One-way traffic in Tipperary football championship tie as Commercials beat Ardfinnan

Clonmel Commercials 4-20 Ardfinnan 0-7

Clonmel Commercials eased their way through round one, highlighting their intent to once again be serious contenders in this year's Tipperary County Senior Football Championship by beating Ardfinnan on a scoreline of 4-20 to 0-7 in Cahir. 

Commercials got off to a good start, scoring the first two points, with Cian Smith and Michael Quinlivan scoring a point each from play in the second and fourth minutes.  Ardfinnan responded well with two of their own points from play, with Andrew Browne on target.

In the 10th minute Jack Kennedy scored an excellent two-pointer, followed by a Peter McGarry point in the 11th minute. Rory O'Dowd was next up on the scoresheet for Commercials when he slotted home for their first goal in the 14th minute, followed by another point from Seanie O'Connor in the 16th minute. 

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Ardfinnan tried hard to respond and had some good possession and scored the next point, when Michael Barlow converted a free. Ryan Lambe popped over the next Commercials point in the 23rd minute.

Ardfinnan seemed to react well and looked to be able to hold the Commercials attack at bay, as the game inched towards half-time, until a threatening attacking move in the Ardfinnan full forward line broke down and Commercials surged forward in numbers. Micheal Quinlivan ended up one-on-one with the Ardfinnan 'keeper, Michael Goonan, and as he was about to shoot he was fouled, and a penalty was awarded in the 28th minute. Seanie O'Connor stepped up and slotted home the penalty.  Subsequently, Ardfinnan's midfielder Gerry Cronin was given a black card, which was a big blow to the village side as he was competing very well in midfield. 

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Over the next four minutes, this experienced Commercials side effectively put this game out of Ardfinnan's reach, scoring 1-2 from play, with Michael Quinlivan scoring 1-1 and Peter McGarry scoring a point. The half-time score was 3-9 to 0-3. 

Things didn't get any better for Ardfinnan in the second half and Commercials never took their foot off the pedal, showing that age old desire to succeed. They started where they left off and scored the next four points, with Kevin Fahey scoring a point from play and then Tipperary hurling stars Peter McGarry and Seamus Kenndey got in on the act, scoring a two-pointer and a point from play respectively in the 36th and 38th minutes.

Tadhg Condon kicked another point for Commercials to further increase their lead. Michael Barlow scored the next point from a free for Ardfinnan, before Rory O'Dowd netted Commercials' fourth goal in the 38th minute. Michael Barlow followed with another point from a free in the 44th minute before Cian Smith added to his tally, scoring the next two points for the town side.  

Ardfinnan, to their credit, never gave up and Michael Barlow scored their next point from a free in the 47th minute, and Gerry Cronin had an excellent point in the 50th minute from play.

That was it on the scoreboard for the village team and Commercials finished this game with the next four points. Seamus Kennedy and Michael Quinlivan got a point each in the 23rd and 25th minutes and the impressive Cian Smith had another brace of points in the 27th and 29th minutes.  

Ardfinnan will be very disappointed with this display, even though they were playing against a far superior outfit on the day. They will have to regroup and get ready for round 2, as there is still a lot to play for in the championship. 

Clonmel Commercials, on the other hand, will feel its business as usual and showed once again that they are serious contenders for silverware in 2025. Their defence gave Ardfinnan very few opportunities to cause damage, and when they attacked they showed their ability to punish any opposition from anywhere on the field, with ten different players getting on the scoresheet. 

Ardfinnan: Michael Goonan, Darragh Boyle, Robert Condon, Darragh O'Brien, Shane Keating, Billy Hewitt, Oisin Ryan, Sean Nagle, Gerry Cronin (0-1), Jack O'Neill, Darragh O'Leary, Sean Cunningham, Andrew Browne (0-2), Michael Barlow (0-4f), Gavin Whelan. 

Subs: Johnny English for Gavin Whelan, Luke MacNamara for Robert Condon, Brian Dillon for Andrew Browne, Joe Keating for Sean Cunningham.

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan, Tadhg Condon (0-1), Mark Concoran, Jamie Ahearne, James Morris, Seamus Kennedy (0-2),  Kevin Fahey (0-1), Darragh O'Connor, Jack Kennedy (0-2, 1 two-pointer), Rory O'Dowd (2-0), Michael Quinlivan (1-3), Cian Smith (0-5, 2f), Ryan Lambe (0-1), Seanie O'Connor (1-1, 1-0 penalty), Peter McGarry (0-4, 1 two-pointer).

Sub: Ross Peters for Michael Quinlivan.

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Fr Sheehy's).