Ger Gavin North Tipperary Minor A Hurling Championship Final Nenagh Éire Óg 4-22 Toomevara 3-20 After Extra Time Nenagh Éire Óg made history on Sunday evening at MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan when winning the north Tipperary minor A hurling title for the seventh successive time -- previously Éire Óg (2007-12), Roscrea (1958-63) & Toomevara (1993-98) had won six in-a-row, but this latest victory for the Blues marks an unprecedented departure. The drama at MacDonagh Park in Cloughjordan was excruciating. Having trailed 0-7 to 0-9 at the interval Éire Óg stormed into a 2-13 0-11 lead with just then minutes to play. To their credit, however, Toomevara responded brilliantly and struck for an equalising goal in the fourth minute of injury time. The Greyhounds carried that momentum into extra-time and led 3-17 to 2-15, but the Blues responded in kind and powered their way to a famous win out-scoring Toome 2-7 to 0-3 during the remaining minutes of this frantic affair. The sides traded points early on before Toomevara, who were playing with the wind in the first half, scooted into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the 14th minute -- Killian Gleeson and Donnacha Quinn were responsible for the Éire Óg scores. Points from Donnacha Quinn and Philip Hickey dragged the Blues to within a point of Toome by the 18th minute (0-4 to 0-5) before the Greyhounds edged two points clear. The Blues responded, however, through Philip Hickey and Donnacha Quinn before 'keeper Brian Gubbins made a sensational save to deny Toome a certain goal in the 28th minute. Seconds later Gubbins saved once more at his near post. An Andrew Coffey point in the 30th minute levelled matters, but Toomevara closed out the opening half with two converted frees to lead 0-9 to 0-7 at the break. The sides traded points early in the second half before Éire Óg took the lead for the first time when Philip Hickey flicked in Andrew Coffey's delivery in the 36th minute -- 1-8 to 0-10. Within a minute of that strike Andrew Coffey buried a second Éire Óg goal and, suddenly, the Blues led by four -- 2-8 to 0-10. Anthony Walsh added a point, but Toomevara responded with a free to leave four between them (2-9 to 0-11). Éire Óg continued to pile on the pressure with points from John Cahalan, James Mackey (two) and Donnacha Quinn helping Éire Óg into a 2-13 to 0-11 lead by the 49th minute. Toomevara struck back with a goal of their own in the 50th minute and when the Greyhounds added a point to their tally there was just four in it -- 2-13 to 1-12. A Killian Gleeson point left five between them on the hour mark, but there was still time for Toomevara to convert a '65 and a free before Toome forced extra-time with a stunning goal in the 64th minute -- 2-14 apiece. A Philip Hickey point in the first minute of extra-time forced Éire Óg back into the lead, but Toomevara landed three points and what looked like a vital goal to race five points clear -- 3-17 to 2-15. In the eighth minute of extra-time a sensational Anthony Walsh goal lifted Éire Óg before points from James Mackey and John Cahalan levelled matters on the stroke of half-time in extra-time -- 3-17 apiece. Immediately after the break 'keeper Brian Gubbins made another telling save. Éire Óg counter-attacked and a James Mackey point helped the Blues back into the lead. A converted Toomevara '65 levelled matters before this final reached a critical juncture four minutes into the second half of extra-time -- Donnacha Quinn's long-range free dropped short and Christopher Ryan belted home the dropping ball (4-18 to 3-18). Éire Óg had already fired eighteen wides (Toomevara eight), but the Blues stormed toward the final whistle with points from Philip Hickey, Christopher Ryan (two) and Anthony Walsh propelling Nenagh to a famous win. Following referee Pat Gibson's final whistle competition sponsor Ger Gavin presented the Michael 'Spike' Nolan Cup to Nenagh Éire Óg captain Killian Gleeson and vice-captain Gary Howard. Nenagh Éire Óg: Brian Gubbins, Conor Ryan, Michael Collins, Ger O'Gorman, Aodhán Geaney, Barry Heffernan, Jack Molamphy, Andrew Coffey (1-1), James Mackey (0-5), Killian Gleeson (captain, 0-2), Donnacha Quinn (0-4), John Cahalan (0-2), Gary Howard, Philip Hickey (1-4), Anthony Walsh (1-2). Subs: Brian Flynn for Gary Howard, Christopher Ryan (1-2) for Ger O'Gorman. Panel members: Aaron Hogan, Aidan Healy, Gavin O'Connor, Oisín Ryan, Paul O'Leary, Jack Sheedy, Niall O'Gorman, Michael Hallinan, Luke Kennedy, Shane Hennessy, Brian Tuite, Peter O'Reilly, Adam Carey, Gerard Mitchell. Referee: Pat Gibson (Burgess). Éire Óg's path to this final: beat Newport Gaels 1-18 to 0-17; beat Borris-Ileigh 2-19 to 1-11; lost to Roscrea 1-17 to 2-17; beat Toomevara 3-13 to 2-12, received a walk-over from Kilruane MacDonagh's; beat Kildangan 2-23 to 5-7; beat Borris-Ileigh in the semi-finals 1-20 to 1-9.

• published: 24 Oct 2013
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