Single point victory for Carrick Swan in south Tipperary Junior B hurling final

Carrick Swan 1-11 Clerihan 1-10

Carrick Swan are South Tipperary Junior B Hurling champions for the second year in a row, thanks to two late pointed frees from team captain James Waters.

Those scores saw them over the line against a battling Clerihan side under lights at Fethard Town Park on Saturday evening.

This hugely competitive game ended in a welter of excitement, with Clerihan looking likely winners when the outstanding Cian Mullane edged them a point ahead entering the final five minutes. However, holders Swan dug deep with another prized title on the line, and relentless pressure won them the two frees in injury time that Waters cooly converted.

With referee Paul Guinan playing up to six minutes of added time – there were a number of injuries, while play was also held up when tempers became frayed midway through the half – Clerihan still had time to force extra time, and they nearly did when Mullane won possession in the last play of the game.

Mullane had been flawless up to that stage, hitting 1-5 from play and converting three frees. But this time his radar was slightly off and the chance tailed agonisingly wide, leading to delight for the Swan players and supporters, and heartbreak for a Clerihan side that had given it their all.

The hurling wasn’t always slick but the game was very enjoyable, with two sides competing fiercely for every ball. Both sides had their periods of supremacy, but apart from an early Swan lead there were never more than two points between them in the second half, with play switching from end to end.

A better spread of scorers helped the Carrick side to victory. While Cian Mullane scored all but two of the Clerihan total, Swan were more potent in attack, with goalscorer Rowland Fitzpatrick, James Waters, Paul Diffily and Paudie Walsh all impressing.

They were also resolute in defence with the full back line of Josh Delaney, Sean Boland and Dean Cleary keeping the Clerihan inside forward line scoreless, while centre back Darren Murphy was a pillar of strength before his departure through injury.

Cian Mullane was imperious for Clerihan, and was the go-to player for most of their attacks. Cian O’Sullivan chipped in with two good points while Michael O’Connell, Tim Norris and Dan Walsh were solid in defence, with Billy Norris busy in the centre of the field.

Cian O’Sullivan opened the scoring for Clerihan in the fourth minute but by the midway point of the half, the Carrick side were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead. Paul Diffily drew them level and further points from play from Paudie Walsh and Rowland Fitzpatrick, plus a pointed free from James Waters, opened up a three-points lead.

Clerihan rallied, with their first point in twelve minutes from a Cian Mullane free, and then he converted another placed ball when Jack O’Rourke drew a foul following a pass from Billy Norris.

However, the Clerihan revival was short-lived when Rowland Fitzpatrick shot to the net past Liam Cleary for a super goal, taking the pass from James Waters.

The game might have started to slip away from Clerihan at that stage but they replied immediately with an even better goal. Mullane began the move, passing to Rhys McMorrow and taking the return pass before a blistering shot gave Keane Harrigan no chance in the Swan goal. And Clerihan were level when Cian O’Sullivan won possession from a Gavin Sheehan free to shoot over.

The end-to-end nature continued when two pointed frees from James Waters put Swan two ahead again, but the lead was down to a single point, 1-6 to 1-5, at the interval, with Mullane pointing a free in injury time.

And it was Mullane who turned the game on its head in the opening three minutes of the second half with three points in three minutes. The first came after taking a pass from Conor Horan, the second was a spectacular score from the right touchline, and the third came when he pounced on a breaking ball and pointed in the next move to make it 1-8 to 1-6.

Swan pressure saw James Waters point to reduce the lead. With the destination of the title in the melting pot, tensions rose and play was held up as referee Paul Guinan flashed yellow cards to both sides. When play resumed another fine Clerihan move saw Gavin Sheehan and Cian O’Sullivan involved in the move that led to another Mullane point for a 1-9 to 1-7 lead with ten minutes remaining.

It was level again following two points from Paul Diffily, the first from a free, and with just five minutes to go another Mullane point edged Clerihan ahead. However, it was to be their last score, as Swan finished the game stronger, with team captain James Waters central to most of the action.

As his side battled to retain their title, Waters saw a shot come off the upright and go wide and then a 65 dropped short. But perseverance had its reward, and when the referee threw the ball in following a melee after the 65, Swan won possession, earned a free and Waters tapped it over from close range for the leveller.

The game was now well into added time but Swan maintained the pressure and their chance came when David Walsh was fouled and Waters kept his composure to knock over the free for the winning score.

Few would have denied Clerihan the chance to force extra time, but Cian Mullane’s last gasp attempt in the 36th minute of the half went narrowly wide.

Carrick Swan: Keane Harrigan, Josh Delaney, Sean Boland, Dean Cleary, Aaron O’Sullivan, Darren Murphy, Gavin Parslow, Alan Walsh, Keith Walsh, Rowland Fitzpatrick 1-1; James Waters 0-6, 5 frees; Paul Diffily 0-3, 1 free; Evan Hogan, David Walsh, Paudie Walsh 0-1.

Subs: Warren Fleming for Gavin Parslow, James Bourke for Darren Murphy, Darren Waters for Paudie Walsh, Glen Kerwick for Rowland Fitzpatrick.

Clerihan: Liam Carey, Michael O’Connell, James Butler, Isaac McCarthy, Tim Norris, Gavin Sheehan, Dan Walsh, Billy Norris, Conor Horan, Jack O’Rourke, Cian Mullane 1-8, 0-3 frees; Cian O’Sullivan 0-2; Andrew O’Donnell, Eoin O’Dwyer, Rhys McMorrow.

Sub: Sean Hahessy for Andrew O’Donnell.

Referee: Paul Guinan (Killenaule).