Killenaule lay out challenge with trouncing of St Marys in South Championship

Clonmel Oil South Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Killenaule 1-26

St. Mary’s 0-15

By Michael Heverin

Holders Killenaule cruised into another Clonmel Oil South SHC final with a comfortable fourteen points win over an out-classed St Mary’s in the semi-final at Davin Park, Carrick-on-Suir on Sunday evening, winning 1-26 to 0-15.

The pattern was set once Killenaule raced into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes. The lead had extended to 1-10 to 0-6 at the interval and the Robins outscored the Clonmel side by nine points in the second period.

It was a hugely impressive performance from Killenaule, who out-hurled and out-muscled an under-strength St Mary’s, with both midfielders and six forwards scoring from play.

 Team captain Joe O’Dwyer led by example, with 1-6 from play as well as converting five frees; Tom Stakelum was outstanding at full forward with four points, three in a row either side of half-time; Podge O’Dywer matched him with four as well; and Killian O’Dwyer chipping in with two.

In defence, Ciaran O’Dwyer was a colossus at centre half-back, thwarting Clonmel attacks throughout, while the experience of players such as Paddy Codd and Jimmy Feehan was crucial. Killenaule will be an even more potent force when John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dywer returns from injury.

It was always going to be a tough ask for St Mary’s, short such key players as Seamus Kennedy, James Morris, Cathal Deely, Niall Hoctor, Ruairi Leahy and Michael Murphy. Their battling qualities were never in doubt but they couldn’t match the intensity of the Slieveardagh side, with Seamus Kennedy’s imposing presence a key loss in such a contest.

Their nine points from play, compared to Killenaule’s 1-20 from open play, reflects their difficulties in attack, with Peter McGarry one of their most lively forwards with two points. Josh Ryan and Sammy Ryan both hit a brace as the Clonmel side put some nice moves together but lacked the killer punch in front of the goal. They also left some scores behind them with hurried shooting.

Yet, they never let their heads drop and will regroup for a return meeting with Killenaule when they clash in the group stages of the county championship later this summer. Team captain Ross Slattery led by example at the back, with Conor Deely and Josh Ryan also impressing; Sammy Ryan and Richie Gunne were busy around the centre, with Peter McGarry, Sean Kennedy and Jamie Power, doing well upfront.

Killenaule, who now awaits a final with the winners of Carrick Swan and Mullinahone who meet this weekend, started like a train and raced into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead in eight minutes. Killian O’Dwyer opened their scoring in the first minute, and even though Sean Kennedy from a free levelled for St Mary’s within a minute, it was Killenaule who upped the tempo, with five points without reply, four from Joe O’Dwyer, two from frees, and the other from Paudie Feehan, following great play from Thomas Keaveney and Podge O’Dwyer.

St. Mary’s needed to settle before the game got away from them, and they did with two in a row after twelve minutes – Sean Kennedy pointed a free following a foul on Peter McGarry, and then Jamie Power sent over a superb point from the right touchline.

But that three point margin, 0-6 to 0-3, was as close as the town side were to get. Joe O’Dwyer pushed it out to four again, and then midway through the half, the captain scored the game’s only goal, taking a pass from Jimmy Feehan to shoot past Enda Dunphy.

McGarry from play and Kennedy from a free were both off target before Kennedy steadied the ship from a free. Fionn Fitzgerald replied immediately for Killenaule, but then St Mary’s hit two in a row again as they gave their supporters something to shout about. The first was an outstanding long-range point from Conor Deely from deep in his own half, and when Josh Ryan added another, it was 1-8 to 0-6.

But Killenaule – and in particular Tom Stakelum – finished the half on a high, with the full forward hitting the last two points in a space of a minute. It might have been more but referee Nigel Carrigan blew for half-time as Killenaule were launching another attack – a whistle less than fifteen seconds into added time that the Killenaule management thought was a little premature.

But it didn’t interrupt their momentum as Tom Stakelum hit his third in a row less than a minute into the second half. Once again, St Mary’s responded with two in a row, both from Sean Kennedy, one from a free, but they couldn’t build on that, and Killenaule hit the next four without reply, from Joe O’Dwyer, Podge O’Dwyer, Killian O’Dwyer from distance, and Podge O’Dwyer again.

As they continued to press the over-worked St Mary’s defence, Killenaule were looking for more goals but were denied on at least two occasions by sharp goalkeeping from Clonmel netminder Enda Dunphy. Another Joe O’Dwyer point was sandwiched between two St Mary’s scores from Sammy Ryan and Peter McGarry to make it 1-16 to 0-10 twelve minutes into the second half.

With a nine points deficit, the game was already drifting from St. Mary’s, but then three points in a row for Killenaule in the space of two minutes – two from Joe O’Dwyer free and a fourth for Tom Stakelum – put the result beyond any doubt at 1-19 to 0-10 entering the final quarter.

However, St Mary’s never gave up the battle despite the mounting odds against them and matched the winner's score for a score over the next ten minutes. Peter McGarry responded to Joe O’Dwyer’s second free; a Thomas Keaveney point was followed by a Sean Kennedy free; a great Podge O’Dwyer point after intricate Killenaule passing was replied to by Josh Ryan after sustained Clonmel pressure; and when Podge O’Dwyer scored again, St Mary’s hit back through Darragh Landers to make it 1-22 to 0-14 with five minutes left.

As St. Mary’s tired, Killenaule finished off their scoring in the last five minutes, with points from Dara Fitzgerald, two from Joe O’Dwyer, and their last from substitute Michael Doyle, to a solitary St Mary’s reply from Sammy Ryan.

Killenaule: Joe Caesar; Finn Nolan, Paddy Codd, Jack Hassett; Cian Johnson, Ciaran O’Dwyer, Jimmy Feehan; Killian O’Dwyer (0-2), Thomas Keaveny (0-1); Joe O’Dwyer (1-11, 0-5f), Paudie Feehan (0-1), Podge O’Dwyer (0-4); Fionn Fitzgerald (0-1), Tom Stakelum (0-4), Dara Fitzgerald (0-1). 

Subs used: Eoin O’Connell for Fionn Fitzgerald; Michael Doyle (0-1) for Cian Johnson.

St Mary’s: Enda Dunphy; Eoghan Walsh, Ross Slattery, Thomas Charles; Conor Deely (0-1), Tadgh Condon, Josh Ryan (0-2); Sammy Ryan (0-2), Richie Gunne; Gearoid Buckley, Sean Kennedy (0-6, 0-5f), Dean Cagney; Jamie Power (0-1), Peter McGarry (0-2), Darragh Landers 0-1. 

Subs used: Oisin Forristal for Dean Cagney.

Referee: Nigel Carrigan (Ballybacon Grange)