Tipperary champions Clonmel Commercials run out of steam down the home stretch

St Finbarr’s 1-17 Clonmel Commercials 2-11

Ten years after their groundbreaking provincial championship success, Clonmel Commercials’ dream of advancing in this season’s Munster Club Senior Football Championship was crushed in the closing stages of Saturday's quarter-final at Clonmel Sportsfield, when the game slipped away from them as they lost out in a gripping encounter against St Finbarr's.

The Tipperary champions were the better team for much of this energy-sapping contest, watched by a large attendance of almost 2,000, and played in testing conditions following heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the game. However, that superiority wasn’t translated into scores against a St Finbarr’s side that made the most of their escape route, with their players and supporters alike mightily relieved to have progressed to a home semi-final against Clare champions Eire Og of Ennis this weekend.

Ahead by the minimum, 1-9 to 1-8, at the halfway stage, Commercials had chances to extend their advantage in the early stages of the second period. However, a few efforts were either sent wide of the upright or dropped short into the hands of Cork goalie Darragh Newman. They had ample possession throughout the match but their lack of a finish would come back to haunt them.

READ NEXT: Talented Tipperary entrepreneurs will display their products at Christmas market

Midway through the second half, they put their wastefulness behind them when Michael Quinlivan made the most of a slip by St Finbarr's Jamie Burns, racing away before passing to Sean O’Connor. Darragh Newman got a hand to O’Connor’s low effort but couldn’t keep it out and this second goal had Commercials back in front by two, 2-10 to 1-11.

St Finbarr's thought they had regained the lead in the 48th minute but Ethan Twomey struck the side netting with a close range effort, as the tempo was raised a few notches.

SEE MORE: Failures at two hospitals resulted in years of crisis, fear and loss for Tipperary family

With ten minutes remaining, St Finbarr’s equalised courtesy of Steven Sherlock’s two-pointer free. In a game that was now balanced on a knife edge, Commercials hit the front again when Jack Kennedy scored in the 52nd minute after he had worked a one-two with his brother Colman.

But in the remaining seven minutes of normal time, plus three minutes of additional time, they were outscored by 0-4 to no score by The Barrs, who produced the stronger finish. William Buckley equalised before Cillian Myles Murray restored their lead.

As St Finbarr’s kicked for home in additional time, William Buckley and Ian Maguire fisted points. Commercials pressed hard and won a free when Seamus Kennedy was fouled, but attempts at goal by Sean Kennedy, Peter McGarry, Colman Kennedy and Jack Kennedy were blocked, as time ran out on their brave effort.

It was a case of what might have been for a Commercials team playing its third game in as many weeks, with that schedule eventually taking its toll on a heavy surface. Crucially, they had one two-pointer score, in comparison to three for St Finbarr's.

The Clonmel team can still hold their heads high at the end of a season that has been particularly challenging this past month, a spell that included the passing of longtime mentor Philly Ryan and last weekend’s county final victory.

Their attempts to reach the last four were nothing short of heroic. Captain Seamus Kennedy, Michael Quinlivan, Jack Kennedy and Sean O’Connor carried the fight to St Finbarr’s all afternoon, those four players in particular covering acres of ground.

Darragh O’Connor, Cian Smith, Peter McGarry, Tadhg Condon and Ross Slattery also had their moments for a side that gave its all.

A bumper attendance of 1,805 was present on a wet day, with five-times provincial champions St Finbarr’s providing the opposition as the Munster Club senior championship returned to Clonmel for the first time since 2017.

Steven Sherlock and William Buckley of St Finbarr’s, and Commercials’ Sean O’Connor (including a free) traded early scores, as the largest attendance at the venue in years settled down to witness this clash of the Tipperary and Cork champions.

Michael Quinlivan, who was roaming from one side of the pitch to the other to good effect, gave Commercials the lead before Cork’s hurling All-Star Brian Hayes restored parity.

Ethan Twomey regained the lead for a Cork team who were moving the ball faster than their opponents in the final third of the pitch. They went three ahead when Steven Sherlock kicked the first of his two-pointers. 

However, Commercials produced a lightning-fast movement of their own to carve open the St Finbarr’s defence in the 13th minute, with Joe Higgins, Sean O’Connor and Michael Quinlivan all involved before Cian Smith’s shot shook the back of the net to tie the scores for the fourth time (1-3 to 0-6).

Commercials had two more converted frees from Sean O’Connor, with the older O’Connor brother, along with Seamus Kennedy and Jack Kennedy, really starting to exert their influence on the game.

Steven Sherlock responded with a point from another free, but Commercials were starting to warm to their task now, with Ross Peter and Cian Smith putting them a goal clear by the 24th minute (1-7 to 0-7). 

A minute later, however, St Finbarr’s were thrown a lifeline, when Conor Dennedy poked the rebound home after Brian Hayes’ shot had been parried by Commercials goalie Shane Ryan. 

The goal came against the run of play but Commercials didn’t allow it to deter them, with Darragh O’Connor supplying their only two-pointer of the afternoon with a superb effort.

Commercials had produced a stirring response each time St Finbarr’s had come up with a significant score, including a Sherlock two-pointer and Dennehy’s goal. The Clonmel team were good value for their half-time lead of 1-9 to 1-8, despite Steven Sherlock’s point for St Finbarr’s in the last action of the half.

The Barrs had two points early in the second half from another Sherlock two-pointer, and a point from Ethan Twomey when a goal looked on. Back came Commercials again, with Sean O’Connor landing a free before the same player, who was a handful all afternoon, found the net for his team’s second goal.

The teams were level seven times in this game of swaying fortunes, and no one would have complained had extra-time been required to settle the teams’ differences. 

However, St Finbarr’s had other ideas.

The performances of Steven Sherlock, William Buckley, Ethan Twomey, Ian Maguire and Brian Hayes will have offered them every encouragement that they can now qualify for the Munster final for their first time since they were crowned champions in 2021.

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan, Tadhg Condon, James Morris, Ross Slattery, Joe Higgins, Seamus Kennedy, Cathal Deely, Darragh O’Connor (1 two-pointer), Jack Kennedy (0-1), Rory O’Dowd, Sean O’Connor (1-5, 0-4 frees), Peter McGarry, Ross Peters (0-1), Michael Quinlivan (0-1), Cian Smith (1-1).

Substitutes: Colman Kennedy for Ross Peters (38 minutes), Tadhg Sheehan for Cathal Deely (50), Sean Kennedy for Joe Higgins (58).

St Finbarr’s: Darragh Newman, Billy Hennessy, Jamie Burns, Sam Ryan, Dylan Quinn, Alan O’Connor, Ciarán Doolan, Ian Maguire (0-1), Brian Hayes (0-1), William Buckley (0-3), Steven Sherlock (0-9, two two-pointer frees, one two-pointer, 0-2 frees), Conor Dennehy (1-0), Enda Dennehy, Ethan Twomey (0-2), Ricky Barrett.

Substitutes: Luke Hannigan for Enda Dennehy (42 minutes), Cillian Myles Murray (0-1) for Ricky Barrett, Eoin McGreevy for Jamie Burns (48).

Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare).