Clonmel Óg edge out Knockmealdown Gaels in excellent South final
South Tipperary Under 19 ‘B’ Football Final
CLONMEL OG 4-9 KNOCKMEALDOWN GAELS 1-15
Hats off to the young footballers of both Clonmel Óg and Knockmealdown Gaels who served up a cracking contest in the final of the South Tipperary U19 ‘B’ Championship under floodlights at Duneske, Cahir on Wednesday night. Victory in the end deservedly went to the town side who defiantly held off a strong second half rally from the Fr Sheehy’s/Ballylooby combination to capture the title.
Seven points up at half-time thanks to three goals, the Ned Hall Park side saw their advantage reduced to the minimum with 10 minutes to go. With the game back in the proverbial melting pot, ‘The Óg’ produced a superb goal scored by Max Ryan in the 56th minute to regain the initiative and thereafter held out for the win to scenes of great celebrations at the final whistle.
From the get-go this was a thoroughly enjoyable encounter, both sides up for the challenge and playing quick counter-attacking football at every opportunity. The Gaels were on the scoreboard after just 22 seconds with a point from Cathal English and doubled that lead inside 90 seconds with a Ben Carey free.
The ubiquitous midfielder Julian Kerton settled Clonmel Óg with a point in the third minute but Knockmealdown Gaels soon stretched their lead to three with a fine point from Ben Carey and another Cathal English free.
Clonmel Óg’s full-forward Jack Kealy finished off a fine length-of-the-field move with a 10th minute point just before the first goal arrived. From that kick-out ‘The Óg’ regained possession to run down the throat of the KMD defence. When the hugely impressive Jamal Yousif was bundled over, the former Tipperary minor dusted himself down for the penalty and while his initial effort cracked back off the crossbar, he regained possession and his composure to make sure at the second bite of the cherry.
Things got even better for Eoin Fallon’s side a minute later when Clonmel Óg created a superb movement linking Alex Slattery, Kyle Grant and Max Ryan before Jamal Yousif rounded it off superbly for his own and his side’s second goal in the 12th minute. In three minutes the Clonmel side had gone from three points down to four up.
Clonmel Og goalkeeper Oisin Martin was then called on to save superbly from Ben Carey at the other end, even if the Tipperary under 20 footballer did manage to take his point when the recycled move came back his way. And when Carey was fouled coming in along the endline, Cathal English pointed the tight free to make it 2-2 to 0-6 after 16 minutes.
However, the remainder of the first half very much belonged to the yellow jerseys who outscored their rivals 1-3 to 0-1 for a 3-5 to 0-7 advantage at the break.
Luke Hannigan and Jack Kealy kicked points in quick succession for Clonmel Og, the second of those particularly pleasing with Julian Kerton and Alex Slattery linking in the build-up.
A huge moment arrived four minutes before the interval with ‘The Óg’s’ third goal. Pressure from Max Ryan forced a turnover inside his own half and once in possession he cut through the KMD defence, offloading to Jack Kealy who made the best of his opportunity.
Man of the Match Jamal Yousif with a free stretched the advantage to eight points before Cathal English picked up on a crossfield pass to raise the last white flag of the half.
Inside a minute of the restart Jamal Yousif got on the end of a Jamie Brunnock pass to open the scoring and the Gaels needed to shake themselves up if they were going to get back into this decider.
‘The Óg’ had Adam Tobin Purcell blackcarded five minutes in for a foul on Ben Carey, Cathal English’s free, beginning their revival.
Two minutes later the combo were awarded a penalty when Cathal English was impeded, and he too dusted himself down before sending a rocket low into the Clonmel net.
Another Cathal English free was quickly followed by a superb point from KMD midfielder Filip Miklasewski in the 41st minute, reducing the deficit to just two points.
A Jamal Yousif free, his side’s first score since the opening minute of the half, stemmed the flow and the advantage was back out to four in the 47th minute when Luke Hannigan came up with his second vital point of this divisional decider.
Clonmel Óg were then turned over and in the ensuing counter-attack Ben Carey fed Conor English who really should have goaled, ‘The Óg’ hugely relieved to have conceded only a point for their profligacy in possession.
Undeterred, the Ballylooby/Fr Sheehy’s boys continued to try and open up their opponent’s defence, Carey and Miklasewski (with an excellent effort) adding a brace of points in two minutes to leave just the minimum between the sides at 3-8 to 1-13 with ten minutes remaining.
The pendulum looked to have swung the way of the combo once again and the Clonmel side needed a response. If they did, they got one in spades. Alex Slattery – who was magnificent throughout – began a move in his own half. Working up the field with Dylan McCormack they put Max Ryan in the clear and the centre-forward finished the move, and the contest, with a superb goal.
Dylan McCormack, who got through plenty of work after his second half introduction, then won a free which Jamal Yousif converted for a safe five-points cushion. The KMD tried to the end, late points from Greg Nugent and Cathal English (free) reducing the deficit to three, but Clonmel Óg weren’t to be denied this time.
With time almost up Clonmel Óg captain Rhys Lonergan was sent off for a second yellow offence.
It was a Clonmel Óg performance full of heart and passion with all the team putting in an almighty shift which they needed to in order to overcome an equally industrious Knockmealdown Gaels side.
Jamal Yousif’s 2-4 contribution deservedly won him the MOM award but Alex Slattery and Julian Kerton weren’t far behind. Luke Hannigan, Max Ryan, Jack Kealy, Alex Greene, Adam Zorgati, Adam Tobin Purcell and Dylan McCormack can all be proud of their contributions.
Huge credit to the KMD Gaels who lost nothing in defeat. Cathal English, Ben Carey, Chris O’Donnell, Filip Miklasewski, Oisin Ryan and Ryan Breedy who left nothing on the field of play.
Clonmel Og: Oisin Martin, Rian Galko, Rhys Lonergan (capt), Adam Zorgati, Alex Slattery, Adam Tobin Purcell, Alex Greene, Julian Kerton (0-1), Jamie Brunnock, Luke Hannigan (0-2), Max Ryan (1-0), Kyle Grant, Jimmy Stokes, Jack Kealy (1-2), Jamal Yousif (2-4, 1-0 pen, 0-3F).
Subs: Jack Aylward for Stokes (half-time), Dylan McCormack for Grant (41 mins).
Knockmealdown Gaels: Donnacha Reidy, Jack Owens, Shane O’Brien, Gearóid Hurley, Oisin Ryan, Chris O’Donnell, Ryan Breedy, Filip Miklasewski (0-2), John English (capt.), Dan Burke, Cathal English (1-8, 1-0 pen, 0-6F), Greg Nugent (0-1), Luke Morrissey, Ben Carey (0-3), Conor English (0-1).
Sub: Sean Sullivan for Morrissey (45 mins).
Referee: Adam Kealy (Ballingarry).