Loughmore Castleiney and Nenagh Éire Óg progress to last eight after tense finale

FBD Insurance Senior Hurling Championship Group 3 - Round 3

Loughmore Castleiney   2-20

Nenagh Eire Og       1-22

By Ronan Loughnane

Never had a last-minute free so many permutations. A goal for Jake Morris would send Nenagh to the top of Group 4, Loughmore to the runners-up spot and Holycross to the dreaded relegation battle. However, his well struck shot was deflected over meaning Lorrha’s brave effort fell just short as they were eliminated on score difference, Holycross dodged the relegation bullet and Nenagh advanced to the last eight. 

With such drama attached the future of the present format looks very safe. The game started in a whirl too with Ed Connolly’s goal arriving inside 40 seconds. Noel McGrath was very dominant in the opening quarter and he was at the heart of every Loughmore move. 

He clipped over two points from play as did his cousin Tomas to add to further points from Tommy Maher, Ciaran McGrath and John McGrath. Nenagh had points in reply from Mikey Heffernan (2), Sam O’Farrell and the very impressive Tommy Heffernan, while they also had goalkeeper Dermot McTiernan to thank in the 11th minute as he thwarted Tomas McGrath’s goal attempt. 

The Nenagh management moved to curb Noel’s influence by sending over Sam O’Farrell, a move that had a big influence on the game. They outscored Loughmore 0-10 to 0-5 in the second quarter with the Tipp U-20 star having a big say in proceedings. 

An ankle injury to Joey Hennessy slowed him down and Tommy Heffernan made hay landing three points in seven minutes while Jake Morris, Mason Cawley, Ben West and Mikey Heffernan added four more. Loughmore’s scoring rate had slowed considerably but they plugged away and added three minors through John McGrath (2) and Ciaran McGrath to leave them two clear after 24 minutes. 

The game hit its only lull and we had to wait five minutes for our next score courtesy of a Mikey Heffernan free.  John McGrath added two frees in reply to points from O’Farrell and another Heffernan free to leave Loughmore 1-12 to 0-14 ahead at the break. 

Loughmore had the elements behind them after the interval but the Nenagh backs really stood up to the challenge in a low-scoring third quarter in which the sides shared eight points with Barry Heffernan, Conor McCarthy, Paddy Murphy and O’Farrell all upping the ante. 

Lorcan Egan had been introduced for Hennessy at the break and he certainly curbed Tommy Heffernan’s influence while Ciaran Connolly really stood up when Loughmore needed leadership. 

He landed a great point from play to add to two more frees from John McGrath and another from Liam McGrath. Nenagh replied through Morris, O’Farrell and one each from Tommy and Mikey to leave Loughmore 1-16 to 0-18 ahead on 48 minutes. 

Morris’s influence was growing and when Ed Meagher needlessly pulled him down a minute later he billowed Aidan McGrath’s net to give them the lead for the first time. They had strong momentum now but Ciaran Connolly powered forward once more to point for Loughmore before John McGrath levelled from a free. 

Substitute Adam Healy restored the Nenagh lead with a good point from play before McGrath and Heffernan traded frees to leave Nenagh one up with four to go. Then came the pivotal moment when Tomas McGrath fed substitute Ciaran McCormack who made no mistake to grab Loughmore’s second goal. Ed Connolly put them three up before Sam O’Farrell’s third point led to the late drama but Loughmore survived to top the group. 

They will be reasonably happy with their performance, particularly in the latter stages when the pressure was on. Ciaran Connolly, Noel McGrath, Ed Meagher, John Ryan, Tomas McGrath and Lorcan Egan when introduced all had a strong influence on the game. 

Nenagh contributed handsomely to an entertaining game but will be somewhat disappointed that they didn’t push on after the penalty. Conor McCarthy (until his late dismissal, two yellows), had a fine game at corner-back as did all the Heffernan’s, Sam O’Farrell, Paddy Murphy and Jake Morris

Loughmore Castleiney: Aidan McGrath; Ed Meagher, Joey Hennessey, Willie Eviston; John Ryan, Brian McGrath, Eoin O’Connell; Tomas McGrath (0-2), Ciaran Connolly (0-2); Tommy Maher (0-1), Noel McGrath (0-2), Ciaran McGrath (0-2);  John McGrath (0-9, 0-8f), Ed Connolly (1-1), Liam McGrath (0-1). 

Subs used: Lorcan Egan for Hennessy (HT); Ciaran McCormack (1-0) for Ciaran McGrath (50); Darragh McCahey for O’Connell (56); Paul McCahey for Maher (60); Philip O’Connell for Tomas McGrath (63).

Nenagh Éire Óg: Dermot McTiernan; Conor Ryan, Mark Carey, Conor McCarthy; Paddy Murphy, Barry Heffernan, Conor Hennessy; Mason Cawley (0-1), James Mackey; Sam O’Farrell (0-3); Tommy Heffernan (0-5), Mikey Heffernan (0-8, 0-7f); Philip Hickey; Jake Morris (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-1f), Ben West (0-1).

Subs used: Sean Phelan for Hickey (34, inj); Adam Healy (0-1) for West (53); Filip McIntyre for Phelan (57). 

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers)