Nenagh cruise sets up another final with Loughmore
Jake Morris in action for Nenagh Eire Og in the Tipperary SHC semi-final. Pic: Diarmuid Brennan
It’s 12 years since Hugh Maloney was on the Nenagh Éire Óg team that came up just shy of Loughmore-Castleiney.
As manager, he will aim to make amends against the same opposition on Sunday week after this comfortable semi-final win over Drom and Inch in FBD Semple Stadium.
There’s no mistaking the champions will be favourites as Nenagh Éire Óg aim to get their hands on the Dan Breen Cup for only the second time in their history, but their performance here was a convincing one.
Despite losing the ever-dependable Mikey Heffernan to injury, Sam O’Farrell was excellent in his stead on free-taking duties and Heffernan’s actual replacement Ben West finished the game with 1-3.
To beat Loughmore-Castleiney, you would imagine they will need Heffernan fit, but Maloney was more than satisfied with this latest victory. “At the start of the year, you always set your goals to be in a county final and if you're not in it, you can't win it. So we're there, I suppose on merit, but we're under no illusions either. We're going as underdogs, but just delighted with the performance as a whole.
“Mikey's soldiered unbelievably for Nenagh. That was obviously said in the dressing room before and he'll be touch and go the next day. But that's what the panel is for, that's what we train and that's why you have lads coming on to do a job like that. Ben acquitted himself very well and Sam done well on the frees.”
With none of their starting forwards scoring from play, Drom and Inch were terribly disappointing, whereas O’Farrell delivered nine points, all but one from placed balls, for Nenagh who never let up having led by seven at the break, 0-12 to 0-5.
The clinching score came as early as the 41st minute. West gathered a long ball in and with one hand struck a goal. It sent Nenagh into a 12-point lead, 1-15 to 0-6, and they had left Drom and Inch for dust.
Drom substitute Johnny Ryan attempted to inspire his team-mates with a couple of points but there was little else forthcoming. Seamus Callanan had a close-range free kept out in the 46th minute and at the other end Tommy Heffernan was chipping in with a couple of points.
Eventually, a consolation goal was produced by Paudie Kinane when he finished well at the death after taking receipt of a Cormac Fitzpatrick pass, but having been 12 points down it was mere window-dressing.
Drom and Inch were largely bystanders in the opening half. Captain Podge Campion’s point from inside his own half was their sole score from play as they relied on Callanan’s marksmanship from placed balls.
However, the 2019 hurler of the year, who had been dazzling in the championship to this point, was a subdued figure in a half where Nenagh Éire Óg made light of Heffernan’s absence.
There were fears it would have a detrimental effect on his team’s chances of reaching a first final since losing to Clonoulty-Rossmore in 2018. Nobody told his replacement West, who had two points to his name by the eighth minute and added a third in the 23rd minute, the second last of six Nenagh points in succession.
Further out the field, Tipperary’s double All-Ireland winner O’Farrell was orchestrating affairs and linking well with Mason Cawley on the right wing and Barry Heffernan was commanding in defence.
The closest Drom and Inch came to troubling Dermot McTiernan’s goal came in the 11th minute when a neat string of hand-passes put Eoghan Kennedy through only for him to be fouled.
Nenagh Éire Óg were seven points ahead before a couple of Callanan’s points made the scoreboard more respectable in the 27th minute. However, soon after, Barry Heffernan had an excellent point from distance and O’Farrell’s second 65 in additional time finished out the half.
Between colleges, U20s and seniors with Tipperary, it’s been a hectic season for O’Farrell as it has been for Jake Morris, but they are the standard bearers for Nenagh, said Maloney.
“They’ve had a very long year, Sam in particular. And then Jake himself picked up a few niggles here and there during the year as well. The two lads live in the field anyway but you do have to pull them back a small bit. And they're two very big characters to have in the dressing room.”
S. O’Farrell (0-9, 6 frees, 2 65s); B. West (1-3); T. Heffernan, J. Morris (0-2 each); M. Cawley, P. Hickey, B. Heffernan, J. Mackey (0-1 each).
S. Callanan (0-6, 5 frees, 1 65); P. Kinane (1-0); Johnny Ryan (0-3); P. Campion, J. Campion, F. Purcell (0-1 each).
D. McTiernan; J. Donelan-Holohan; P. Murphy, B. Heffernan, M. Cawley; C. Ryan (c), J. Mackey; S. O’Farrell, P. Hickey, J. Keller; B. West, J. Morris, A. Carey; A. Gratton for J. Donelan-Holohan, S. Phelan for J. Mackey (both 60+1).
T. Heffernan for A. Carey (inj 37); A. Heatly for B. West (54).
E. Collins; K. Hassett, F. Purcell, R. Long; P. Campion (c), M. Campion, M. Conroy; J. Campion; L. Campion, E. Kennedy; C. Fitzpatrick, C. Cahill, D. Collins; S. Callanan, John Ryan.
D. Butler for John Ryan, Johnny Ryan for C. Cahill (both h-t); P. Kinane for M. Campion (41); J. Bergin for C. Fitzpatrick, J. Lillis for M. Conroy (both 60+1).
M. Kennedy (Newcastle).
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