All-Ireland Colleges Senior Hurling ‘A’ Semi-Final – Nenagh CBS 0-17 St.Kierans College 0-14

Forde helps Nenagh forget heartache

Report from the Irish Independent newspaper

Nenagh CBS 0-17 St Kieran’s 0-14

NENAGH CBS bounced back from their Harty Cup final heartbreak to send holders St Kieran’s crashing out at the Ragg. Former Tipperary minor star Jason Forde rattled over 14 points, including 12 frees, as the Tipperary outfit produced the perfect response following their defeat to Colaiste na nDeise in the Munster decider. Nenagh coach Donagh O’Donnell reflected: “We sat down after the Harty and talked about it. We talked about how we never performed that day and with the courage and the commitment that they have, they shouldn’t let this opportunity slip. They refocused, got themselves back on the horse and they’re now in an All-Ireland final.”

St Kieran’s, who were level at 0-7 apiece at half-time, lost centre-back Emmet Byrne to a controversial straight red card with four minutes remaining. Prior to Byrne’s sending-off, Nenagh led by just a point, 0-13 to 0-12, but found an extra gear in the closing minutes as Paudie Fogarty came off the bench to score two points from play. Forde was his side’s sole scorer in the first half with seven frees. It was a half that produced just two points from play, scored by St Kieran’s pair Michael Donnelly and Ciaran Prendergast, but the quality of hurling was good as Nenagh brought a ferocious intensity to proceedings. Forde was the talisman, but there were superb performances all over the field from Nenagh, with Eddie Hynes, Jack Loughnane, Stephen O’Brien and Killian Gleeson particularly good.

Scorers — Nenagh CBS: J Forde 0-14 (12f), P Fogarty 0-2, K Gleeson 0-1.St Kieran’s: A Cleere 0-8f, M Donnelly 0-4 (2f), C Prendergast, J Maher 0-1 each.

NENAGH CBS — W Power; D Quinn, K Gubbins, S Cleary; E Hynes, J Flaherty, D Peters; S Geaney, J Loughnane; S O’Brien, J Mackey, K Gleeson; T Gallagher, J Forde, C Delaney. Sub: P Fogarty for Delaney (42).

ST KIERAN’S — N Kehoe; R O’Hanrahan, R Lennon, D Hennessy; E Morrissey, E Byrne, C Wafer; M Donnelly, J McGrath; D Cody, P Kenneally, A Cleere; C Bolger, T O’Hanrahan, C Prendergast. Subs: D Burke for Bolger (49), J Maher for Hennessy (49).

Ref — A Stapleton (Laois)