Mikey Heffernan fires Nenagh Éire Óg past Kilruane MacDonaghs and into Tipperary SHC semis

Mikey Heffernan in action for Nenagh Eire Og. Pic: Brendan Gleeson

Tipperary SHC quarter-final: Nenagh Éire Óg 1-24 Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-15

Mikey Heffernan’s 0-12 haul and a late Jake Morris penalty fired Nenagh Éire Óg into their first Tipperary SHC semi-final since 2020 with six points to spare on Kilruane MacDonaghs.

The second part of this Semple Stadium double-header was level nine times in the first half, but Nenagh edged ahead thereafter.

Kilruane suffered a major injury blow just before half-time as Jerome Cahill pulled up clutching his hamstring. Niall O’Meara also appeared to be hampered by the interval. He reappeared at full-forward for the second half.

Heffernan scored each of Nenagh’s first five points, beginning with a pair from play.

The linesman intervened to award Michael Cleary’s opener for Kilruane, while Shane Cleary drew a save from Dermot McTiernan.

The 2022 champions raided for the first goal after 13 minutes as O’Meara delivered a high ball into their imposing inside line. Kian O’Kelly broke it for Thomas Cleary to fire them 1-4 to 0-5 ahead. It didn’t last long as Sam O’Farrell replied with a quickfire brace.

Michael Cleary landed his second point, but Morris got into the game with a fine lead point from under the New Stand.

After Willie Cleary, Cian Darcy, and Aaron Morgan reeled off three in a row, Morris notched a classy pair to level again.

O’Meara pointed, but Nenagh replied with three on the trot, including a Mason Cawley brace.

They led 0-14 to 1-10 at half-time, and wouldn’t be pegged back from there.

Heffernan began the second half in a similar vein to the first, reeling off 0-4 and teeing up the fifth for his brother Tommy. The influence of their other brother, Barry, in a sweeping role limited Kilruane to 0-2 in the third quarter.

Conor Ryan pushed them five ahead, and that lead held into the final eight minutes.

Kilruane got a lifeline when Shane Cleary poached upon a dropped ball to feed Kieran Cahill to finish.

It was 0-22 to 2-15, but in the next play, substitute Ben West battled through on goal, only to be fouled by Craig Morgan. Morris sent the keeper the wrong way.

Into stoppage time, Mikey Heffernan slotted his 12th point and Tommy his third. In between, a late Darcy drive was saved by McTiernan and an O’Meara free was blocked on the line.

Scorers for Nenagh Éire Óg: M Heffernan (0-12, 5 frees, 2 65s); J Morris (1-3, 1-0 penalty); S O’Farrell, T Heffernan (0-3 each); M Cawley (0-2); C Ryan (0-1).

Scorers for Kilruane MacDonaghs: W Cleary (0-6, 4 frees, 1 65); T Cleary (1-1); K Cahill (1-0); M Cleary (0-3); N O’Meara (0-2); A Morgan, K O’Kelly, C Darcy (0-1 each).

NENAGH ÉIRE ÓG: D McTiernan; M Cawley, M Carey, J Donelan-Houlihan; C Hennessy, B Heffernan, P Murphy; C Ryan (capt), J Mackey; J Keller, M Heffernan, S O’Farrell; P Hickey, J Morris, A Carey.

Subs: A Healy for Donelan-Houlihan (h-t), T Heffernan for A Carey (38), B West for Mackey (50), S Phelan for M Heffernan (60+3-f-t, temp).

KILRUANE MACDONAGHS: P Williams; J Cleary, A Morgan, J Peters; N O’Meara (capt), C Morgan, K Cahill; J Cahill, C Doheny; S Cleary, C Darcy, K O’Kelly; W Cleary, T Cleary, M Cleary.

Subs: M O’Neill for J Cahill (30, inj), D Peters for T Cleary (h-t), S McAdams for M Cleary (42), E Hogan for Doheny (47), T Cleary for O’Kelly (49, inj).

Referee: J McCormack (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams).