Heffernan is the hero as Nenagh edge thriller

NENAGH Vocational School confirmed their superiority over Coláiste Treasa by taking the All-Ireland ‘B’ SHC title in thrilling fashion at Kilmallock yesterday.

Unfortunately some of the gloss was taken off the victory by a neck injury to Kanturk’s Liam Daly four minutes into the second period of extra time.

Play was held up for 55 minutes as an ambulance was called for the player, who had scored 2-2 for his team, putting a damper on a magnificent game.

Four times the teams were level before Nenagh, with a late burst of scores, eventually took the honours. Michael Heffernan, who won an All-Ireland medal with Tipperary last year, finished the game with 13 points, 10 from frees.

On the other side Lorcan McLoughlin accounted for 1-8 of Kanturk’s tally. Michael Sheedy, nephew of county manager Liam, and Michael Creamer were magnificent for Nenagh, while Aidan Walsh added to his growing reputation with another five star display at centre back for Kanturk from where he scored four points, while Liam Daly’s contribution of 2-2 was immense for the Cork school.

Nenagh elected to play with the wind in the opening half but it was Kanturk who made the better start. McLoughlin landed two points in the opening minute, the second from a side line cut. Three times in that opening half, the sides were level, before the majestic Aidan Walsh’s injury time point gave Kanturk a 1-7 to 1-6 half-time lead.

Despite the fact that Walsh continued to play heroically at centre back for Kanturk, Michael Sheedy caused havoc every time he got possession after switching to full forward 20 minutes in and at the end of the third quarter, the sides were deadlocked at 2-11 each.

The last 15 minutes was breathtaking as the sides matched each other point for point, until Lorcan McLoughlin’s point edged Kanturk two in front with five minutes remaining.

However Nenagh refused to lie down and the classy Michael Heffernan tied the game for the fifth time with two points from frees.

Having got out of jail in normal time, Nenagh took full advantage in extra time. Their fitness was never in question and as the Kanturk players began to cramp up, Stephen Murray’s goal helped the Tipp school to a two point lead at the end of the first period.

Nenagh were rampant in the early minutes of the second period rifling over four points in a row before play was halted. When play finally resumed, Kanturk moved Aidan Walsh to full forward to try and turn the game around, but the best they could manage were three unanswered points as the Nenagh defence held out for a thrilling victory.

Scorers: Nenagh: M Heffernan 0-13 (0-10 frees); M Sheedy 1-5; S Murray 1-1; T Heffernan 0-2; K Fogarty, J Ryan 0-1 each. Kanturk: L McLoughlin 1-9 (0-3 frees); L Daly 2-2; A Walsh 0-5 (0-4 frees); W Corkery 0-1.

NENAGH: J Mulqueen; S Gleeson, N Quirke, M Collins; A O’Donovan, M Creamer, K Ryan; S Murray, P Morris; M Sheedy, M Abbott, K Fogarty; T Heffernan, M Heffernan, J Ryan. Subs: JP Grace for Abbott; M Harty for O’Donovan.

KANTURK: K Roche; S O’Brien, S Riordan, K Tarrant; D Curtin, A Walsh, W Corkery; B Wither, S Leneghan; K Sheehan, L McLoughln, D McAuliffe; L Daly, S Kiely, S O’Reilly. Subs: A O’Halloran for Kiely; C McCarthy for Leneghan; R O’Connor for Reilly; D O’Keeffe for Sheehan; K Sheehan for O’Keeffe

Referee: M Meade (Limerick).