Champions Commercials eventually see off stubborn Rovers after extra-time
South Tipperary Under 21 A Football Championship Semi-Final:
CLONMEL COMMERCIALS 2-19 MOYLE ROVERS 2-12 (after extra-time)
Reigning county champions Clonmel Commercials had to overcome a dogged challenge from arch-rivals Moyle Rovers, which included extra-time, in a thoroughly entertaining South Under 21 A Football Championship Semi-Final played under floodlights at Duneske, Cahir, on Wednesday night.
Five points up at the interval, 0-11 to 1-3, after a commanding first 30 minutes, the town side looked well on their way to the final. However, a storming second half from Moyle Rovers, themselves county champions at Under 21 B last year, saw them equalise with a 62nd minute free from Dean English to force the game into extra-time, 0-16 to 2-10.
A minute into the opening period of extra-time Rovers took the lead for the first – and only – time with a point from counter-attacking corner-back Ronan Walsh. But having waited so long for that advantage it was mercilessly wiped clean within a mere 30 seconds with the game’s decisive score, a goal, from Peter McGarry who ran unopposed from midway to superbly ram the ball low into the corner of the Rovers’ net.
Commercials’ only other score in the first period of extra-time was their second goal, this time a penalty scored by Cian Smith. In a well-constructed build-up, Creed supplied the final pass to Darragh Landers who was hauled down by Rory Collins and from the resultant penalty, Smith’s left-footed rocket found the top corner of the net. The goal, with the last kick of the half, was a double whammy for Rovers as Collins’s black card effectively ruled him out for the entirety of the second period of extra-time.
In that second half of extra-time Commercials controlled matters, and while Dean English opened the scoring with a free, the Danny Madigan managed Commercials finished the game with the last three points, all coming from captain Cian Smith. Now seeking three-in-row of divisional titles at this grade, Clonmel Commercials advance to play either Kilsheelan/Kilcash or Fethard in the final.
A lively opening five minutes of play left Commercials 0-3 to 0-2 ahead. Peter McGarry and Alex Creed with points inside 90 seconds, answered by a Rory Collins free for Rovers from 45 metres. A powerful run through the middle by Michael Connellan set up Niall Deely for a point for Commercials, quickly replied to by a Dean English point after a great run in from the left wing by Cathal O’Gorman.
Killian Butler, who put in a massive game all evening for Rovers, levelled matters in the 10th minute, capitalising on a turnover around midfield to come through and point.
Commercials then hit a purple patch and over the next 12 minutes bossed matters and scored six points without reply from Joe Higgins (2, one free), Alex Creed (3, 1 mark) and Peter McGarry – Joe Higgins, Darragh O’Connor and Tadhg Sheehan getting on top around the middle during this period.
Just when things were beginning to slip for Rovers they bounced back with a goal, somewhat against the run of play, in the 22nd minute when a delivery into the goal area by Daire Luttrell was met by Harry O’Keeffe who got up highest to touch the ball home beyond the Commercials’ keeper.
Commercials responded well to that setback finishing the half with two excellent points, from Cian Smith, after a pin-point pass from Rory O’Dowd, and a trademark bombing counter-attacking point from corner-back Thomas Charles.
At the break Commercials were definitely in the driving seat five points up at 0-11 to 1-3.
The third quarter was pretty much tit-for-tat with Rovers reducing the deficit to just three points by the 45th minute.
Two early second half points for Moyle Rovers from Dean English and a Daire Luttrell mark, were checked by a Niall Deely 34th minute point for Commercials after a length-of-the-field move.
Hard-working corner-back Ronan Walsh was twice involved in a move for Rovers before finishing it with a deserved point in the 35th minute. But Commercials were responding well each time, Cian Smith getting free to score six minutes in, keeping his side 0-13 to 1-6 ahead.
Paddy O’Keeffe, while playing the advantage rule, saw a low drive just go on the wrong side of the upright, with Dean English tagging on the free. It was a warning that Rovers were very capable if given opportunities.
Declan Nee and Paddy O’Keeffe then traded points, and midway through the second half, Commercials were still three to the good at 0-14 to 1-8, and soon it was four after Cian Smith added a free off his trusty left.
Twelve minutes from time the game was right back in the melting pot when Paudie Ryan, not long on as a sub, goalled for the Rovers, after finishing off a fine move by burying Dean English’s final pass.
Fired up now, both sides attacked and defended as if their lives depended on it, space now at a real premium for forwards. Five minutes from time Peter McGarry burst through the line and edged his side two ahead with a good individual score.
But Rovers weren’t backing off their rivals and their spirit was best epitomised, not once but twice by the admirable determination of Killian Butler late on. Twice he shifted heavy tackles from Commercials players – the second resulting in a black card for Rory O’Dowd, before Butler himself, somewhat frustrated with his treatment, was black carded for a challenge on a Commercials player. In the closing minutes, both sides were playing with 14 men, which significantly, would carry over into extra-time.
With a minute of normal time remaining a Dean English free reduced the deficit to the minimum and the same player repeated the dose two minutes into added-time after Jake Forristal’s industry had won the free for Moyle Rovers.
At full-time the sides were inseparable at 0-16 to 2-6.
While Ronan Walsh, at the second bite of the cherry, kicked the lead point for Rovers in the first minute after the resumption, McGarry’s emphatic response for Commercials with that superb individual goal was crucial. The coup de grace arrived at the other end of the half, captain Cian Smith burying the penalty, and Rovers hopes when Rory Collins’ black card following.
Again at the start of the second period Rovers were first to score within a minute with another Dean English free but that was it for them, the last three scores of the game all by Cian Smith, one from play, a free and a mark.
Clonmel Commercials:
Shane Ryan, Ross Slattery, Mark Corcoran, Thomas Charles (0-1), Rory O’Dowd, Tadhg Sheehan, Michael Connellan, Darragh O’Connor, Joe Higgins (0-2, 0-1F), Oisin Forristal, Peter McGarry (1-3), Niall Deely (0-2), Alex Creed (0-5), Cian Smith (capt., 1-5, 0-1F), Declan Nix (0-1).
Subs: Darragh Landers for Forristal (40 mins); James Power for Nee (45 mins); Eoghan Walsh for Deely (30+2 mins); Declan Nee for Creed (in extra-time).
Moyle Rovers:
Peter Boland, Ronan Walsh (0-2), Liam Maher, Joseph Commins, Harry O’Keeffe (1-0), Shane Ryan (capt.), Cian O’Flaherty, Rory Collins (0-1), Killian Butler, Darragh Walsh, Paddy O’Keeffe (0-2), Cathal O’Gorman, Dean English (0-6, 0-4F), Jake Forristal, Daire Luttrell (0-1 mark).
Subs: Conor O’Gorman for Walsh (40 mins); Paudie Ryan (1-0) for Luttrell (43 mins); Cianan Power for Cathal O’Gorman; Cathal O’Gorman for O’Flaherty (in extra-time); Ben O’Donovan for Walsh (in extra-time);
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan).