Carrick Swan clip Killenaule’s wings once again

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 4 Round 2

Carrick Swan 3-16

Killenaule 0-22

Report: Michael Heverin at Clonmel Sportsfield

Carrick Swan made it two wins from two in Group 4 of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship with a three-point win over South rivals Killenaule on Sunday evening.

This was the Carrick-on-Suir side’s second win over Killenaule in the space of four weeks following their divisional final victory. And again, they edged a thrilling contest, aided by a blistering start that saw them score two goals in the first seven minutes.

The game was only 28 seconds old when Aaron Dunne broke down the left wing and crossed into the square for Jamie Holloway to run on to, but he was pulled to the ground and Aaron O’Halloran blasted the penalty past John O’Dwyer in the Killenaule goal.

Six minutes later, the Swan cut open the Killenaule defence again with Aaron Dunne and Eric O’Halloran involved in the move that saw O’Dwyer pull off a stunning safe to deny Callum Lanigan. However, the ball fell to the feet of Stefan Tobin who slammed the rebound to the net.

That put Swan 2-1 to 0-3 ahead, but once Killenaule settled, they matched Swan score for score and trailed by a just a point, 2-3 to 0-8 midway through the half. The two-man full forward line of Mark Stakelum and Michael Doyle were revelling in the space afforded, with captain Ciaran O’Dwyer, Paudie Feehan and Luke Ryan all looking lively.

Stakelum and Feehan scored two each in the space of four minutes, Feehan’s second a cheeky score after he sneaked in between two Swan defenders who were taking too long to clear their lines.

Callum Lanigan scored four first half frees for the Swan, with Dean Waters and Callum Walsh also on target as the Carrick side led by a point, 2-7 to 0-12 at the break. Killenaule had led for the only time in the game five minutes before the interval, 0-12 to 2-5, with Dean O’Connor finishing a move that also involved Shane Ryan and Fionn Fitzgerald, but late points from a Lanigan free and Walsh gave Swan the edge at the break.

Killenaule had been disappointed by their performance in their South final defeat, never really threatening to depose the Swan, but this time they were much more competitive, only to be undone by the concession of three goals, the third coming four minutes into the second half.

A John O’Dwyer free in the first minute tied the scores again, but the Swan hit back with points from Gavin O’Halloran and Stefan Tobin, before the latter cut in from the left to shoot low past O’Dwyer for his second goal.

A five-point deficit looked ominous for The Robins, 3-9 to 0-13, but they hit back with three in a row from a Ciaran O’Dwyer free and a 65, and Joe O’Dwyer from play.

But they could never get closer than that, and over the next seven minutes Callum Lanigan pointed four times, three from frees and a superb score from play when under pressure, to a Killenaule response from a Luke Ryan free, to leave five between the sides, 3-13 to 0-17 entering the final quarter.

They outscored Swan five points to three in the closing stages, with three Luke Ryan frees, and Fionn Fitzgerald and sub Gus Browne also on target, to Swan replies from Eric O’Halloran, Jamie Holloway and Aaron Dunne, but they could never fully close the gap, as Swan take a firm grip on Group 4 on full points ahead of both Killenaule and St Mary’s, both on two points, and Clonakenny pointless after two games.

Player of the Match: Callum Lanigan (Carrick Swan)

Carrick Swan: Kieran Lonergan (7); Jack Murphy (7), Scott Hogan (7), Dean Kiely (7); Ben Mulcaire (0-1, 7), Gavin O’Halloran (0-1, 7), Luke O’Dwyer (7); Aaron O’Halloran (1-0 pen, 8), Dean Waters (0-1, 7); Eric O’Halloran (0-1, 7), Callum Lanigan (0-8, 7f, 9), Jamie Holloway (0-1, 7); Callum Walsh (0-1, 7), Aaron Dunne (0-1, 7), Stefan Tobin (2-1, 8).

Subs: Eoin Hogan (6) for Walsh (57), Ryan Waters (NR) for O’Dwyer (60), Darragh Dunne (NR) for Dunne (60+2).

Killenaule: John O’Dwyer (0-1f, 8); Shane Ryan (7), Killian Ryan (7), Jack Hassett (7); Tom Keaveney (7), Tom Stakelum (7), Podge O’Dwyer (7); Ciaran O’Dwyer (0-5, 2f, 1 ’65, 8), Fionn Fitzgerald (0-1, 7); Joe O’Dwyer (0-1, 7), Mark Stakelum (0-2, 8), Dean O’Connor (0-2, 7); Paudie Feehan (0-2, 8), Luke Ryan (0-6f, 7), Michael Doyle (0-1, 7). Subs: Dara Fitzgerald (6) for Doyle (39), Gus Browne (0-1, 7) for Fitzgerald (52).

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Father Sheehys).