Landslide win for Clonmel Commercials in south Tipperary Under 21 football final

Clonmel Commercials 5-15 Mullinahone 0-5

The South Tipperary Under 21 A Football Championship final, played before a paltry attendance at Cahir on Sunday, was a total mismatch.

Clonmel Commercials wrapped up their fourth divisional title of the year to add to the Senior, Under 19 A and Under 17 A crowns, as they showed on this display that they will be a force going forward for some time to come.

On Sunday they had top class displays from Tadhg Condon, Peter McGarry, Cathal Deely, Declan Nee, Cian Smith, Anthony Keeley and their standout player on the day, Sean O’Connor, who scored a total of 3-2, with 3-1 coming from play.

Michael O’Shea, Conor Whelan, Eanna Ryan and Josh Rowan all caught the eye for a shell-shocked Mullinahone.

The opening score in the second minute came from a Mullinahone free scored by Eanna Ryan.

However, the pace and speed of movement by Commercials produced score after score, as they tore open the Mullinahone defence.

They scored 2-3 without reply, the goals coming from Anthony Keeley and Sean O’Connor with the points from Cian Smith (two) and Peter McGarry, all from play, before Mullinahone had their second point in the 15th minute from a free by Eanna Ryan.

The Commercials machine that dominated all areas rolled on, scoring at will, and they had another 2-5 by the interval, with Sean O’Connor easily putting away two goals and a point from play.

They also had points from Peter McGarry 0-2, Cian Smith and Ruairi Leahy, leaving the half-time score Commercials 4-8 Mullinahone 0-2.

Shortly after the start of the second half Mullinahone scored their third point and first from play with an excellent score from Michael O’Shea. This respite was short-lived, however, with Commercials scoring 1-1 from play, the goal coming from an excellent move that ended with Sean O’Connor finishing to the net, while the point came from Oisin Forristal.

Mullinahone had a chance of a goal when Shane Morris was put through. However, he was denied by a great save by the Clonmel goalie Shane Ryan, and on the counter attack Commercials were awarded a free in front of the goal, with Cian Smith pointing.

As the Commercials dominance continued, Cathal Deely added two points from play in as many minutes, while Cian Smith added another point.

In the final 15 minutes Commercials took the pedal off the metal, with both teams scoring two points. For Commercials, Darragh O’Connor, who was introduced in the 50th minute for Peter McGarry, was on target, as was Darragh's brother Sean from a free.

For Mullinahone, Eanna Ryan scored a point from a free, with Michael O’Shea, who had moved to full forward, scoring the other point.

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan, Josh Kennedy, Ross Slattery, Oisin Power, James Morris, Tadhg Condon, Eoin McCarthy, Peter McGarry 0-3, Cathal Deely 0-2, Ruairi Leahy 0-1, Declan Nee, Oisin Forristal 0-1, Cian Smith 1-4 (0-1 free), Sean O’Connor 3-2 (0-1 free), Anthony Keeley 1-1.

Subs used: Dean Cagney, Kian O’ Reilly, Darragh O’Connor 0-1, Aidan Brannigan, Tadhg Sheehan.

Mullinahone: Cathal Brett, Sean O’ Dwyer, Cillian White, Diarmuid White, James Cody, Eoin O’Dwyer, Steven Hickey, Conor Whelan, Michael O’Shea 0-2, Danny Dunne, Eanna Ryan 0-3 frees, Rian O’ Halloran, Patrick Hayes, Josh Rowan, Shane Morris.

Sub: Daniel Vaughan for Diarmuid White.

Referee: Luke Foran (Carrick Davins).