Commercials have extra class to edge out rivals Moyle Rovers

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Senior Football Championship Quarter Final

Clonmel Commercials 0-25

Moyle Rovers 1-19

(After Extra Time)

Report: Michael Heverin in Fethard

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Seamus Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)

SCORERS – Clonmel Commercials: Seanie O’Connor 0-8 (3 frees); Cian Smith (1 free), Jack Kennedy (1x2f, 1 45) 0-4 each; Seamus Kennedy, Darragh O’Connor (1x2p) 0-3 each; Kevin Fahey, Michael Quinlivan (free), Peter McGarry 0-1 each.

Moyle Rovers: Paddy O’Keeffe 1-4 (1x2p, 0-1 free); Liam Boland 0-6 (3f, 1x2f); Riain Quigley 0-4 (1x2p); Ger O’Sullivan 0-3 (1x2p, 0-2 frees); Luke Boland, John Cronin 0-1 each.

When two heavyweights dig deep in the white heat of championship football, with a place in the county semi-final at stake, then the outcome should be an absorbing contest.

And that’s just what neighbours and the keenest of rivals, Clonmel Commercials and Moyle Rovers produced on Sunday in this senior football quarter final in a game that matched many of their greatest games.

But to the victors the spoils, and it’s Commercials who maintain their quest for a 22nd county title with an extra-time win by three points, progressing to a semi-final against Upperchurch/Drombane.

There were many anxious moments for the town side despite taking the lead inside twelve seconds, with Jack Kennedy winning the throw-in and setting team captain Seamus Kennedy in the clear for a lightning fast start.

They were rocked by a Paddy O’Keeffe goal in the 23rd minute that put Rovers 1-7 to 0-6 ahead, and the Monroe side maintained that advantage to half time, turning around 1-12 to 0-11 ahead.

They were still ahead a minute into added time at the end of the second half, when a Ger O’Sullivan free looked like it had sealed victory. But not for the first time in the game, a Commercials turnover proved crucial, and in the 63rd minute they won a free that Seanie O’Connor pointed to force extra time.

A monumental effort from Moyle Rovers appeared to take its toll in extra time, when Commercials hit three in a row in six minutes with two from Seanie O’Connor and one from Darragh O’Connor. The outstanding Paddy O’Keeffe hit a great score to keep Rovers in touch, but Seamus Kennedy replied with an even better one, bursting through the centre unhindered to shoot over for a point that drew the biggest cheer of the day.

O’Keeffe brought it back to just two again, and as Rovers continued to press forward, Commercials won another turnover deep in defence that ended with a point from man-of-the-match Jack Kennedy, for a three points lead at half time in extra time.

The sides shared four points in the second period, Seamus Kennedy and Cian Smith for Commercials, and subs John Cronin and Paddy O’Keeffe from a free for Moyle Rovers, as Commercials just managed to stay ahead.

Commercials had survived their biggest challenge of the campaign, but Moyle Rovers left Fethard with reputations enhanced and a few ‘what ifs’.

Commercials had the inspired leadership of Seamus Kennedy, the unrelenting work-rate and fielding of Jack Kennedy, the defensive strength of James Morris and Kevin Fahey, the industrious Michael Quinlivan who was central to their best moves, the brilliance of Seanie O’Connor from play and placed balls, and the weaving artistry of Cian Smith.

Moyle Rovers very nearly matched them, with Paddy O’Keeffe’s superb form, the resilience of Cathal McKeown, Conor McGrath and Luke Boland manning up to the vaunted Commercials attack, Riain Quigley one of the busiest players on the field, and Liam Boland contributing six points.

TEAMS - Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan (7); Tadgh Condon (6), James Morris (7), Ross Slattery (6); Kevin Fahey (7); Seamus Kennedy (9), Thomas Charles (6); Tadgh Sheehan (6), Jack Kennedy (8); Rory O’Dowd (6), Seanie O’Connor (9); Darragh O’Connor (8); Cian Smith (8), Michael Quinlivan (6); Peter McGarry (6).

Subs: Jamie Ahearn (6) for Charles; Ross Peters (6) for O’Dowd; Cathal Deely (6) for Sheehan, Colman Kennedy (6) for McGarry, Thomas Charles for Slattery, Rory O’Dowd for Fahey.

Moyle Rovers: Shane Ryan (7); Jack Harney (7), Graham Vaughan (7), Cathal McKeown (6); Luke Boland (7); Conor McGrath (6), Brian McKeown (6), Killian Butler (6), Rory Collins (7); Riain Quigley (8), Liam Boland (7); Cian O’Sullivan (6); Paddy O’Keeffe (8); Ger O’Sullivan (7); Dean English (6).

Subs: Shane Foley (6) for O’Sullivan, Sean Cotter (6) for English, Luke Foley (6) for Liam Boland, Cian O’Sullivan for McGrath, John Cronin (7) for G O’Sullivan, Dara Ryan (6) for B McKeown.

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan)