tom Healy, Eoin Phibbs, Conor Phibbs, Chris Hennessy, Sean McGrath, Paul O’Heney 0-1; Pa McGrath, Jamie Carroll 0-1; Brian Burke 0-2; Diarmuid Carroll, Aidan O’Heney 0-7, 0-2 frees, 0-1 sideline; Shane Carroll 0-2; Declan Hennessy, Conor Burke 0-2; John O’Brien.

Subs: James Cunningham for Chris Hennessy, Evan Hennessy for John O’Brien, Bob McEniry for Declan Hennessy.

Newcastle: Ger Corcoran, Ciaran O’Loughlin, Sean Long, Brian Lonergan, Emmet Prendergast, Conor Grant, Evan Morrissey, Jason Hally, Sean Fitzpatrick 0-6, 0-5 frees; Padraig O’Loughlin 0-1; Caoimhin McGrath 0-1; Andrew Fitzpatrick 0-2, 0-1 free; James Butler, Maitiú McGrath 0-1; Eoin O’Sullivan 0-3.

Sub: Jack Fitzpatrick Rice for James Butler.

Referee: Donie Horan (Eire Og Anncarty/Donohill).