*Mark McInerney lines up a shot for Éire Óg. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
ÉIRE ÓG are through to a fourth Munster club semi-final five years with Mark McInerney kicking 0-16 as they eliminated Waterford champions Rathgormack.
Éire Óg 0-20
Rathgormack 1-13
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
Without setting the world alight, Éire Óg got the job done to seal a return to the penultimate stage of the club provincial championship for the second year running.
Led by Mark McInerney who kicked 0-16 and cleared a ball off the line in the dying stages of the opening half, the Ennis side eventually shook off the visitors, outscoring them 0-7 0-2 in the final quarter of the tie.
Contrasting preparations for the clash were evident, Éire Óg were without a championship game in four weeks and they were somewhat rusty, similar to their Clare SFC quarter-final victory over St Joseph’s Miltown when they took their time moving through the gears after a month lay-off.
On the flipside, Rathgormack had been on go for three weeks on the bounce and they were quicker to adapt to championship intensity but were not as fresh as Éire Óg when it came to the final furlong.
McInerney was the best player on the pitch, kicking for fun off either boot. He was afforded far too much space by the Rathgormack defence, it took them until the twenty second minute to change his marker, by which stage he had 0-7 scored. There was also a focus from his teammates to occupy the opposing backline by pushing into the danger area leaving them with little option but to follow them rather than crowding the section where McInerney was cropping up.
He opened the scoring with a converted two pointer free and accounted for all but one of Éire Óg’s 0-12 half-time tally, Ikem Ugwueru stepping up with a fisted effort in what was their last score of the half.
Chances were green flags were spurned in the first half by the winners. McInerney came close on the eleventh minute, Luke Pyne was denied by a Pádraig Hunt save on fourteen minutes and the netminder stopped a Manus Doherty attempt five minutes later. Ciaran Russell was also denied a major on twenty six minutes with the upright denying him a point earlier in the game.
Making the Éire Óg supporters nervous was the manner in which Rathgormack punished those missed chances. Within thirty seconds of Pyne’s shot getting saved, they stuck the ball in the goal at the other end of the field. The ball was put in the path of James Power, he popped to Stephen Curry who rounded Cian Howard and fired to the net. This goal put them ahead for the first time only for McInerney to reply with the next three points.
After Russell’s shot was stopped, Rathgormack replied with a well-taken Billy Power score when they worked the ball upfield. Crucially, this score was only their first since Curry’s major, Kenny Hassett’s side failing to build momentum after such a big score. Ugwueru and Conor Murray traded scores in between McInerney’s goal-line save to leave it 0-12 1-6 in favour of the hosts at the interval.
Within five minutes of the restart, Rathgormack thirteen-time SFC champions in Waterford, reduced the deficit to a single point with Murray and Jason Curry on target. Darren O’Brien aided by contributions from Russell and Ikem then swapped scores with substitute Seán Hahessy.
After losing the break from a kickout, Éire Óg conceded a two pointer to Jason Curry which put Rathgormack in the lead for only the second time in the game. Once again, they failed to capitalise on nudging in front and conceded four points without reply, Pyne and Dean Ryan getting their names on the scoresheet.
James Power stepped up with a two pointer for Rathgormack, narrowing the gap to a single point with fifty seven minutes played but they didn’t add to their tally from here while the majestic McInerney stepped up with another 0-3 to send Éire Óg on their way. Substitute Niall McMahon also made an essential block to stop Rathgormack from nabbing a late goal.
Munster club has yet to see the best of the Éire Óg but the challenge for Shane Daniels and his management is to produce a big display in this competition. They were far from their best on this occasion but still prevailed which is a big plus. Colm Walsh O’Loghlen’s absence from attack is sorely felt and more prepared opposition could hurt the Townies by focusing on completely nullifying the threat of McInerney who will need more assistance on the scoring front for further success to be achieved.
Along with McInerney, Aaron Fitzgerald and Ciaran Russell once again showed immense leadership and stood up at big moments with turnovers and powering runs. Dean Ryan was also very consistent over the hour.
Scorers Éire Óg: M McInerney (0-16 2TP 2TPf, 3f), I Ugwueru (0-1), D O’Brien (0-1), L Pyne (0-1), D Ryan (0-1).
Scorers Rathgormack: S Curry (1-1), J Curry (0-5 1TP 2f), C Murray (0-3), J Power (0-2 1TP), S Hahessy (0-1), B Power (0-1).
Éire Óg:
1: Cian Howard
4: Dean Ryan
3: Aaron Fitzgerald
6: Gavin D’Auria
5: Ciaran Russell
7: Manus Doherty
10: Ronan Lanigan
8: David McNamara
9: Darren O’Brien
12: Oran Cahill
11: Gavin Murray
2: Darren Moroney
14: Ikem Ugwueru
15: Mark McInerney
13: Luke Pyne
Subs:
21: Jarlath Collins for Cahill (43)
20: Aidan McGrath for Murray (52)
18: Jack Joyce for Moroney (55)
19: Niall McMahon for O’Brien (60)
Rathgormack:
1: Pádraig Hunt
18: Liam Mulligan
20: Mairtín Power
4: Willie Hahessy
5: Glen Power
8: James Power
7: Cathal Crowch
9: Michael Curry
6: Tom Walsh
11: Peter Walsh
15: Conor Murray
12: Jason Curry
10: Francis Roche
14: Stephen Curry
13: Billy Power
Subs:
2: Seán Hahessy for Crowch (HT)
19: Reece O’Mahony for Roche (41)
3: Ger Hahessy for G Power (46)
Referee: David Murnane (Cork)
