Clonakenny defeat to Killenaule confirms relegation battle

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 4 Round 3

Killenaule 3-25

Clonakenny 1-21

Report: Noel Dundon in Templetuohy

Photos: Diarmuid Brennan/SportsFocus

The writing was on the wall for a game Clonakenny side by the half-way mark in this round 3 clash in the Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship on Saturday afternoon they trailed by a point having played with the aid of a very strong breeze.

Opponents Killenaule produced a very solid first half and they were certainly the happier side as they made their way in at the break 1-12 to 0-14 in front having weathered an early flurry of scores from the Mid men in what was a very keenly contested half.

Both sides had suffered their share of torture in the championship up to this, and while Clonakenny’s fate was virtually sealed and a relegation battle would be their lot, Killenaule, by contrast, needed to win– they certainly went about their business with this in mind, and though without the experienced Paudie Feehan, they still had enough to see off the Clonakenny men.

Mind you ten minutes in, Clonakenny were ahead by double scores with Bobby Bergin and Cian O’Dwyer (3) giving them a great start against Ciaran O’Dwyer and Darragh Fitzgerald scores for Killenaule.

However, a brilliantly taken Joe O’Dwyer goal for the South men in the tenth minute was a real shot in the arm for Killenaule, and they badly needed it as Clonakenny responded with four points in succession through Michael John Carroll (2), Delacy Byrne and Bobby Bergin to send them three clear.

That was as good as it got for Clonakenny though in terms of scoring sequences and they failed to put successive scores together thereafter. Instead, Killenaule hit back to level through Ciaran O’Dwyer, Luke Ryan and Darragh Fitzgerald – Cian O’Dwyer pointed for Clonakenny – but then, Darragh Fitzgerald and Joe O’Dwyer shoved Killenaule in front for the first time.

They would be level on two more occasions– Bobby Bergin tying up the match, only for Ciaran O’Dwyer and Michael John Carroll to trade scores to level it again with ten minutes to go to half time.

This all suited Killenaule well as they knew the very strong breeze right down the middle of the field would benefit them when the turnaround came. In the meantime, Killenaule drove on with Luke Ryan and Dean O’Connor scores – Luke would add two more frees before half time – while Clonakenny had Michael John Carroll, John Joe Ryan, and Cian O’Dwyer points to leave the narrowest of margins between them.

But, while the margin was small, the significance of it was not lost on anyone in Templetuohy. Clonakenny would face an uphill battle in the second half – the reality was the game was gone beyond them within three minutes of the restart even though they battled hard right to the very end.

Ciaran O’Dwyer and Michael Doyle pointed for Killenaule within two minutes and when Mark Stakelum lashed to the net off a Joe O’Dwyer pass to open up a seven-point gap, the South men had all but secured their passage to the next phase of the championship.

Clonakenny hit back with Cian O’Dwyer, Tommy Hennessy, Michael John Carroll, and Bobby Bergin scores. And John O’Dwyer was forced to save from a Conor Nesbitt effort– but Killenaule were in no mood to relinquish the initiative, and they followed up with five points in succession from Luke Ryan, Joe O’Dwyer (2), Mark Stakelum and Gus Browne to open up an eight point gap.

Clonakenny did get the goal they craved in the 57th minute when Cian O’Dwyer blasted a penalty to the net, but two minutes later Killenaule had a penalty themselves and John O’Dwyer came up field to bury the ball to the net and with it any chances of a Clonakenny comeback.

Killenaule finished with Joe O’Dwyer, Gus Browne and Dean O’Connor scores to round off a very solid showing.

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

Killenaule: John O’Dwyer (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1f, 7), Shane Ryan (7), Killian Ryan (7), Jack Hassett (6), Tom Keaveney (6), Tom Stakelum (8), Podge O’Dwyer (7), Ciaran O’Dwyer (0-4, 2f, 8), Dean O’Connor (0-4, 7), Darragh Fitzgerald (0-3, 7), Mark Stakelum (1-2, 7), Joe O’Dwyer (1-2, 0-1f, 9), Fionn Fitzgerald (7), Luke Ryan (0-5, 4f, 7), Michael Doyle (0-1, 6).

Subs: Finn Nolan (6) for Keaveney (38); Gus Browne (0-2, 7) for F Fitzgerald (38); Jimmy Ryan (6) for Doyle (50); Tom Ryan (NR) for L Ryan (59); Oisin Shelly (NR) for D Fitzgerald (59).

Clonakenny: Willie Costigan (6), Brian Mullally (6), Joe Stapleton (6), Alexi Harty (6), Cain Russell (7), Diarmuid Ryan (7), Conor Nesbitt (7), John Joe Ryan (0-1, 6), Michael John Carroll (0-5, 8), Delacy Byrne (0-1, 6), Peadar Byrne (6), Cian O’Dwyer (1-9, 1-0 pen, 0-6f, 8), Bobby Bergin (0-4, 8), Nicky Ryan (6), Paul Bergin (6).

Subs: John Costigan (0-1, 6) for Mullally (HT): Tom Hennessy (7) for P Bergin (52); Sean Stapleton (6) for P Byrne (52); John O’Meara (6) for Nesbitt (52).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens).