First win for Carrick Swan in Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

Carrick Swan 2-13 Thurles Sarsfields 0-18

Carrick Swan chiselled out a hard-earned victory, their first in Group 2 of the FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, when they pipped Thurles Sarsfields by the narrowest of margins thanks to an additional time free from Gavin O’Halloran at Clonmel Sportsfield on Saturday evening.

In a closely-fought encounter, neither side would hardly have complained had they had to settle for a draw. However, O’Halloran, who was the Carrick-on-Suir team’s creator-in-chief all evening, was the match-winner when he stepped up to send a free between the posts just over three minutes into additional time, after Eric O’Halloran had been bundled over by a rash Sarsfields challenge.

If that score was crucial, then the Swan’s second goal, scored 12 minutes earlier, was equally so. When a long ball was dropped into the danger zone, Swan substitute Calum Walsh capitalised on the chaos in front of the Sarsfields goal by flicking the loose ball to the net.

That score, which arrived nine minutes from the end of normal time, put the Carrick side ahead for the first time (2-12 to 0-16). 

However, they still had work to do to close out the victory. Thurles Sarsfields, who by now had been reduced to 14 players following David Maher’s dismissal as the game entered the final quarter, battled hard in the face of that adversity. 

They drew level with five minutes of normal time remaining, after Aidan Ryan had scored from long range, before Liam McCormack showed a great turn of foot to sprint past a defender to shoot the equaliser.

Each side had chances to fashion a winner during the exciting finale, and it seemed as if the game was destined to finish all square until Gavin O’Halloran’s all-important late intervention.

Sarsfields will have been desperately disappointed to have left Clonmel empty-handed, especially having led for more than three-quarters of the game. David Maher’s departure, when he received a straight red card from referee Nigel Carrigan following a foul on a Swan player, upset their rhythm at a stage when they were ahead by two points.

Swan soon drew level for the first time following points from a Gavin O’Halloran free and Jamie Holloway, after they had patiently worked the ball across the pitch. 

Then Jack Lanigan restored Sarsfields’ lead from a free before Calum Walsh found the net, as the excitement levels were raised a few notches.

The Thurles team’s second string, which included former Tipperary All-Ireland winner Michael Cahill at centre back, had shaped as likely winners for much of the game, with leading scorer Jack Lanigan, as well as Tommy Maher, Rory Purcell and Jock Fogarty, proving them with plenty of impetus.

However, Swan refused to concede an inch. In addition to Gavin O’Halloran, who was their best player, they also had sterling performances from Kevin Lanigan, Jamie Holloway, Aaron Dunne, Shane Torpey and captain Dean Waters.

After a fractious opening, which featured a couple of off the ball incidents and two yellow cards in the first five minutes, a hurling match eventually broke out. Sarsfields were four points clear by the eighth minute, following points from Robbie Stapleton, Jock Fogarty and converted frees from Tommy Maher and Jack Lanigan.

Swan badly needed a response and they got it in the ninth minute with their opening score when Corey Ryan batted the ball to the net after good work by Kevin Lanigan, and especially Dean Waters, in one of the best moves of the game.

Undeterred, Sarsfields drove on with scores from Jack Lanigan, Tommy Maher, Lanigan again and Tommy Maher again. The nearest they came to raising a green flag came in the 16th minute when Robbie Stapleton’s drive was blocked by Swan goalie Kieran Lonergan.

Swan, who were being forced to play second fiddle, kept in touch with points from Gavin O’Halloran (0-2) and Aaron Dunne.

Sarsfields retained their lead with points from Rory Purcell (0-2) and Jack Lanigan.

However, three long range points from Gavin O’Halloran, including two frees, kept Swan's interest in the contest very much alive approaching half-time, at which stage Sarsfields led by 0-10 to 1-5.

The early second half exchanges were similarly close, Sarsfields preserving their advantage with scores from Jack Lanigan (two frees and a point from play) and Jock Fogarty, with a great effort struck from near the sideline.

Swan succeeded in closing the gap to a single point by the three-quarter stage, after Aaron Dunne and Gavin O’Halloran (from a ‘65, a sideline ball and a free) had found the target, with most of the drama still to unfold in the final phase of the game.     

Carrick Swan: Kieran Lonergan, Jack Murphy, Billy Murphy, Dean Kiely, Colin Waters, Kevin Lanigan, Shane Torpey, Gavin O’Halloran (0-9, 6 frees, 1 ‘65, 1 sideline), Owen Harrigan, Corey Ryan (1-0), Dean Waters (captain), Jamie Holloway (0-1), Eric O’Halloran, Taylor Fleming (0-1), Aaron Dunne (0-2). 

Substitutes: Calum Walsh (1-0) for Corey Ryan, Aidan Waters for Taylor Fleming, Scott Hogan for Colin Waters, Calum Lanigan for Jamie Holloway.

Thurles Sarsfields: Kevin Bracken, Paul Maher, David Maher, Jack O’Mara, Kieran Moloney, Michael Cahill, Henry Fogarty, Tommy Maher (0-2, 1 free), Harry Fitzgibbon (0-1), Mossie McCormack (captain), Liam McCormack (0-1), Jock Fogarty (0-2), Rory Purcell (0-2), Jack Lanigan (0-8, 5 frees), Robbie Stapleton (0-1).

Substitute: Aidan Ryan (0-1) for Rory Purcell.

Referee: Nigel Carrigan (Ballybacon/Grange).