RESILIENT NENAGH ÉIRE ÓG PULL OFF THRILLING VICTORY IN UNDER-21 NORTH FINAL SUNDAY, JANUARY 10TH 2016 WALSH’S OF NENAGH NORTH TIPPERARY UNDER-21A HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 2015 NENAGH ÉIRE ÓG 1-18 KILDANGAN 3-11 SPRING 2016 IS HERE! IN THIS SPECIAL EASTER EDITION WE BRING YOU UP TO DATE WITH SOME OF OUR SPRING EVENTS AND SEND YOU BACK IN TIME TO REMEMBER OUR LOCAL HERO OF THE 1916 RISING THOMAS MACDONAGH, THE TEACHER, POET AND PATRIOT FOR WHOM OUR GROUNDS ARE NAMED. On Sunday J an 10th Nenagh Eire Óg goal. The goal ended a long wait at this age for a lifted divisional final when the team Kildangan’s staged an amazing comeback to spirits and seal a memorable victory over a Gallagher and gallant and superb Kildangan side Johnny Horan who had deservedly went in at the both pointed break seven points to the good to extend having led by nine at one stage. their lead. Andrew John Cahalan opened the scoring Coffey, who with a fine long range effort prior to was Nenagh’s the excellent Jack Loughnane best player levelling the sides and before Dan O throughout, Meara sent a blistering shot into the pointed to corner of Daire Gleeson’s goal. A briefly stem pointed Shane Hennessy free and a the Kildangan fine Andrew Coffey effort reduced tide but full the margin to one but it was to be forward Paul the closest Nenagh came to their Flynn found opponents during the opening half the unmarked hour. Ciaran Kelly and blasted Tadhg Gallagher and Loughnane home their both pointed to open the margin to third goal and a goal before James Mackey hit extend the back with one of his own. Kildangan lead to nine then benefitted from the blinding points. Few, if any in the large hope at the interval and with winters sun shining into the old crowd could see any way back for Kildangan getting one of their own, scoreboard end when Jack the Blues’ at this stage. left seven between the sides at the Loughnane’s long range effort break. deceived the unfortunate Daire Points from Coffey, Mackey and Gleeson for the champions second Hennessy did offer the town side THAT WINNING FEELING! CONOR RYAN AFTER THE HARD-FOUGHT AND HARD-WON UNDER-21 NORTH FINAL If Nenagh were to have any hope of a come- back it was vital that they get the first score of the second half but it was their opponents who struck first through Andrew Loughnane. Hennessy pointed well from a placed ball before scoring another in-between two fine efforts from Andrew Loughnane and Paul Flynn to leave eight between them in the 36th minute. This Nenagh team have won a lot of championship honours through the age groups and have a resilience that was to stand to them for the minutes of normal time remaining 2), Andrew Coffey (0-6), Philip remainder of the game. At no stage Philip Hickey doubled the margin Hickey (0-1), John Cahalan (0-1), did they panic or start going for much to the delight of their large Gary Howard (1-1), Shane goals, instead they maturely kept and vocal supporters. Hennessy (0-6, 0-4 frees), Aidan picking off their points to get Kildangan did not go down easy and Healy. Subs: (38th) Bob O’Brien (0- themselves back into contention. fought to the bitter end. Flynn 1) for John Cahalan, (39th) Adam Shane Hennessy, Andrew Coffey, reduced the margin to one and the Carey for Aidan Healy, (56th) Gary Howard and super substitute Christopher Ryan for Killian Bob O Brien all pointed to reduce Nenagh backs were under severe Gleeson, (62nd) Killian Gleeson for the margin to five, 0-14 to 3-10. pressure but their discipline and Christopher Ryan. determination held firm and time Kildangan were dealt a massive and again they cleared. Kildangan: Barry Hogan, Darragh blow at this point when Tadhg Molloy, Alan Flynn, Jim Minehan, Gallagher, arguable their best There was more drama in the 65th James Quigley, Johnny Horan (0-1), player up to this stage, left the field minute when referee Kieran Delaney Declan McGrath, Jack Loughnane with an injury and three minutes awarded Kildangan a free 30 meters (1-3), Tadhg Gallagher (captain, 0- later they received another sucker from goal. With their main free 2, 0-1 frees), Darren Moran, Dan punch with a brilliant Gary Howard taker side-lined Barry Hogan was O’Meara (1-0), Andrew Loughnane goal following great work from summoned from the goal but his (0-2), Ciarán Kelly (1-0), Paul Flynn captain Barry Heffernan. effort went agonizingly wide. (0-2), Tom McLoughlin. Subs: (43rd) Darren Ryan for Tadhg Two more points from Hennessy Shortly after Delaney signalled full Gallagher, (52nd) Cathal Hayes for and Coffey levelled the sides and it time much to the delight of players Ciarán Kelly. appeared as if Nenagh were about and fans of the Blues. to, remarkably, pull this game out Referee: Kieran Delaney of the fire. Nenagh Éire Óg: Darragh Gleeson, (Toomevara). Gavin O’Connor, Michael Collins, Ger Six minutes from the end Andrew O’Gorman, Conor Ryan, Adam Coffey, from a tight angle, gave the Gratton, Barry Heffernan (captain), Blues’ the lead and with two Killian Gleeson, James Mackey (0- GAA HEALTHY CLUB PROJECT TALK ON SUBSTANCE AWARENESS WITH TIPP LEGEND JOHN LEAHY TIPP STARS JOHN LEAHY WITH OUR OWN CONOR O’DONOVAN ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY intermittently until 1996 when it drinking and has been sober ever 20TH, THE CLUB, AS PART OF began to take over his life. since. While John had a stellar THE HEALTHY CLUB career, he regretfully told us that INITIATIVE, WE WERE It was in January of that year that due to alcohol he felt never reached his full potential and had he never HONOURED TO HOST he had his road to Damascus moment while sitting in a cell in drank, his glittering career could TIPPERARY HURLING LEGEND Manchester following a well- have been so more. JOHN LEAHY documented incident. It was then who treated the attendees to an that “the penny dropped” that every John also gave very practical and informative, eye opening account on time John got into trouble, drink frightening information to all about substance abuse and the effect his was involved. the dangers and prevalence of drugs relationship with alcohol had on his and alcohol in our society. Heroin career. With great support from friends, was once considered to be solely an John, a three times All-Ireland colleagues and others who had inner city problem in Dublin and winner, spoke openly about how he found themselves in similar sadly today it is available in every first started drinking at 13 years of situations, John successfully quit parish in the country. He focused a age and continued drinking lot on the problem of cannabis. young age pointing out how their He spoke about the current team There are many misconceptions brains are still developing and drugs and feels that we will be “there or surrounding the drug and a can stilt this development. Drugs there abouts” when the destination perception that it is a safe drug affect the decision making part of of the Liam McCarthy cup is decided which does not cause any problems. the brain leading young people to in September, citing the current half John blew this myth out of the make unwise choices when under back line as the bedrock on which water pointing out how it “plays the influence and even in the days Michael Ryan’s charges can launch with peoples’ mental health” and after. their attack in 2016. All in all it was leads to conditions such as a tremendous night, informative, schizophrenia and psychosis. Towards the end of the night he eye opening and inspiring for those answered many interesting and who attended. Scarily in the last 15 years the varied questions and revealed that strength of the drug has increased he believes Kilkenny’s TJ Reid is the The club wish to thank that other fourfold and today makes users four best hurler in the country at the Tipp hurling legend, our own Conor times more “aggressive”. Former moment and growing up, Nicky O’ Donovan and the Healthy Club users of the drug are still in danger English was his idol. He once went Project for organising the talk and of suffering from a cannabis seizure to Waterford to watch Nicky hurl, as John Leahy himself for giving of his fifteen years after they last took it. he was playing wing forward, the time and knowledge to an The many teenagers in attendance same position that John became appreciative audience. and their parents heard about the synonymous with, so he could study dangers of substance abuse at a his movements and learn from him. THE ÓGRES ARE BACK! Ógres everywhere! Thank you to the wonderful young stars of our month long 'Nenagh Éire Ógres GAA For Beginners Camp' which finished on the last Saturday in February. The kids were presented with camp training tops to help them start their hurling careers in the coming weeks. This programme couldn't have worked without the super trainers who seemed to be born to the job! You made a lot of children very happy. Thank you also to the family members and especially the little brothers and sisters who turned the committee room into the best Coffee Shop in town. We are alrea dy looking forward to next year! THOMAS MACDONAGH SIGNATORY OF THE 1916 PROCLAMATION championship medal In September 1942 MacDonagh won in the north Park was opened on St Conlon’s division should Road and the choice of name was a contain a bust of foregone conclusion.