Munster Football glory for Shannon Rovers

A Munster championship sits in the heartland of Kilbarron and Terryglass after Shannon Rovers made history by winning Tipperary’s first Munster Junior ‘B’ Football title thanks to a highly exciting two point win over Cork champions St. Oliver Plunkett’s

GAA: Munster Club Junior ‘B’ Football Final

Shannon Rovers 1-8

St Oliver Plunkett’s 1-6

Report: Liam Hogan in Ballyagran

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Marcus Esmonde (Shannon Rovers)

SCORERS - Shannon Rovers: Conal Moran 1-2 (1-0 pen); George Hannigan 0-3 frees; Marcus Esmonde, Eamon Hough, Niall Cahalan (free) 0-1 each.

St Oliver Plunkett’s: Conor McCarthy 1-0; Mike Keohane 0-2 (1 free); Sean White, Roy O’Driscoll, Sean Crowley, Conor O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

Win it they did, and it was thanks to a dominant middle period of the game which saw them outscore Plunkett’s 1-5 to 0-1 and it was enough to help them withstand a nail-biting last ten minutes where the Rovers defence stood the test against one attack after another as St. Oliver Plunkett’s left it too late.

The Cork side enjoyed a good opening quarter when they seemed much more at ease with the ball but over indulgence of handpassing and foot passing from wing to wing but a patient Rovers defence denied them. In addition, the West Cork side had poor luck with close range frees with efforts from Brian Walshe and Michael Keohane dropping short into the grateful hands of Rovers keeper Niall Cahalan.

The Munster title now sits alongside the North & County honours helping team captain Paraic O’Meara make history as he led the teams to all three successes in the last eleven months. He joins other winning captains such ase Michael Hogan, Willie Joe Hogan, Jim Bourke, Martin Guest, Anslem Walshe, Joe Hannigan and Tom Bourke. History was also made as Rovers were the first Tipperary club to win the competition which commenced in 2006 when Clann na nGael of Cork won. Kerry clubs have dominated the grade, but Ballybrown collected honours in 2017 and Randal Og made the grade in 2021.

The morning rain had disappeared well in time for the start of the game which was preceded by both teams lining up in a single line in front of the covered stand for a minutes silence in memory of twenty year-old Darragh Dullea of Clonakilty, tragically killed in a car crash last Tuesday in Limerick and John Brady of Castletown/Ballyagran. Darragh Dullea was a first cousin of one of the Plunkett players.

Both teams enjoyed periods of possession in the opening minutes with Plunkett’s keeper Brian Walsh spurning the chance of opening the scores with a forty metre free in the sixth minute.

George Hannigan went one better with a similar effort two minutes later before Mike Keohane made amends with a free in the 12th minute.

The exchanges were tough with both defences having the upper hand before Hannigan gave the Rovers a two point lead with accurate frees in the 14th & 15th minutes.

Three minutes later, midfielder Conor McCarthy had the Rovers net shaking when his outstretched hand reached highest in directing Mike Keohane’s free to the net. Roy O’Driscoll’s well-taken score had Plunkett’s two clear by the 21st minute as the Cork champions were looking the part.

However, the Rovers, as shown in their games over the last twelve months, had the ability to rise again and a patient build up led to a Conal Moran point two minutes before the break which left the Tipp champions one in arrears, 1-2 to 0-4.

Half time speeches and tactical discussions can make a big difference and the Rovers certainly made inroads and fifty seconds in; Marcus Esmonde had the sides level with a goal very much a possibility.

George Hannigan’s next free didn’t make the target but Austin Tierney’s rebound was well saved by Plunkett’s midfielder Conor McCarthy while at the other end Niall Cahalan saved Roy O’Driscoll’s effort from close range.

The Rovers turned defence into attack allowing Eamon Hough to surge up field and score the lead point. In the 40th minute, Paddy Heenan brought the best out of Plunkett keeper Brian Walshe. Two minutes later, Austin Tierney won possession close to goal which brought Brian Walsh into action once more but resulted in a penalty which Conal Moran tucked away with panache.

Another seven minutes followed but neither team scored until Niall Cahalan directed a forty metre free over the black spot with metres to spare before Conal Moran added a point to push the Rovers five clear with ten minutes remaining.

Substitute Sean Crowley replied with a quick point. He was one of three substitutes that helped turn the tide for Plunkett’s who began to take on the Tipp defence with more intent. As well using fresh legs, the move of goalkeeper Brian Walsh as an occasional outfield player soon became a permanent fixture even to the extent the Cork champions had no goalkeeper at all for the last quarter.

Mick Keohane’s second point in the 56th minute had the margin down to three before continued pressure resulted in another point with substitute Crowley on target.

With two points separating the teams, the Rovers defence came under more pressure but the more the pressure the better they performed with Michael Dolan, Emmett Moran and Derek Horan as major obstacles to the lead being turned over. Rovers had survived. The defence had done it job.

That defence had six men who never put a foot wrong with Derek Horan, playing like a young man in his twenties alongside the youthful Matt Tierney at full back as Michael Dolan made it a remarkable twenty-four months by adding a Munster football medal to him captaining Lorrha to two county hurling titles.

Emmett Moran added another great day to this journey as his did his fellow wing back Eamon Hough with Paraic O’Meara displaying his vast experience as team captain. The six backs gave every amount of protection to goalkeeper Niall Cahalan who was cool under pressure all day.

Both Conal Moran and Andy Byrne worked tirelessly at midfield with Moran emerging top scorer with 1-2, including a well-struck penalty.

Up front, the workrate of George Hannigan was self-evident as he ran to a standstill. Paddy Heenan, Michael Tierney, and Austin Tierney always a danger while Oisin McMahon never gave up leaving Marcus Esmonde a deserving man of the match winner as the wing forward covered every inch of ground from first whistle to last. Alan Hannigan and Sean Hough played their parts when introduced from the bench.

St. Oliver Plunkett’s had heroes too. Eddie O’Driscoll and Ronan McCarthy manned the spine of the defence with flying colours in front of an inspiring goalkeeper Brian Walsh as the former Cork minor netminder produced three great saves when not spending time out of goal, while creating the role of extra man.

Elsewhere, Plunkett’s attack was noteworthy with Mike Keohane, Brian Dowling on the forty proving to be very dangerous in possession with full forward Roy O’Driscoll very dangerous in possession. Substitutes Conor O’Driscoll and Sean Crowley really made a difference when introduced.

TEAMS - Shannon Rovers: Niall Cahalan (7); Derek Horan (8), Michael Tierney (7), Emmett Moran (8); Michael Dolan, (8), Paraic O’Meara (Capt 7), Eamon Hough (8); Conal Moran (8), Andy Byrne (8); Michael Tierney (7), George Hannigan (8), Marcus Esmonde (8); Oisin McMahon (7); Austin Tierney (7), Paddy Heenan (7).

Subs: Alan Hannigan (6) for McMahon (HT); Sean Hough (6) for Heenan (51); Jack O’Sullivan (NR) for A Tierney (59).

St Oliver Plunkett’s: Brian Walsh (8); Niall O’Driscoll (7), Eddie O’Driscoll (8), Mike Collins (7); Mark Kelly (7), Ronan McCarthy (7), Gary McCarthy (7); Conor McCarthy (7), Sean White (6); Owen McCarthy (6), Mike Keohane (7), Brian Dowling (7); Mike McCarthy (6), Roy O’Driscoll (6), Sean O’Donovan (6).

Subs: Ciaran Dullea (6) for M McCarthy (43); Sean Crowley (7) for White (46); Conor O’Driscoll (7) for O McCarthy (50).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Limerick).