Pádraic Maher content after Thurles pass step-up test

Tipperary SHC quarter-final: Thurles Sarsfields 0-29 Nenagh Éire Óg 1-19 It’s been thrown at Thurles Sarsfields that they are yet untested and this latest result won’t arrest those claims as they passed this quarter-final examination with relative ease. Manager Pádraic Maher won't consider 29 points from over 50 scoring opportunities the kind of conversion rate that is going to win the Dan Breen Cup even though it might well be a winning total. The 2023 runners-up were far too strong for Nenagh Éire Óg and were only momentarily spooked by their opponents’ late goal because things had come so easy for them in the second half.

Midfielder Stephen Cahill hit five points from play and Liam McCormack and Conor Purcell each contributed four as they surged into an eight-point lead halfway through the second half. That scare from Nenagh Éire Óg was a rally of 1-2. Substitute Adam Healy’s goal came in the 52nd minute but they never capitalised.



Pa Bourke, Thurles' 36-year-old veteran, came off the bench to pick off a couple of frees and more points followed from Michael Purcell, Conor Stakelum and the superb Cahill to put the gloss on a handsome win. “I thought that was a good test there today and we didn’t expect any different from Nenagh,” said Maher. “Nenagh came back at us and it was very close in the first half.

“People are saying we weren’t tested but going through our club group and Roscrea are coming through with flying colours and you saw what Moycarkey-Borris did (to Kiladangan). But again today was a step up for us without a doubt and thankfully the boys came through.” Nenagh Éire Óg were up and running with the first two points of the game but they were then hit with Thurles’ first four-point blitz of the half, all of Sarsfields’ scores coming from play.

The space Thurles were making for themselves was gifting them chance after chance although they struck seven wides in the opening half and hit another eight thereafter. Nenagh just seemed to be too reactionary and suffered as a result. Nenagh did go ahead twice in the middle of the half, the second time courtesy of a Jake Morris wonder point from the sideline, and Denis Maher and Patrick McCormack had to keep out Ben West and Philip Hickey goal attempts in quick succession in the 15th minute.

However, the second quarter belonged to Maher’s side. Twice, Thurles went a point ahead between the 16th and 19th minutes. When the tricky Liam McCormack sent over his second point in the 21st minute, his teammates followed it with three more, two from Cahill who was thriving as he roamed for possession.

The Heffernans, Michael and Tommy, softened the blow with a couple of points at the other end but Thurles were continuing to apply pressure and Aidan McCormack finished the half with a couple of converted frees. For Nenagh to have a chance, Morris needed to be as influential as in previous championship outings this year but Paul Maher and a supporting cast of Thurles defenders kept a tight rein on him. Afterwards, Maher beamed at mention of his old team-mate Bourke making a telling contribution after Nenagh’s goal.

“Pa is so talented. He’s had a tough few years with illness so it was great to have him back this year even among the younger crew – they love him. They enjoy his character and the craic he brings to the group.

“In fairness to him, we didn’t put him in there today just because of who he is. He’s shown in the few premier intermediate games he has played and we had to make a hard call not to play him for them yesterday because we want to keep him somewhat fresh for today. He’s been hurling well, he’s great experience and he’s an option there for us.

” Scorers for Thurles Sarsfields: S. Cahill (0-5); A. McCormack (3 frees, 1 65), L.

McCormack, E. Purcell (0-4 each); D. Stakelum (0-3); P.

Creedon, P. Bourke (frees), C. Stakelum (0-2 each); C.

Moloney, S. Butler, M. Purcell (0-1 each).

Scorers for Nenagh Éire Óg: M. Heffernan (0-8, 7 frees); T. Heffernan (0-4); S.

O’Farrell (0-3); A. Healy (1-0); J. Morris (0-2); C.

Ryan, B. Heffernan (0-1 each). THURLES SARSFIELDS: P.

McCormack; D. Maher, P. Maher, S.

Maher; J. Armstrong, R. Maher (j-c), Cian Stakelum; C.

Maloney, Conor Stakelum; S. Cahill, A. McCormack (j-c), D.

Stakelum; P. Creedon, L. McCormack, E.

Purcell. Subs for Thurles Sarsfields : P. Bourke for P.

Creedon (51); S. Butler for A. McCormack (52); D.

Corbett for L. McCormack (56); M. Purcell for S.

Maher (58); K. Costello for Cian Stakelum (60). NENAGH ÉIRE ÓG: D.

McTiernan; M. Carey, C. McCarthy, C.

Ryan; C. Hennessy, P. Murphy, B.

Heffernan; M. Cawley, J. Mackey; S.

O’Farrell, T. Heffernan, M. Heffernan; B.

West, J. Morris (c), J. Keller.

Subs for Nenagh Éire Óg: F. McIntyre for C. McCarthy (inj 24); A.

Healy for B. West (44); C. Crowley for J.

Keller (52). Referee: C. Doyle (Silvermines).

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