Killenaule rally to sink St Mary's

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 4

Killenaule 1-24

St. Mary’s 0-11

Report: Michael Heverin in Monroe

Killenaule overcame the disappointment of their South final defeat to Carrick Swan a week earlier by bouncing back in spectacular fashion to rout St. Mary’s in the first round of the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 4 on Sunday evening.

Rather than suffer a hangover from the divisional final, Killenaule looked a side re-energised as they beat their South rivals for the second time this season.

They had twelve different scorers, eleven of them from play, with goalkeeper John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer adding three from long distance frees.

They were rock solid in defence, where Tom Keaveney, Tom Stakelum and Podge O’Dwyer had huge games, Eoin O’Connell and Fionn Fitzgerald were busy at midfield, with Mark Stakelum leading the attack with 1-3 from play, with Dean O’Connor, Luke Ryan and substitute Dara Fitzgerald also causing problems for the St Mary’s defence.

The St. Mary’s management were left scratching their heads in bemusement after the defeat. They were disappointed after their south semi-final loss to Killenaule and expected an improvement – instead they were dramatically worse and now face a monumental task to get out of a group that also includes Carrick Swan and Clonakenny. Despite a litany of first half errors, the Clonmel side were only two points behind at the break, 1-9 to 0-10. But a second half collapse saw them score only once, a fine point from Tipperary player Seamus Kennedy midway through the half.

Where Killenaule were getting the ball into the red zone in one or two passes, St. Mary’s laboured in the build-up, with passes going astray or else aimed aimlessly into space where Killenaule were able to mop up.

Killenaule’s goal three minutes before the break reflected the malaise that affected the Clonmel side. Conor Deely won the ball near the halfway line, and as he weighed up his options, he slipped under pressure, coughed up possession that Fionn Fitzgerald gratefully accepted and his lofted ball into the goalmouth was flicked to the net by Mark Stakelum.

Yet none of St. Mary’s later problems were evident in the early stages when they raced into a three-point lead. Ross Peters opened the scoring in the first minute following good play from Ross Slattery; Seamus Kennedy doubled the lead two minutes later, and Ruairí Leahy had their third from a free.

Luke Ryan set up Dean O’Connor for Killenaule’s opening score and then after Tipp player Peter McGarry missed a chance for St. Mary’s, the evergreen Michael Doyle reduced the margin to a single point before a ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer free from halfway tied up the scores.

Doyle put Killenaule ahead for the first time following good link-up play with O’Connor, and Luke Ryan put them two ahead after Sammy Ryan was penalised for a throw. St. Mary’s were level within another two minutes, Tadgh Sheehan setting up Leahy for a fine point, and McGarry pointing a free after he had been fouled.

Another two in a row for Killenaule, from Luke Ryan and Mark Stakelum, was matched by St. Mary’s from McGarry and a Leahy free.

St Mary’s looked as if they had settled again after their mid-half wobbles, but the lead point for Killenaule from Mark Stakelum, was followed by the Stakelum goal. Yet they responded well to the setback, and outscored Killenaule three points to one over the closing three minutes – from Ross Peters, Darragh O’Connor and a Leahy free, to a Killenaule reply from Dean O’Connor after a brilliant weaving run.

However, the two point Killenaule lead at half time continued to grow as the second half unfolded.

Player of the Match: Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule)

Killenaule: John O’Dwyer (0-3f, 8); Shane Ryan (7), Killian Ryan (7), Jack Hassett (7); Tom Keaveney (7), Tom Stakelum (0-1, 8), Podge O’Dwyer (8); Fionn Fitzgerald (0-1, 7), Eoin O’Connell (7); Joe O’Dwyer (0-1, 7), Mark Stakelum (1-3, 8), Dean O’Connor (0-2, 7); Paudie Feehan (0-1, 7), Luke Ryan (0-4, 1f, 1 65) 7), Michael Doyle (0-3, 7).

Subs: Gus Browne (0-2, 7) for Doyle (35), Dara Fitzgerald (0-2, 7) for O’Connell (40), Oisin Shelly (0-1, 7) for Joe O’Dwyer (55), Tony Ryan (6) for M Stakelum (58).

St. Mary’s: Enda Dunphy (6); Tadgh Condon (6), Ross Slattery (7), James Morris (7); Darragh O’Connor (0-1, 6), Tadgh Sheehan (6), Sammy Ryan (6); Josh Ryan (7), Conor Deely (6); Richie Gunne (6), Seamus Kennedy (0-2, 8), Ross Peters (0-2, 7); Peter McGarry (0-2, 1f, 7), Ruairí Leahy (0-4, 3f, 7), Niall Hoctor (6).

Subs: Aaron Cagney (6) for Hoctor (29), Darragh Landers (6) for Deely (HT), Thomas Charles (6) for Condon (38), Joe Higgins (6) for Slattery (42), James Power (6) for Gunne (52).

Referee: John Butler (Upperchurch/Drombane)