Commercials pushed all the way by relentless Gaels combo in South Tipperary semi-final

South Tipperary Under 21 A Football Championship Semi-Final

CLONMEL COMMERCIALS 2-9 KNOCKMEALDOWN GAELS 1-9

Warm favourites Clonmel Commercials were pushed all the way by a battling Knockmealdown Gaels in the South Tipperary u-21 FC ‘A’ semi-final at a wet Ballylooby on Monday afternoon. Despite fielding without any of the county title winning senior team, Commercials were still packed with talent, but had to dig deep to overcome a Gaels outfit that won the ‘B’ grade in the division last season.

Two first half goals from Oisin Forristal proved crucial as Commercials won their way through to the decider, while second half substitute Alex Creed kicked three points that proved to be the difference between the sides at the final whistle.
A youthful Knockmealdown Gaels, made up of players from Ballylooby- Castlegrace, Fr. Sheehy’s and Ballyporeen, had little regard for the Clonmel side’s reputation as they took the game to the favourites from the throw in.

They scored the first two points and were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead before Forristal’s first goal settled the town side. The Gaels had drawn level again before Forristal struck for his second goal, scores that saw Commercials lead 2-2 to 0-6 at the break.

Forristal was Commercials’ top scorer with 2-2, but Knockmealdown Gaels’ full forward, Ben Carey, was not far behind with 1-3 in a superb overall performance. His goal five minutes into the second half restored his side’s lead, even though it only lasted 30 seconds before Dara O’Connor kicked the equaliser.

Carey points had the combination side ahead twice again before Commercials replied each time, and with sub Alex Creed pointing two frees and kicking another point from play, the Clonmel side led for much of the final quarter for a deserved, but hard-fought, victory.

Clonmel Commercials Ross Slattery drives past Alex Spens (Knockmealdown Gaels)

Forristal proved to be the match winner, but Joe Higgins was a tower of strength at midfield, with big displays also from Tadgh Sheehan, Dara O’Connor and captain Josh Kennedy, with Alex Creed making a big impact on his arrival. Knockmealdown Gaels had powerhouses all over the field on a difficult day for fluent football, with wing back Chris O’Donnell superb with probing runs from deep, Cathal English and Zach Keating busy at midfield, and Alex Spens and Evan Hickey complementing Ben Carey’s display in a threatening attack.

On a heavy surface at the Ballylooby-Castlegrace club’s pitch, the home side were out of the blocks first with Alex Spens pointing in the first minute and adding a second two minutes later. Ben O’Dwyer got Commercials off the mark in the fifth minute, but when a super Darragh Maher point restored the Gaels’ two points lead, it was obvious that the game was going to be competitive.

Commercials had yet to settle but they finally did when a flowing move involving Dara O’Connor and Niall Deely saw Oisin Forristal shoot to the net despite the best efforts to save the shot by Gaels keeper Evin Hyland.

Knockmealdown refused to be rattled and hit the next two points with Ben Carey involved in both – he set up Cathal English for the first and was fouled for the second, with English again pointing the free, to make it 0-5 to 1-1. But all their good work was undone when Dara O’Connor hit the equaliser and then Ross Slattery put Forristal through for his second goal.
However, the margin was back down to two points at the break, 2-2 to 0-6, with Spens hitting the last point of the half from a free.

With the rain continuing to pour down, the second half saw a lively start with Knockmealdown Gaels applying the early pressure. A brilliant turnover by Chris O’Donnell started the crucial move and he was involved again to provide the final pass to Ben Carey who shot to the net past Shane Ryan.

Anthony Keeley (Clonmel Commercials) is put under intense pressure by Kyle O'Gorman (KMD).

Dara O’Connor levelled again for Commercials but the Gaels were intent on causing an upset. Chris O’Donnell continued to be heavily involved in their best play, and it was no surprise when Ben Carey restored their lead. But again. it didn’t last long and Anthony Keeley hit the leveller.

Play swung back the other way and Ben Carey kicked one of the points of the game to make it 1-8 to 2-4 for Gaels. But Commercials deserve great credit for their perseverance and never letting the Gaels’ lead grow, and they were level again when Alex Creed pointed a free.

Creed was making a difference since his introduction, winning vital possession in the half forward line, and he shot the side ahead with a fine score from play. Commercials were now starting to dominate against a tiring Gaels, and they scored the next two points for a 2-8 to 1-8 lead entering the final ten minutes – the first from Oisin Forristal after a Dara O’Connor intercept had created the opportunity, and then from Forristal again after Creed had set up the score.

However, Gaels never relented and Ben Carey reduced the margin to two points with a fine score, before Commercials needed goalkeeper Shane Ryan to come to their rescue with a brilliant save from Evan Hickey when a goal looked on the cards.
But that was Gaels’ last real chance and they finished the game with fourteen players when Conor Morrissey was shown a black card for a foul on Forristal. Creed pointed the free and that wrapped up the scoring in an entertaining and highly competitive clash, with both sets of players giving everything on a difficult day for football.

Credit to Ballylooby- Castlegrace as well for having the pitch in such fine condition despite the heavy recent rains, providing the venue at late notice.

Clonmel Commercials – Shane Ryan, Conor Guiry, Eoin Walsh, Josh Kennedy, Ben O’Dwyer 0-1; Ross Slattery, Adam Cooney, Joe Higgins, Dean Cagney, Niall Deely, Dara O’Connor 0-2; Oisin Forristal 2-2; Sean Leahy, Anthony Keeley 0-1; Tadgh Sheehan. Subs – Alex Creed 0-3, 0-2 frees for Niall Deely, Oisin Power for Conor Guiry, Kian O’Reilly for Ben O’Dwyer, Mark Corcoran for Sean Leahy.

Knockmealdown Gaels – Evin Hyland, Conor Morrissey, Oisin Ryan, Kyle O’Gorman, John English, Charlie English, Chris O’Donnell, Cathal English 0-2, 0-1 free; Zach Keating, Darragh Maher 0-1; Alex Spens 0-3, 0-1 free; Evan Hickey, Paul Murphy, Ben Carey 1-3; Dylan Morrissey. Subs – Jack Morrissey for Dylan Morrissey, Aaron Hickey for Paul Murphy
Referee – Nigel Carrigan.