Rockwell Rovers power past Commercials to book place in Intermediate football final

FBD Intermediate Football Championship semi-final

Rockwell Rovers 2-14  

Clonmel Commercials 1-8

By John O’Shea 

Rockwell Rovers are back in the FBD Intermediate Football final for the first time since their winning year of 2020 following their nine-point victory over Clonmel Commercials at Fethard GAA Grounds on Sunday afternoon. 

Played before a small crowd on a greasy pitch with a constant drizzle from early on, the New Inn side pushed on after the break to outscore their opponents by 1-7 to 0-3 during that second half.

They were that bit slicker than Commercials, attacked at pace, and really should have put away two clear-cut goal chances during the opening quarter. 

In the end, it took a five-minute spell at the start of the final quarter to put light between the sides, with Alan Moloney kicking a two-point free and adding two further points from open play. 

Overall, they were much sharper in attack, with TJ Ryan and Eoin Byrnes always posing a threat to the Commercials' defence.

The Clonmel side lacked penetration in attack, with only 0-3 from open play coming from their forwards. Goalkeeper Ciaran Cannon kicked 0-3, including a two-point free, while defender Conor Guiry got in for their first-half major.

Commercials attacked the town goal from the throw-in, but despite having possession for the opening two minutes, they failed to register on the scoreboard. Eventually, Rockwell got their hands on the ball, and in their first attack, Eoin Byrnes kicked a two-pointer from outside the arc following interplay with Alan Moloney. TJ Ryan put them three up when he was put through by Jack O’Kelly in the fourth minute.

Shane Power got Commercials moving on the scoreboard with a point after eight minutes, but it was Rockwell who were beginning to find gaps in the opposition defence. Two good goal chances were created but came to nothing. 

Niall Deely finished a good move from midfield, and then Ciaran Cannon put his side ahead for the only time from a converted two-point free after the referee had moved the ball forward for impeding the free-taker. 

This lead was short-lived as Jack O’Kelly had Rockwell back on level terms before TJ Ryan added a two-point free on 19 minutes. Rockwell were transferring their possession into scores, and in an attacking move out of defence, Kieran McGovern was on hand to pounce on a rebound, after Ciaran Cannon had saved, to crash home the opening goal after 21 minutes. 

TJ Ryan put six between the sides when he put over his fourth minor after Cannon had pulled off another save.

Commercials hit back late in the half, and Conor Guiry pounced on a breaking ball to beat Eoghan Doyle, and when a free was awarded for breaking the three-defenders rule, Shane Power cut the deficit to two in added time, leaving the half-time score Rockwell Rovers 1-7, Clonmel Commercials 1-5.

Commercials were forced to replace the injured Aldo Matassa at the break, and the loss of his influence around the middle third was evident during the second half. 

Rockwell continued to attack the Clonmel defence, but a few balls dropped short before Kevin Cleary found the range to end a move started by Alan Moloney out at midfield. Moloney’s move to the midfield area began to pay dividends as he got his opening score at the three-quarter stage from a fisted effort, before following up with a two-point free. 

Pa Hickey and Ciaran Cannon, from a placed ball, traded scores before Alan Moloney was on the mark with 10 minutes remaining. 

James Power, from a free, and one from play from Sean Kennedy reduced the deficit to five, but a goal from Eoin Byrnes with five minutes remaining put paid to the Commercials challenge as the New Inn side ran out easy winners in the end. They now play Thurles Sarsfields in the final next weekend.

Scorers: Rockwell Rovers: TJ Ryan (0-4, 1x2ptf), Alan Moloney (0-4, 1x2ptf), Eoin Byrnes (1-3, 1x2pt),  Kieran McGovern (1-0), Kevin Cleary (0-1), Jack O’Kelly (0-1), Pa Hickey (0-1).

Clonmel Commercials: Conor Guiry (1-0), Ciaran Cannon (0-3, 1x2ptf, 0-1f), Shane Power (0-2, 0-1f), Niall Deely (0-1), Sean Kennedy (0-1), James Power (0-1f).

Rockwell Rovers: Eoghan Doyle; Liam Lonergan, Robbie O’Donnell, Peter Heaney; Luca Fitzgerald, Liam Fahey, Kieran McGovern; Tom Downey, Joe Lawrence; Jack O’Kelly, Gavin Ryan, Kevin Cleary; Eoin Byrnes, Alan Moloney, TJ Ryan.

Subs used: Aidan Barron for Jack O’Kelly (39); Pa Hickey for Gavin Ryan (39); Willie Flynn for Eoin Byrnes (59); Stephen Boland for TJ Ryan (59).

Clonmel Commercials: Ciaran Cannon; Conor Guiry, Liam Ryan, Eoghan Walsh; Danny Morris, Donal Lynch, Conor Deely; Aldo Matassa, Joe Higgins; Óisín Forristal, Seán Kennedy, Niall Deely; Tadhg Walsh, Shane Power, James Power.

Subs used: Max O’Dwyer for Aldo Matassa (HT, inj); Michael Connellan for Max O’Dwyer (49); Danny Hogan for Niall Deely (50); Dean Cagney for Conor Guiry (57); Rory Maher for Óisín Forristal (57).

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Fr. Sheehys)