Clearcut win for Carrick Swan in South Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

Carrick Swan 1-23 Mullinahone 1-15 

Carrick Swan began the defence of their Clonmel Oil South Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship title with a comprehensive and well-deserved victory over Mullinahone in the semi-final at Clonmel Sportsfield on Saturday evening, winning by eight points.

Despite falling behind to a pointed free from Mullinahone’s Michael Dunne inside the first fifteen seconds, the champions were never led again once Callum Walsh rattled the Mullinahone net for a brilliant goal less than a minute later.

They led by six at the break, 1-12 to 0-9, and were well on their way to a second successive final appearance six minutes from the end when they led by eleven points, 1-21 to 0-13, when a late goal from substitute Cillian Direen gave Mullinahone some hope. But they could never claw back the gap.

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Mullinahone were dealt a double injury blow that severely dented their hopes, with Michael Dunne going off with a head injury in the 18th minute, followed by Jack Shelly with a leg injury five minutes into the second half. They had scored six points between them at that stage and the team had lost two thirds of their starting full forward line for the last 25 minutes.

At the other end, Carrick Swan were lethal in front of goal, with superb link-up play from the half back line and midfield to the attack.

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With two members of Tipperary’s All-Ireland-winning extended panel back on club duty, Gavin and Aaron O’Halloran, and big performances from Eric O’Halloran, Dean Waters, Callum Lanigan and Stefan Tobin, the Swan attack proved a handful for the Mullinahone defence.

Ben Mulcaire pointed two superb sideline cuts, and was just narrowly wide with a third attempt, while goalkeeper Kieran Lonergan was outstanding with two brilliant saves from Mikey O’Shea in the second half, as the Kickham Country men battled to get back into the game.

There was an edge to the tie, as there often is between these two keen rivals, with referee Brian Tyrrell issuing seven yellow cards before finally producing a red for Mullinahone’s Alan Curran four minutes into added time.

The first quarter was even, with Swan leading by a point, 1-4 to 0-6, after fifteen minutes, with Swan points from Tobin, Lanigan (two) and Aaron Dunne following Callum Walsh’s early goal. Mullinahone replied through Sean Curran, Michael Dunne from a free and play, Jack Shelly and Eoin O’Dwyer, following Michael Dunne’s early opener.

Swan wing back Ben Mulcaire, from a sublime sideline cut, and Michael Dunne from play, exchanged points before Dunne had to leave the field following a hard knock. He was replaced by Graham Horan but over the following twelve minutes, Swan outscored Mullinahone by 0-7 to 0-2 to get a firm grip on the game.

Callum Lanigan was leaving his mark on the game with unerring free-taking, punishing Mullinahone for their indiscretions with three points.

Mulcaire pointed his second sideline cut, Dean Waters hit a fine score as did Callum Walsh, with Eric O’Halloran striking the last score of the half in a quick counter after a Mullinahone goal chance at the other end was spurned. Mullinahone’s only scores in the second quarter were from Graham Horan and a Shelly free.

As in the first half, Mullinahone pointed in the first minute of the second, with a lovely score from Sam Rowan. But Swan hit back immediately through a Lanigan free, following a foul on Stefan Tobin, and Eric O’Halloran from play.

Mullinahone then lost a second key forward with the departure of Jack Shelly, as Swan upped the tempo again. Tobin, following a great crossfield pass from Eric O’Halloran, and a Lanigan free following a foul on Tobin, pushed the lead out to 1-16 to 0-10.

Sean Curran replied from a free but another two in a row from the Carrick-on-Suir side, both from Lanigan, one a free, extended the lead further. Curran was proving to be hugely influential for Mullinahone and pointed twice, one from a free, either side of another Lanigan free for Swan.

However, the Swan lead continued to mount and Aaron Dunne and Lanigan, following great play from substitute Eoin Hogan, put them eleven ahead, 1-21 to 0-13, with eight minutes of normal time to play.

Mullinahone had not given up the battle and it took a wonder save from Kieran Lonergan to deny Mikey O’Shea a goal. However, he could do nothing to stop a fine strike from Cillian Direen finding the net.

Lanigan replied with his twelfth point of the game, but again Lonergan had to come to the rescue when Eoin O’Dwyer put O’Shea through for another shot on goal that was batted away.

And still Mullinahone pressed forward, with Sean Curran pointing before Graham Horan should have done better when through on goal.

The seven minutes of added time played by referee Tyrrell saw Swan sub Darragh Dunne and Sean Curran – with his third point from play and sixth in total – exchange points, as well as the dismissal of Alan Curran on a straight red card.

Carrick Swan: Kieran Lonergan, Jack Murphy, Scott Hogan, Dean Kiely, Ben Mulcaire, 0-2 sidelines; Gavin O’Halloran, Luke O’Dwyer, Aaron O’Halloran, Dean Waters 0-1; Eric O’Halloran 0-2; Callum Lanigan 0-12, 7f; Taylor Fleming, Callum Walsh 1-1; Aaron Dunne 0-2; Stefan Tobin 0-2.

Subs: Ryan Waters for Luke O’Dwyer, Eoin Hogan for Taylor Fleming, Darragh Dunne 0-1 for Aaron Dunne.

Mullinahone: Brendan Kearney, Daire O’Brien, Paul Curran, Colin Shelly, Darragh Linnane, Eoin Fennelly, Conor Whelan, Sean Curran 0-6, 3f; Martin Kehoe, Sam Rowan 0-1; Eoin O’Dwyer 0-1; Alan Curran, Mickey O’Shea, Jack Shelly 0-2, 1f; Michael Dunne 0-4, 2f.

Subs: Graham Horan 0-1 for Michael Dunne, Conor O’Brien for Jack Shelly, Cillian Direen 1-0 for Martin Kehoe.

Referee: Brian Tyrrell (St. Mary’s).