Absorbing local derby in Tipperary championship ends in victory for Clonmel Commercials

Clonmel Commercials 0-25 Moyle Rovers 1-19 (after extra-time)

When two football 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.

That’s just what neighbours and the keenest of rivals, Clonmel Commercials and Moyle Rovers, produced at Fethard GAA Park on Sunday in the FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship 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.
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.

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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 converted 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.

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A monumental effort from Moyle Rovers to knock out one of the championship favourites appeared to take its toll in extra-time, when Commercials hit three in a row in six minutes, with two points 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 half, 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 workrate 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 was one of the busiest players on the field, and Liam Boland contributed 0-6 from play and placed balls.

Such a close contest might not have been expected when Cian Smith from a free and Seanie O’Connor from play added to Seamus Kennedy’s early score to put Commercials three ahead after just three minutes. But a super two-pointer from Ger O’Sullivan opened the Rovers account, and even though Quinlivan hit a quick response, Rovers were soon level at 0-4 each through Quigley and Luke Boland.

They were also level at 0-5 each and 0-6 each, Peter McGarry and a Jack Kennedy 45 for Commercials, and a Liam Boland free and O’Keeffe for Moyle Rovers, before Rovers took the lead for the first time with a Boland free in the 20th minute.

Three minutes later their supporters were in full voice when Paddy O’Keeffe volleyed a loose ball off the ground past Shane Ryan in the Clonmel goal, and then Brian McKeown put Liam Boland in the clear to make it a five-points lead, 1-8 to 0-6.

Then Commercials hit a purple patch to draw level within six minutes, through Seanie O’Connor, a two-point free from Jack Kennedy, Seanie O’Connor again capitalising on a misplaced Rovers’ kickout, and Kevin Fahey with the leveller.

In a game of fluctuating fortunes, it was then Rovers’ opportunity to turn on the style with a brace of two pointers in two minutes – the first from play from Riain Quigley from a Paddy O’Keeffe pass, followed by a two-pointer free from Liam Boland, for a four points interval lead for Rovers, 1-12 to 0-11.

Both sides were guilty of wayward shooting in the early stages of the second half before Liam Boland stretched the Rovers lead to five in the 38th minute. But Commercials had it back to two again with a Darragh O’Connor two-pointer from play, and a Seanie O’Connor free following a foul on Jack Kennedy.

A Boland free made it three again before Commercials drew level with three points without reply, two from Cian Smith and the leveller from a Seanie O’Connor free seven minutes from the final whistle.

Commercials were beginning to dominate, controlling midfield, but they couldn’t convert possession into scores, and they were punished when Rory Collins was fouled after a quick break from defence, and Ger O’Sullivan pointed the free well into added time for a slender lead.

Tension was now at fever pitch, as Commercials’ season hung by a thread, as referee Derek O’Mahoney went into the third minute of added time.

However, one more turnover gave them a final chance for the equaliser and Seanie O’Connor kept his composure to split the uprights.

Given that extra chance, Commercials made it pay in extra-time to outscore Moyle Rovers by seven points to four. Relief and delight for Commercials, disappointment but pride for Rovers in a brave battle that they took to the wire.

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan, Tadhg Condon, James Morris, Ross Slattery, Kevin Fahey 0-1; Seamus Kennedy 0-3; Thomas Charles, Tadhg Sheehan, Jack Kennedy 0-4, 1x2ptf, 1x45; Rory O’Dowd, Seanie O’Connor 0-8, 3f; Darragh O’Connor 0-3, 1x2pt; Cian Smith 0-4, 1f; Michael Quinlivan 0-1; Peter McGarry 0-1.

Subs: Jamie Ahearn for Thomas Charles, Ross Peters for Rory O’Dowd, Cathal Deely for Tadhg Sheehan, Colman Kennedy for Peter McGarry, Thomas Charles for Ross Slattery, Rory O’Dowd for Kevin Fahey.

Moyle Rovers: Shane Ryan, Jack Harney, Graham Vaughan, Cathal McKeown, Luke Boland 0-1; Conor McGrath, Brian McKeown, Killian Butler, Rory Collins, Riain Quigley 0-4, 1x2pt; Liam Boland 0-6, 3f, 1x2ptf; Cian O’Sullivan, Paddy O’Keeffe 1-4, 1x2pt 1f; Ger O’Sullivan 0-3, 1x2pt, 2f; Dean English.

Subs: Shane Foley for Cian O’Sullivan, Sean Cotter for Dean English, Luke Foley for Liam Boland, Cian O’Sullivan for Conor McGrath, John Cronin 0-1 for Ger O’Sullivan, Dara Ryan for Brian McKeown.

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan).