Killenaule advance to South Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship final with win over Mullinahone

Killenaule 1-15 Mullinahone 0-15 

In an exciting duel at Páirc na hEalaí on Sunday last Killenaule reversed last year’s result at the same stage, winning by three points to reach the Clonmel Oil South Senior Hurling Championship final, where they will meet either St Mary’s or Carrick Swan.

The goal scored by Tom Stakelum in the 17th minute of the first half gave them a lead that they held all the way to the end and at half-time they led by 1-9 to 0-9.

In the first five minutes Killenaule were 0-3 to 0-1 up thanks to points from Mark Stakelum, Michael Doyle and a 45 metre free by John O’Dwyer, to a single point scored from a 30 metres free by Mullinahone’s Jack Shelly.

Mullinahone added a point from a free again scored by Jack Shelly before Tom Stakelum scored a great point for Killenaule from near the corner flag.

John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer had a Killenaule point in the 14th minute before Mullinahone got their first point from play when Enda Keane fired over after a great run.

The last score of the first quarter was a Mullinahone point from a free by Jack Shelly, leaving the score Killenaule 0-5 Mullinahone 0-4.

In the 16th minute the sides were level for the only time when Michael Quinn pointed from play on the run.

Parity was short-lived, however, as on the next Killenaule attack John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer was denied a goal but the ball fell kindly to Tom Stakelum, who made no mistake in crashing a shot to the net to put his side three points ahead.

After a fumble by Eoin Fennelly, Michael Doyle pointed for Killenaule before Enda Keane got his second point from play.

John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer pointed a free from 70 metres and on the next attack for Mullinahone, Jack Shelly’s shot hit the crossbar before going over the bar. Then John O’Dwyer pointed a free from the middle of the field.

In the 24th and 25th minutes Jack Shelly scored two points, one from a 65, with the final score of the half coming for Killenaule when John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer pointed a 45 metre free, leaving the half-time score Killenaule 1-9 Mullinahone 0-9.

After the short whistle both teams started the second half as they finished the first, with commitment and determination.

However, the rate of scoring was very much reduced, with the intensity of the clashes very noticeable. Chances came and went and the first score of the new half came in the 32nd minute, a Michael Doyle point from play.

Former Tipperary All-Ireland-winning captain Eoin Kelly, who played in goal for Mullinahone, made a great save from Tom Stakelum. Mark Stakelum added a point from play in the 36th minute and then a tremendous sideline ball by Enda Keane from 45 metres brought Mullinahone back to just two points behind.

However Tom Stakelum and Dean O’Connor scored two points from play and by the 39th minute Killenaule’s Eoin Barry made it 1-13 to 0-11.

Mullinahone fought back with two points scored from Jack Shelly frees, the second awarded after Conor Whelan ran at least 80 metres before being taken down.

In the 41st minute the score was 1-13 to 0-13, before an exchange of points between Killenaule’s Michael Doyle and a Jack Shelly free from 35 metres.

Killenaule’s Thomas Keaveney had a point from a free and despite losing Mark Stakelum to a second yellow card and a Jack Shelly free from 30 metres they held on for victory.

Best for Killenaule were the four O’Dwyers in the backline - Cillian, Padraig, Ciaran and Joe, with John ‘Bubbles’ up front having a good first half, when he scored 0-5.

Dean O’Connor, Michael Doyle and Tom Stakelum were also prominent in attack.

Conor Whelan, Michael O’ Shea and Jack Shelly stood out for Mullinahone.

Killenaule: Joe Caesar, Jack Hassett, Cillian O’Dwyer, Padraig O’ Dwyer, Ciaran O’Dwyer, Joe O’ Dwyer, Thomas Keaveney 0-1 free, Fionn Fitzgerald, Darragh Fitzgerald, Mark Stakelum 0-2, Dean O’Connor 0-1, John O’Dwyer 0-5 (4 frees), Michael Doyle 0-3, Tom Stakelum 1-2, Eoin Barry 0-1.

Subs: Luke Ryan for Darragh Fitzgerald, Jimmy Feehan for Fionn Fitzgerald.

Mullinahone: Eoin Kelly, Kevin Walzer, Eoin Fennelly, Conor O’Brien, Alan Curran, Sean Curran, Conor Whelan, Colin Shelly, Martin Kehoe, Daire O’Brien, Michael O’ Shea, Enda Keane 0-4 (1 sideline), Michael Quinn 0-2, Jack Shelly 0-9 (7 frees), Eoin O’Dwyer.

Subs: Donal Dunne for Kevin Walzer, Kevin Walzer for Colin Shelly (injured), Diarmuid White for Martin Kehoe (injured).

Referee: Luke Foran (Carrick-on-Suir).