Thurles Sarsfields 1-18
Nenagh Eire Og 3-11
THURLES SARSFIELDS RETAINED the Tipperary SHC title as they edged out Nenagh Eire Og in a clash that went right down to the wire at Semple Stadium in Thurles this afternoon.
Lar Corbett’s 57th-minute point proved to be the difference as despite Daire Quinn cutting the margin to the minimum going into added time, Nenagh Eire Og couldn’t find another score as they lost in the final for the second time in three years.
Thurles’ success was built on a strong start and by the 20th minute they were nine points clear (1-10 to 0-4), with Conor Lanigan getting the goal, beating Nenagh goalkeeper Michael McNamara to the high ball to flick to the net.
With Corbett, Denis Maher and Aidan McCormack to the fore, Thurles were setting the tempo but Nenagh found their feet in the run up to half time, helped by Michael Heffernan moving to full forward. He was instrumental in the move that led to the 22nd-minute penalty which his brother Barry converted and two minutes later turned Michael Cahill inside out before firing to the corner of the net.
It helped cut the margin to two points at the break as the second half developed into a very cagey affair, with only one point in the first thirteen minutes of the second half. Points from Pa Bourke and two from Denis Maher looked to set Thurles on their way again with ten minutes to go, but Nenagh reeled them in again with Andrew Coffey availing of acres of space in behind the Thurles full-back line to score a 53rd-minute goal.
With the game in the melting pot, Thurles had the greater ability to get scores with Billy McCarthy and Lar Corbett coming up trumps to lead them to a record 34th county title.
Scorers for Thurles: Conor Lanigan 1-2; Denis Maher, Pa Bourke (3 frees, 1 65) 0-4 each; Aidan McCormack 0-3; Lar Corbett 0-2; Stephen Cahill, John Maher, Billy McCarthy 0-1 each.
Scorers for Nenagh: Michael Heffernan 1-4 (0-2 free); Andrew Coffey 1-1; Pearse Morris, James Mackey 0-2 each; Barry Heffernan 1-0 pen; Tommy Heffernan, Daire Quinn 0-1.
Thurles Sarsfields
1. Patrick McCormack
2. Michael Cahill
3. Stephen Maher
4. Kevin O’Gorman
5. David Kennedy
6. Padraic Maher
7. Ronan Maher
8. Stephen Cahill
10. John Maher
9. Billy McCarthy
15. Denis Maher
12. Aidan McCormack
13. Conor Lanigan
14. Lar Corbett
11. Pa Bourke
Subs:
20. Richie Ruth for Conor Lanigan (45)
18. David Maher for Kevin O’Gorman (47)
17. Tommy Doyle for Richie Ruth (60 inj).
Nenagh Eire Og
1. Michael McNamara
2. Mark Flannery
3. Noel Maloney
4. John Brennan
8. Conor Ryan
6. Hugh Maloney
5. Barry Heffernan
7. Daire Quinn
9. Michael Heffernan
14. Pearse Morris
11. Paddy Murphy
10. Andrew Coffey
20. Killian Gleeson
12. Tommy Heffernan
15. Shane Hennessy
Subs:
13. James Mackey for Shane Hennessy (29)
18. Billy Heffernan for Killian Gleeson (37)
21. Philip Hickey for Pearse Morris (57)
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams)