Newport edge thrilling North final against stubborn Nenagh Éire Óg outfit

North Under 15 A Football Final 2025

Newport 1-12 

Nenagh Eire Og 2-7

By Liam Hogan 

Newport came from behind to claim the North Tipperary U15A Football title when defeating Nenagh Eire Og in a very entertaining encounter played at Dolla last Tuesday evening. 

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The two-point win was another chapter in what is now becoming a great rivalry. Two years previously, it was Nenagh who took the laurels when winning the U13 grade by one point.

Newport played against the breeze in the first half, but playing into the road end, they were two points in front by the ninth minute after Bobby O’Connor and Darragh Healy were on target. Both those players played a pivotal part in the win.

Meanwhile, Nenagh enjoyed possession, and Fionn Tucker was a constant threat close to the Newport goal. 

The corner forward was denied when Newport goalkeeper Michael Coffey produced a fine save. However, play was called back for a close in free, which David Mullarkey scored. 

Helped by Newport’s tendency to foul very often, Nenagh continued to play on the front foot, and a move involving Cian Ryan, Fionn Tucker led to Adam Quigley finding the back of the net in the 13th minute giving them a two point advantage 1-1 to 0-2. 

Over the next ten minutes, both teams strung positive passages of play together, and with it the teams went score for score, beginning with a Bobby O’Connor point in the 17th minute, which saw Nenagh respond through the boot of Adam Quigley after an assist by Harry Coughlan. 

The response from Newport was instrumental in giving back the lead with three unanswered points, first through Healy from play, followed by two O’Connor frees to edge Newport 0-6 to 1-2 in front.

However, Nenagh managed a fightback and with sound work by the hard work defender Alex Monko, Cian Ryan and Aluan White they organised a number of good moves which led to David Mularkey winning a 29th minute penalty which Harry O’Gorman tucked away to see the light blues in front at the break 2-2 to 0-6. 

Ronan Quinn’s point after just thirty-two seconds had Nenagh three clear. JJ Roche’s adventurous solo run won a free for Newport, but Bobby O’Connor’s free was wide, while a quick turnaround by Nenagh saw Fionn Tucker increase Nenagh’s lead to four, and the second half was three minutes old.

Newport needed a response, and they wasted no time, but Bobby O’Connor was desperately unlucky to see his next pair of close-in frees come back off the upright with the Nenagh defence grateful to have the chance to clear. 

But it was Newport who were about to take hold of the game and the ability to win the opposition kickout, thus winning the odd mark thanks to the jumping ability of Darragh Healy. 

Rhys Guiney and Ronan O’Mahony picked up the crumbs. The work rate of the ever-present James Ryan was another factor, and he was fouled in the large square, which yielded a penalty that Bobby O’Connor scored. 

Nenagh hit back as Aluan White ventured forward, and after linking up with David Mularkey, it was Kirsters Janitens providing space for Harry O’Gorman to score. 

The excitement increased as Newport regrouped and James Ryan won a free with O’Connor converting in the 41st minute. One minute later, Newport were level 1-8 to 2-5 after Darragh Healy fired over a very good point. 

With strong play by Tom McCabe and Jack Casey in defence, Newport continued the pressure on the Nenagh goal, but the sky blue goalkeeper, Daniel O’Leary, saved at close range. A minute late,r Eibhin Darcy cleared off the line before O’Connor moved the Purple and Gold in front with his sixth point and third free. 

Nenagh responded with Harry Coughlan and Mularkey forcing a forty-five. The quick thinking Cian Ryan sent the placed ball to Adam Quigley, who equalised 2-6 to 1-9 and twelve remaining. Quigley was now his team’s top scorer on 1-2, but Nenagh would not score again until the 62nd minute. The workrate of Eoin O’Gorman, Noah Ryan Quinn, and Jack Landers did not go unnoticed. 

Meanwhile, the Newport attack moved with purpose, and two quick points by Darragh Healy and James Ryan gave them breathing space as the hour mark arrived. 

Yet, Nenagh replied, Fionn Tucker, after a move involving Janitens and Coughlan, won a free converted by Cian Ryan from close in and leaving the minimum between the teams. 

Excitement levels increased. The next score counted and it fell to Newport when scorer in chief Bobby O’Connor landed the winner in the 63rd minute. Referee Peter Carroll added another minute, but Newport held on. 

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Newport: Michael Coffey; James Egan, Rhys Guiney, Noah Ryan Quinn; Eoin O’Gorman, Tom McCabe, Jack Landers; Darragh Healy (0-4), Ronan O’Mahony; Andrew Coffey, Ryan Byrne (1-0), Jack Casey; James Ryan (0-1), Bobby O’Connor (0-7, 0-4f), JJ Roche. 

Subs used: Ben Maher for Roche (49); James Long for Byrne (55). 

Nenagh Eire Og: Daniel O’Leary; Paraic Sheedy, Alex Monko, Harry Walsh; Eibhin Darcy, Aluan White, Cian Ryan; Harry Coughlan, Ronan Quinn (0-1); Harry Bailey, Adam Quigley (1-3), Kirsten’s Janitens; David Mularkey (0-1f), Harry O’Gorman (1-1, 1-0 pen), Fionn Tucker (0-1).

Subs used: Robert O’Brien for Bailey (49); Karl Boland for O’Gorman (50).

Referee: Peter Carroll (Burgess)