Sweet revenge for Nenagh Éire Óg over Drom & Inch

WELL BEATEN at the same stage by the same opposition last year, this was sweet revenge for Nenagh Éire Óg in this Tipperary senior hurling semi-final at rain-sodden Semple Stadium yesterday.

Heavy rain militated against good hurling but the lop-sided attendance — all packed into one stand as the other undergoes renovation — were treated to some decent passages of play, with veteran Nenagh wing-forward Kevin Tucker catching the eye with six points from six shots. He was also prominent in several other scores, including the decisive second goal.

Playing into the breeze, Drom & Inch were by far the more impressive team for the opening quarter, taking a merited 0-6 to 0-2 lead after 19 minutes. Surprisingly, given his scoring exploits for the club in this championship to date, county star Seamus Butler contributed just one of those points, and that from a free; the other Drom & Inch scores came from wing-forwards Micheál and Macdara Butler, corner-forwards Seamus Callanan and Johnny Ryan, with midfielder James Woodlock (another county senior star) also getting in on the act.

Both of those Nenagh points came from defenders, wing-back Hugh Moloney with the first, centre-back and captain Richie Flannery with the second from a 65: Flannery’s accuracy from placed balls would prove a telling factor as this game wore on.

In the last 10 minutes of the opening half, Nenagh Éire Óg finally found their form: points at first, four in a row (two from Kevin Tucker — the first a beauty from the wing — one from brother Eddie, the fourth from wing-forward John Slattery), tying it up at 0-6 apiece after 24 minutes.

Seamus Butler eased Drom & Inch back into the lead with his second pointed free, before a long free from Flannery caused panic in around the Drom & Inch kitchen. Noel Moloney had the final touch and gave the north Tipp side a lead they would never subsequently relinquish.

Two more points they added before the break, the first of those another long-ranger from Flannery, the second a fine finish by corner-forward Michael Heffernan (four days overage for U-16) after a lovely pass by centre-forward Paul Ryan, making it 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time.

The change of ends appeared to energise Drom & Inch, and within seconds they had a point back, courtesy of midfielder Woodlock, who raced upfield to score. Minutes later Seamus Butler converted a free, leaving just two points between them.

Back came Nenagh Éire Óg, however, and two points by youngster Heffernan and another from Kevin Tucker, Callanan pulling one back for Drom, had it back to a four-point game, 1-11 to 0-10, ten minutes into the half. The tempo had picked up noticeably at this point, and then came a goal for Drom & Inch courtesy of corner-forward Callanan, pouncing on the knockdown by Macdara Butler of a long Seamus Butler centre.

A couple of minutes later, John Slattery had the ball in the Drom & Inch net, only to see his goal disallowed for a square infringement. However, a minute later Nenagh were back. A fantastic cross from the end-line by Kevin Tucker to Noel Moloney and a clinical finish made it 2-12 to 1-11.

From there to the end Drom & Inch huffed and puffed, but they were now very firmly in the grip of Nenagh, none more so than Seamus Butler. He tried his luck in several positions but he was closed down; manage that, and the chances are you beat Drom & Inch.

Fittingly, Tucker had the insurance point for Nenagh and put them into a county final few would have prophesied early in the season. For a disappointing Drom & Inch, who failed to build on last year’s heroics, back to the drawing-board.

Scorers: Nenagh: K. Tucker 0-6 (0-3 frees); N. Moloney 2-0; M. Heffernan 0-3; R. Flannery 0-2 (free, 65); H. Moloney, J. Slattery, E. Tucker, 0-1 each. Drom & Inch: S. Callanan 1-2; S. Butler 0-4 (all frees); J. Ryan 0-3; J. Woodlock 0-2; Micheál Butler, Macdara Butler, 0-1 each.

NENAGH EIRE OG: M. McNamara; S. Ryan, J. Brennan, H. Flannery; H. Moloney, R. Flannery, E. Fitzgibbon; J. Kennedy, J. Flannery; J. Slattery, P. Ryan, N. Moloney; K. Tucker, E. Tucker, M. Heffernan.

Sub: M. Hackett (Kennedy 58).

DROM & INCH: D. Young; E. Costello, E. Buckley, K. Butler; D. Kennedy, M. Costello, T. Cantwell; J. Woodlock, P. Collins; J. Ryan, E. Woodlock, Micheál Butler; S. Callanan, S. Butler, Macdara Butler.Subs: P. Ryan (Collins 38); P. Butler (P. Ryan inj. 42); M. Ryan (E. Woodlock 52); F. McGrath (Macdara Butler inj. 55).

Referee: N. Cosgrove (Marlfield).