Ninth Title in Quarter of a Century for The Nire

Having won their first County Senior Football Crown beating Dungarvan in a never to be forgotten day at Cappoquin in 1993, The Nire marked the silver jubilee of that win yesterday evening at Fraher Field when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Kilrossanty side with two points to spare at the end of the hour.

Kilrossanty had not won a title at this grade since they beat The Nire in the 1989 final at the same venue, meaning their wait for their 16^th title now goes on for at least one more year, but they will know that this is something that will be put to right sooner rather than later.

2454 paying patrons passed through the turn styles for this game despite the 6pm throw in for a single game played on what was a cold night under the lights and there was few if any of this sizeable attendance which surly is the largest to attend a final in recent years as the outcome of this game was in doubt right to the final whistle despite both sides having their period of dominance.

Scores were hard won in this game where both defences were on top. It looked as if Kilrossanty were going to be dealt a huge blow and maybe have their hopes dashed on the quarter of an hour mark when they lost full back Paul Keating with what looked to be a nasty arm injury when he bravely put his body in the line blocking down what proved to be a rare goal scoring opportunity in this game as Conor Gleeson bore down on the Kilrossanty goal at the country end of the ground.

But the Kilrossanty management team had the resources with reshape their team bringing Stephen Prendergast one of the most versatile footballers in the county from centre forward to full back a position that he has played in many times since he first pulled on a Kilrossanty shirt playing underage football over two decades ago and sent Jack Whyte into attack.

 While it was the winners that were first to score in this game, Kilrossanty proved to be the better of the two sides in the opening half turning around with a 0-5 to 0-3 lead showing on the scoreboard as the sides headed to the dressing rooms at the break and they will be wondering had they not taken 12 minutes to score in this game and then to go from the 28 minute of the first half to the 56 minute of the game without scoring what the story might be at the end of the night.

Shane Walsh who had a quiet game by his standards on occasions like this opened the scoring on five minutes but his side had to wait another seventeen minutes for their next score even if they were creating chances in between.

At the other end once Martin Dunne had split The Nire uprights on twelve minutes the side in green and gold began to get on top in this game.

Paul Whyte who earlier this year looked as if he would never play for club or county again kicked the first of his four scores shortly after his side lost Paul Keating at the other end.

Six minutes later Tommy Prendergast kicked a delightful score from out on the left hand side of the field as his side attacked the town end of the ground with the aid of the crossbar after the size 5 bounced on the metal work over the head of Diarmuid Murphy.

Shane Ryan who missed some of this years championship but who was back in the team in recent weeks split the posts from a free on 22 minutes, but Paul Whyte with the score of the game, a huge free hit between five and ten metres outside The Nire 45 metre line, out of his hands put some two between the sides once more and when Patrick Cunningham followed up with a score from play four minutes later things were looking very good for Kilrossanty.

However, The Nire gave themselves a boost heading to the dressing rooms when Man of the Match Darren Guiry put over a free in added time at the end of the opening thirty minutes to leave just two between the sides at the interval.

The Town end goal at Fraher Field is often perceived to be the scoring goal and playing into it in the second thirty minutes of this game, The Nire were always on top.

All-Star hurler Jamie Barron kicked the opening score of the second half two minutes after the restart and when fellow inter county hurler Conor Gleeson followed up six minutes later the sides were level.

The next score was now going to be crucial and even through The Nire had to wait another eight minutes for it, it went their way as Darren Guiry with his left leg put over his second score of the evening to give his side the lead for the second time in this game and the same player two minutes later repeated the trick when his side were awarded what appeared to be a harsh free against Mark Prendergast which was moved into a much more scoreable position by referee Alan Kissane for descent.

It was at this stage that both sides began to send for reinforcements, introducing fresh legs and maybe fresh ideas and instructions from the team mentors onto the field of play.

With six minutes remaining Shane Ryan put over a free for his side but it was his last act of the game as he was immediately withdrawn by the Nire mentors having picked up an injury moments earlier and indicating that he was not in a position to continue in this game.

Paul Whyte ended almost half an hour without a score for Kilrossanty putting over a free four minutes short of the hour mark but it was followed with an effort from Shane Walsh one minute from time to leave three between the sides.

In the added time at the end of this game pilled on the pressure at the Country end of the ground but The Nire were prepared to do what they had too to keep their opponents at bay.

Paul Whyte struck his fourth of the game a minute into stoppage time and his side continued to mount pressure on The Nire who drew bodies behind the ball in a bid to keep the Kilrossanty attackers out.

Tholom Guiry was even prepared to take a second yellow card, one of eight handed out in this game to keep Kilrossanty out.

The Nire’s dogged defending as this game wore on paid off as they held out for a two point win to win their ninth title in 25 years and now got on to play Limerick side Adare at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday afternoon next in the Munster Club Championship, a game that they will feel that they can advance to the next phase of the competition from. 

 The Nire: Diarmuid Murphy; David Meehan, Thomas O’Gorman, Michael Moore; James McGrath, Tom Barron, Darren Guiry; Tholom Guiry, Craig Guiry; Jamie Barron, Dylan Guiry, Dermot Ryan; Shane Ryan, Conor Gleeson, Shane Walsh.

Subs: Ciaran Walsh for Dermot Ryan (52) Shane O’Meara for Shane Ryan (53), Conal Mulcahy for Craig Guiry (59).

Scorers: Darren Guiry 0-3 (3F), Shane Walsh, Shane Ryan (2F) 0-2 each, Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson 0-1 each.

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Niall Walsh, Paul Keating, Mark Prendergast; James Whyte, Patrick Whyte, Barry Prendergast; Tommy Prendergast, Martin Dunne; Patrick Cunningham, Stephen Prendergast, Conor Hayes; Donal Fitzgerald, Paul Whyte; Joey Veale.

Subs: Jack Whyte for Paul Keating (15), Michael Walsh for Donal Fitzgerald (53) and Alan Quinn for Jack Whyte (61).

Scorers: Paul Whyte 0-4 (4F), Tommy Prendergast, Martin Dunne, Patrick Cunningham 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane