News & Events

Nenagh Eire Og 2-24; Portroe 2-12

NENAGH Eire Og bridged an eight-year gap to overcome Portroe and capture the Frank McGrath Cup in what proved a lacklustre North Tipperary SHC final played in blustery conditions at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Sunday. Managed by former Galway and Portumna great, Seán Treacy, the 'Blues' marched to a comfortable six-point victory over a Portroe side who were appearing in their first ever north senior final.

Treacy's stamp was all over a Nenagh side that bore little resemblance to the side that fizzled out in the early stages of last year's championship. He has moulded this unbeaten Nenagh side into a cohesive unit and now with the Frank McGrath tucked away safely the side's focus will turn to the Dan Breen.

Nenagh went into this final clash brimming with confidence but were dealt a blow during the week when wing-back Hugh Flannery was ruled out after landing awkwardly on an ankle in training. Nenagh drafted in John Flannery but otherwise fielded a full-strength side. Portroe were not without their injury worries either with full-back Nicky Ryan carrying a niggling injury into the game, an injury that played up after just 18 minutes of the opening half.

While this game never really ignited there were some flashes of brilliance, predominantly from the Nenagh forwards with brothers Michael and Tommy Heffernan firing over some sublime efforts while fellow attackers Cliff Moloney, Paddy Murphy, Eddie Tucker and Kevin Tucker all raised the white flag from play.

Portroe battled hard, but even from an early juncture it was evident that their forwards were not firing on all cylinders, a fact that contributed to the at times pedestrian nature of this final clash. While the fare on offer may have been less than the fire and brimstone of a Nenagh-Toomevara encounter, the score-taking at times was enough to warm the cockles as a battling Portroe side struggled to keep pace with the free-scoring 'Blues'.

The red hot favourites started brightly with full-forward, Paddy Murphy opening the 'Blues' account before Michael Heffernan almost bagged an early Nenagh goal after a tremendous scything run but his shot at goal drifted right and wide. Nenagh continued to pile on early pressure with Cliff Moloney and Eddie Tucker edging their side three clear before Portroe finally opened their account in the 5th minute with John Sheedy pointing a close-range free.

Sheedy added a second free four minutes later before Michael Heffernan sent over a beautifully flighted shot from the bank sideline in the 11th minute. Nenagh continued to press with Michael's brother, Tommy restoring Nenagh's three point advantage mid-way through the half. Portroe were struggling badly in defence and it came as no surprise when injured full-back, Nicky Ryan was called ashore in the 18the minute. Ryan went into the game carrying a knock and when it acted up again Portroe were forced to re-jig their attack and defence. Colman Shouldice came in to the inside forward line with corner-forward, Michael Sheedy moving to wing back and Noel O'Halloran moving to full-back.

Ironically, the switches seemed to solidify Port and although Nenagh pulled four clear in the 20th minute thanks to a Paddy Murphy effort, Port' fought their way right back into contention with a pointed free from John Sheedy and an inspirational effort from centre-forward, Dinny Hogan. Portroe continued to press with Jimmy Creamer cutting the deficit to a solitary point in the 24th minute after Dinny Hogan had rattled a low drive off the crossbar. Richie Flannery responded with a booming 65' for Nenagh before Justin Conroy and Kevin Tucker (free) traded points on the cusp of half-time.


Indeed, is was in the final six minutes of the half when the game finally sprung to life following a schemozzle on the stand sideline which saw Michael Heffernan and Michael Sheedy booked for their part in what was 'handbag stuff'. However, just as it appeared as if Nenagh would take a two-point cushion with them to the dressing room up popped Jimmy Creamer to rifle home Port's opening goal in the 31st minute. Predictably, the goal came from a long-range Darren Gleeson free out of defence and broke kindly off Dinny Hogan's hurl and into the path of the inrushing Creamer. Despite having their lead snatched away from them Nenagh refused to buckle and responded with successive frees from Kevin Tucker and Richie Flannery to ensure they took a slender 0-10 to 1-6 interval lead into the dressing room.


Scorers: Nenagh Eire Og: K. Tucker 0-7 (0-6f); M. Heffernan 0-4; P. Murphy 0-3; R. Flannery 0-3 (-2f, 0-1 65); C. Moloney, E. Tucker and T. Heffernan 0-2 each; P. Ryan 0-1.
Portroe: J. Sheedy 0-6 (0-5f); J. Creamer 1-1; C. Shouldice 1-0; J. Ryan, J. Conroy, M. Gennery, C. Gleeson and D. Hogan 0-1 each.
Teams: Nenagh Eire Og: Michael McNamara, Eoin Fitzgibbon, Hugh Maloney, John Brennan; John Flannery, Noel Maloney, Richie Flannery; Brian Dillon, Pearse Morris; Kevin Tucker, Eddie Tucker, Michael Heffernan, Paddy Murphy, Tommy Heffernan.
Subs: John Slattery for Moloney (43); Paul Ryan for Murphy (51); Shane Maher for E. Tucker (59).
Portroe: Darren Gleeson, John Hogan, Nicky Ryan, Dermot O'Halloran; Charlie Wilford, Colm Gleeson, Noel O'Halloran; Jimmy Creamer, Justin Conroy; John Ryan, Michael Sheedy, Mark Gennery; John Sheedy, Dinny Hogan, Michael Creamer.
Subs: Coleman Shouldice for Ryan (18); James Ryan for J. Creamer (55); Padraig Hickey for M. Creamer (59)
Referee: Tommy Ryan (Kildangan).
Adult attendance: 1,891.

Published Date: 24 August 2009 By James Hayden

Pictures Courtsey of Bridget Delaney.

Nenagh back on top of North Tipp tree
(29/08/2009) - Nenagh Guardian Report

Nenagh Eire Og 0-24  Portroe 2-12 

In the end, it went pretty much to form. Nenagh Éire Óg cruised to their ninth North Tipperary Senior Hurling title as they had too much firepower for a gutsy Portroe side that could not find the spark on the day which they had hoped.
From early on there was a sense of inevitability about it. Nenagh began in confidence fashion and were three points to he good in as many minutes. While no more than four points separated the sides in the opening half, Nenagh were able to source their scores much easier with six of their ten points in the first thirty minutes coming from play.  With the wind at their backs, it took Portroe too long to settle and it was only in the ten minutes before half time where they managed to find their rhythm but still trailed by one point at the break and the concession of six unanswered points in as many minutes at the start of the second half took the game right away from them. While Nenagh Éire Óg will always have ambitions higher than just a North Championship, annexing just their ninth North Senior title will go down as a crucial juncture in their development. From the extreme low of 2008 comes a marked reward for the hard work put in by the players since the turn of the year as well as the influence by the new management team headed up by Sean Treacy.   For the first time in many years, there is a sense of unity within this panel. Treacy has also instilled a disciplined approach, not only in terms of on the field but off it too as his policy of rewarding form players in training and challenge matches has paid off with those unlucky to lose their places on the starting fifteen chomping at the bit to get back in but finding it hard to do so. Not for the first time this year, picking a star man for Nenagh was a difficult one. The team played to such a high level that no one player was needed to inspire the team. Defensively, to a man they were outstanding. Despite conceding two welltaken goals, Michael McNamara had little to do between the posts.  Eoin Fitzgibbon did a superb marking job on the dangerous John Sheedy while captain Hugh Maloney was commanding at the edge of the square. The platform for the success was laid in the half back line. With Hugh Flannery missing out through injury, John Flannery took his chance at wing back with both hands. Centre back Noel Maloney won his crucial duel with Dinny Hogan as the Portroe centre forward never won clean possession on a single occasion during the game.   Regular centre back for years up to this, Ritchie Flannery took the game to Portroe from the off, rigid in his defensive duties while also driving forward with the ball and using it superbly well. Brian Dillon and Pearse Morris were hard-working in midfield. Kevin & Eddie Tucker were once again very influential on the forty in a creative sense with Kevin again ultra-reliable from placed balls. The class was provided by the young members of the forward line who shot eleven points from play between them with the oldest being Paddy Murphy who is still nineteen years of age.   Having missed the majority of the last three weeks through an ankle injury picked up in the semi-final win over Borris-Ileigh, Murphy showed no ill effects as he had Nenagh in front after just 25 seconds and added two subsequent points. Minors Cliff Moloney and Tommie Heffernan added two points apiece but it was the other Heffernan brother, Michael who top-scored from play with four and could have had many more but for four wides also. History counted against Portroe going into the final with barring the inaugural final in 1901, only Silvermines in 1974 had won the North title in their first appearance in the final and it certainly appeared as if the occasion had taken the edge off their play for much of the first half.   Many of their key players were unable to get into the game plus injuries curtailed the effectiveness of John Ryan at full forward while full back Nicky Ryan lasted just 13 minutes as he suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury.   Captain Darren Gleeson was could not have done more between the posts with his long puckouts not having the effect which had served them so well to date as the forward line struggled to function. The full back line were under pressure throughout as the Nenagh forwards created plenty of space, particularly in the opening half with John Hogan battling manfully to the end while Noel O ’Halloran stepped in well at full back following Ryan’s departure. The half backline struggled to exert any level of control with Charlie Wilford the best of the trio. At midfield, Jimmy Creamer and Justin Conroy enjoyed an influential first half with Creamer helping himself to 1-1 but both faded from the game in the second half.   The difference between the sides came in the forward line were Nenagh ’s starting sextet scored 14 points from play compared to just four for their opponents. The conditions certainly didn’t suit their younger players as Mike   Sheedy, John Sheedy and Mark Gennery struggled to get into the game. Full forward John Ryan was clearly hampered by a shoulder injury carried into the game while Dinny Hogan ’s influence on the forty was well-curtailed by Noel Maloney. Substitute Coleman Shouldice did put himself about throughout and his late goal was just deserts for a hard-working display and will be an addition to the forward line in the county championship. Playing wind the aid of the stiff breeze, Portroe needed to get off to a good start but Nenagh had other ideas as Paddy Murphy pointed inside twenty-five seconds and only a whisker separated Michael Heffernan from an early goal.   In a high tempo start to the game, Cliff Moloney doubled Nenagh ’s lead as Ritchie Flannery made a superb challenge to deny Michael Sheedy in a dangerous position. A mistake by Dermot O’Halloran allowed Eddie Tucker gather possession who in turn passed to   Cliff Moloney whose flicked shot was well-smothered by Darren Gleeson but was not fully cleared with Eddie Tucker adding Nenagh’s third points. John Sheedy got Portroe off the mark with a free in the fifth minute and a second four minutes later left the minimum between the sides. The game settled down thereafter but to Nenagh ’s benefit as they built a fourpoint lead by the 14th minute with points from Michael Heffernan, Tommy Heffernan and Paddy Murphy.   Portroe then enjoyed their own purple patch with John Sheedy converting his third free while a Dinny Hogan block and subsequent score from distance was met by the approval of the large Port following. Hogan was desperately unlucky to see a blistering strike come back off the crossbar in the 24th minute but Jimmy Creamer did convert the rebound to leave the minimum between the sides once again. Things became heated for a period but yellow cards to   Michael Sheedy and Paddy Murphy settled the game as Ritchie Flannery and Justin Conroy traded points before Kevin Tucker ’s first point from a free restored Nenagh’s two point lead on the stroke of half time. However in the three minutes of added time, there was plenty of drama. From a raking Darren Gleeson puckout, Dinny Hogan broke it down and Jimmy Creamer arrived in cue to win possession and shoot to the corner of the net. Nenagh ’s response was in the manner of a champion side as Kevin Tucker and Ritchie Flannery converted two frees before the break to give them a one point lead at the break and added a subsequent six without replay at the start of the second half to out themselves in the driving seat.   Paddy Murphy, Michael Heffernan and four points from Kevin Tucker, three coming from frees as Portroe ’s discipline began to let them down. They threatened a comeback at stages during the second half as John Sheedy   and Mark Gennery pointed from play but a Cliff Moloney point halted their ambitions. Five points was as close as Portroe got to Nenagh in the second half with Colm Gleeson getting one of Portroe ’s better scores from long range. Between the 45th and 55th minutes, Nenagh pulled away outscoring Portroe by five points to two when Tommie Heffernan added his second to increase the gap back out to eight points. Only a superb save from Darren Gleeson denied Paul Ryan from extending the gap but Coleman Shouldice had no such problems at the other end as he reacted quickest to a blocked effort by Michael Sheedy to give Portroe a consolation goal.   Nenagh ’s work ethic remained high to the end despite the game between well won as Michael Heffernan dispossessed substitute Padraig Hickey and Paul Ryan fired over Nenagh’s 24th and final score as their eight year wait for the Frank McGrath Cup came to an end.