Combo makes little of Nenagh Éire Óg to clinch North title with consumate ease!

North U19B Football Championship Final 

Moneygall/Clonakenny 6-10 

Nenagh Éire Óg 0-9

By Liam Hogan 

A much stronger Moneygall/Clonakenny pulled away in the second half to win the North U19B football title when defeating Nenagh Eire Og in the final at sun-soaked Kilcolman last Sunday at noon. 

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On an ideal day for football, the combination side were that bit too strong for a young Nenagh side and had the cushion of a 3-4 to 0-6 lead at half time despite playing against the breeze in stifling summer heat. When the sides changed ends, Moneygall kept their composure and never looked in danger before pulling away in the last quarter.  

If Nenagh Eire Og had any chance of staying in touch, they might have been much closer had they taken their goal chances in the first half, with Michael Ryan and Daniel Quinn spurning two goal chances with each taking a point when the goal seemed the easier option. 

However, Moneygall had the goal factor, and Tadgh Whyte, Eoghan Doughan, and Brian Toohey each raised a green flag to see them take a seven-point lead to the coolness of the dressing room, which was a sanctuary after playing football in thirty minutes of searing heat. 

Referee Pat O’Mahoney sensibly allowed a water break after fifteen minutes, and he repeated the deal midway through the second half.  

Nenagh managed to stay in touch throughout the third quarter, but after the second water break, the goals reappeared, starting with Tadgh Whyte's penalty before Cian Ryan and Sam Carey got in on the act with a green flag each, making sure of victory. 

Scorers for Moneygall/Clonakenny: Tadgh Whyte (2-4, 1-0 pen, 0-1f); Eoghan Doughan, Cian Ryan (1-1 each); Brian Toohey, Sam Carey 1-0 each; Cormac Hoolan (0-2, 1x2pt); Oisin O’Dwyer, Shay Gleeson both 0-1 each.

Scorers for Nenagh Eire Og: Michael McCloone (0-6, 0-5f); Michael Ryan (0-2, 0-1f), Daniel Quinn 0-1. 

Moneygall/Clonakenny: Paddy McCormack; Oisin Hayes, Adam O’Brien, Alex Gleeson; Dylan Sayers, Shay Gleeson, Timmy Cleary; Brian Toohy, Cormac Hoolan; Oisin O’Dwyer, Tadgh Whyte (Capt), Patrick Sheedy; Sam Carey, Cian Ryan, Eoghan Doughan. 

Subs used: Oisin Maxwell, Sean Ryan, Darragh Ryan, Jamie Keeshan, Keelan Ryan.    

Nenagh Éire Óg: Rhys Cottrell; Adam Boland, Jake Houlihan, Billy Crotty; Niall Connolly, Emmett Jones, Aodhan Tucker; Valtens Janitens, Eoin Garrigan; Eanna Tucker, Michael McCloone, Cian Clarke, Michael Ryan, Daniel Quinn, Brian Treacy. 

Subs used: Senan O’Farrell for Crotty; Michael Kennedy for Garrigan (inj); James Heffernan for Treacy; Daniel Moylan for Jones 

Referee: Pat O’Mahoney (Kiladangan)

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