Geary leads way as The Nire finish with flourish

THE NIRE lifted the Conway Cup for the ninth time at Fraher Field last night as they came good in the second half to see off Kilrossanty.

The Ballymacarbry men had a late scare however, as Pa Cunningham’s shot flew across the face of goal in the fifth minute of injury time.

In a tense final, The Nire registered six unanswered points either side of the break and kept Kilrossanty scoreless for 30 minutes.

Wing-back Darren Guiry was named man of the match while Thomas O’Gorman and Conor Gleeson also starred for the winners.

A nervy first quarter only produced a point apiece – Shane Walsh notched the opener for The Nire in the sixth minute before former Tipperary midfielder Martin Dunne was on target for the green and gold.

Paul Whyte edged Kilrossanty ahead from a free before Dunne then assisted his midfield partner Tommy Prendergast.

A Donie Fitzgerald run created a Pa Cunningham point on 29 minutes as Emmet Doherty’s Killrossanty side went three up.

But Darren Guiry slotted an injury-time free as The Nire trailed 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.

Jamie Barron and Gleeson then levelled matters within nine minutes of the restart.

And Guiry nailed two crucial scores to give The Nire a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Shane Ryan added one before he came off injured and then Whyte posted Kilrossanty’s first point of the second period on 56 minutes.

The underdogs couldn’t find the goal they needed to end a 29-year wait for county glory, while Nire midfielder Tholom Guiry was sent off at the death.