Another win for Carrick Swan over south Tipperary hurling rivals Killenaule

Carrick Swan 3-16 Killenaule 0-22

Two goals in the first seven minutes helped Carrick Swan repeat their South Tipperary divisional final win over Killenaule, with a three-points win in the FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 4, Round 2 clash at Clonmel Sportsfield on Sunday evening.

It was an improved performance from Killenaule on their South final defeat, but again they just failed to match a dominant Swan, who are enjoying a superb start to the season. They have followed up on the retention of their divisional title with back-to-back wins in the county series that leaves them topping Group 4 on four points, ahead of Killenaule and St Mary’s, both on two points, and Clonakenny, who are pointless.

Swan take on St Mary’s, and Killenaule meet Clonakenny in Round 3 games that will determine the final outcome of the group.
However, no one can doubt the Swan superiority to date and they continued their winning run thanks to a lightning-fast start that saw them convert a penalty following the first play of the game, expertly converted by Aaron O’Halloran, and a second goal from Stefan Tobin six minutes later.

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Killenaule responded well to the early setback. They briefly led five minutes before the break, trailed by just a point at half-time, and were level again one minute into the second half from a ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer free. But Swan goals proved their undoing.

Two points in thirty seconds restored the Carrick side’s lead before Stefan Tobin struck for his second goal four minutes into the second half and there was no back for The Robins.

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Tobin’s goals set the tone for the Swan victory – sweet atonement for the All-Ireland-winning Tipperary Under 20 star who was sent off just two minutes into the south final – but not for the first time Callum Lanigan’s point-taking was equally crucially, as he knocked over seven from frees and a superb effort from play.

Typical influential displays from brothers Gavin and Aaron O’Halloran, team captain Eric O’Halloran, defenders Scott Hogan and Ben Mulcaire, Callum Walsh and Aaron Dunne in attack contributed to another impressive Swan victory.

Despite the disappointment of another defeat to their south rivals, Killenaule will be heartened by the display, following on from their earlier win over St Mary’s.

Team captain Ciaran O’Dwyer showed great leadership again, Luke Ryan was impressive in play and free-taking and Paudie Feehan, Dean O’Connor, Mark Stakelum and Michael Doyle were major threats upfront. They were missing Eoin O’Connell through injury.

The game was only 28 seconds old when in the first Swan attack, Aaron Dunne broke down the left wing and crossed into the square for Jamie Holloway to run onto the ball, but he was pulled to the ground and Aaron O’Halloran blasted the penalty past John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer in the Killenaule goal.

Six minutes later Swan cut open the Killenaule defence once more, with Aaron Dunne again and Eric O’Halloran involved in the move that saw ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer pull off a stunning safe to deny Callum Lanigan. However, the ball fell to the feet of Stefan Tobin, who slammed the rebound home.

That put Swan 2-1 to 0-3 ahead, the Swan point from a Lanigan free, and Ciaran O’Dwyer from play and a free, and Luke Ryan from a free replying.

Once Killenaule settled into the game, they matched Swan score for score and trailed by a just a point, 2-3 to 0-8 midway through the half.

The two-man full forward line of Mark Stakelum and Michael Doyle were revelling in the space afforded, with Ciaran O’Dwyer, Paudie Feehan and Luke Ryan all looking lively.

Stakelum and Feehan scored two each without reply in the space of four minutes, Feehan’s second a cheeky score after he sneaked in between two Swan defenders who were taking too long to clear their lines.

Callum Lanigan scored four first half frees for Swan, with Dean Waters and Callum Walsh also on target as the Carrick side led by a point, 2-7 to 0-12 at the break. Killenaule had led for the only time in the game five minutes before the interval, 0-12 to 2-5, with Dean O’Connor finishing a move that also involved Shane Ryan and Fionn Fitzgerald, but late points from a Lanigan free and Walsh gave Swan the edge at the break.

Killenaule had been disappointed by their performance in their south final defeat, never really threatening to depose Swan, but this time they were much more competitive, only to be undone by the concession of three goals, the third coming four minutes into the second half.

A ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer free in the first minute of the half tied the scores again, but Swan hit back with points from Gavin O’Halloran and Stefan Tobin, before Tobin cut in from the left to shoot low past O’Dwyer for his second goal of the game.
A five-points deficit looked ominous for The Robins, 3-9 to 0-13, but they hit back with three in a row from a Ciaran O’Dwyer free and a 65, and Joe O’Dwyer from play.

However, they could never get closer than that, and over the next seven minutes Callum Lanigan pointed four times, three from frees and a superb score from play when under pressure, to a Killenaule response from a Luke Ryan free, to leave five between the sides, 3-13 to 0-17 entering the final quarter.

Killenaule outscored Swan five points to three in the closing stages, with three Luke Ryan frees, and Fionn Fitzgerald and substitute Gus Browne also on target, to Swan replies from Eric O’Halloran, Jamie Holloway and Aaron Dunne, but they could never fully close the gap, as Swan take a firm grip on Group 4.

Carrick Swan: Kieran Lonergan; Jack Murphy, Scott Hogan, Dean Kiely; Ben Mulcaire (0-1), Gavin O’Halloran (0-1), Luke O’Dwyer; Aaron O’Halloran (1-0 penalty), Dean Waters (0-1); Eric O’Halloran (0-1), Callum Lanigan (0-8, 7f), Jamie Holloway (0-1); Callum Walsh (0-1), Aaron Dunne (0-1), Stefan Tobin (2-1).

Subs: Eoin Hogan for Callum Walsh (57), Ryan Waters for Luke O’Dwyer (60), Darragh Dunne for Aaron Dunne (62).

Killenaule: John O’Dwyer (0-1f); Shane Ryan, Killian Ryan, Jack Hassett; Tom Keaveney, Tom Stakelum, Podge O’Dwyer; Ciaran O’Dwyer (0-5, 2f, 1 ’65), Fionn Fitzgerald (0-1); Joe O’Dwyer (0-1), Mark Stakelum (0-2), Dean O’Connor (0-2); Paudie Feehan (0-2), Luke Ryan (0-6f), Michael Doyle (0-1).

Subs: Dara Fitzgerald for Michael Doyle (39), Gus Browne (0-1) for Fionn Fitzgerald (52).

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Fr Sheehys).