No fairy-tale ending for Upperchurch as Commercials win 20th title
GAA: FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship Final
Clonmel Commercials 1-10
Upperchurch/Drombane 1-2
Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)
SCORERS - Clonmel Commercials: Jack Kennedy 0-4 (3 frees); Padraic Looram 1-0; Michael Quinlivan (1 free), Sean O’Connor (2 frees) 0-2 each; Jason Lonergan, Cathal Deeley 0-1 each.
Upperchurch/Drombane: Jack Butler 1-0; Paul Shanahan, Luke Shanahan 0-1 free each.
There was no fairy-tale ending to Upperchurch/Drombane’s epic championship journey this year after they were soundly defeated by hot favourites Clonmel Commercials in the County Senior Football Final on Sunday, a bare trophy cupboard not doing justice to the great year they have had.
It was Upperchurch’s first time reaching the final and the odds against them with some bookmakers suggested a David versus Goliath contest. And so, it was to a great extent. Commercials ripped through them in a devastating eleven-minute spell from the thirteenth to the 24th minutes to establish a 1-8 to no score advantage.
The ‘Church improved subsequently but never to the extent that they were going to catch their rivals who were recording their third win in four years and the twentieth success overall.
Teams - Clonmel Commercials: Michael O’Reilly (7); James Morris (6), Seamus Kennedy (6), Jamie Peters (6); Tadhg Condon (6), Kevin Fahey (6), Padraig Looram (7); Aldo Matassa (6), Michael Quinlivan (6); Jack Kennedy (8), Jason Lonergan (6), Cathal Deeley (6); Colman Kennedy (6), Sean O’Connor (6), Ross Peters (6).
Subs: Conal Kennedy (6) for Deeley (35); Peter McGarry (5) for Matassa (45); Donal Lynch (NR) for J Kennedy (56); Cian Smith (NR) for O’Connor (59); Eoin Dunphy (NR) for J Peters (60+2).
Upperchurch/Drombane: James Griffin (6); Ger Grant (7), Matt Ryan (6), Ailbe O’Donoghue (7); Dean Carew (6), Gavin Ryan (6), Michael Lavery (6); Keith Ryan (7), Jack Butler (7); Pat Ryan (6), Paul Shanahan (6), Diarmuid Grant (6); Luke Shanahan (6), Niall Grant (6), Loughlin Ryan (6).
Subs: Sean Ryan (6) for P Ryan (HT); Conor Fahey (6) for L Ryan (HT); Colm Ryan (6) for N Grant (50); Paidi Greene (NR) for D Grant (59).
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers)