Champions Clonoulty brush aside Eire Og for place in West Tipperary final

Defending champions Clonoulty/Rossmore lay down a strong marker to any pretenders to their Tipperary Co-Op West Senior Hurling Championship crown when they comfortably brushed aside the challenge of Eire Og Annacarty in the first of this weekend’s semi-final at Dundrum on Friday evening.
When the sides met in last year’s final just four points separated them however goals from Stephen Ferncombe and Danny Slattery in the first 12 minutes and a third from Jack Ryan two minutes before half time coupled with eight first half points from Cathal Bourke helped them into an unassailable advantage at the break.
Seanie Ryan got Eire Og off the mark in the first minute but was almost immediately cancelled out by Cathal Bourke at the railway end. Clonoulty with the advantage of the wind went a point ahead when Stephen Ferncombe opened his account, this all inside the first two minutes. By the sixth minute Cathal Bourke pointed his first free to push the champions back a point in front. At this stage the game looked as if it would be close but that changed in the ninth minute when John O’Keeffe who had sneaked forward was brought down for a penalty. Stephen Ferncombe stepped up and gave Darragh Mooney no chance.
Seanie Ryan and Darragh Kelly kept Eire Og in touch but then Clonoulty hit a second blow. Danny Slattery gathered possession about 20m out cutting in from the sideline before he unleashed a powerful shot past Darragh Mooney into the top corner.
The defending champions led 2-5 to 0-5 early in the second quarter as Cathal Bourke added another from a placed ball. Brian Fox forced Martin Sadlier into a good save in the Clonoulty goal. Goal scorer Slattery added a superb point when he caught a great crossfield ball from Sean O’Connor out around wing forward before turning back inside and splitting the posts. Darragh Kelly hit a second point for Eire Og and with seven to go in the half just two goals still separated the sides. Eire Og were getting numbers back to try and thwart the opposition half forward line but at times were punished for indiscipline which Cathal Bourke punished. Then Jack Ryan unleased another bullet for goal No. 3. Slattery and Ferncombe added further points as they hit Eire Og for 1-6 without reply before the half time whistle.
Clonoulty / Rossmore ahead at the break 3-13 to 0-7.
Despite playing against the wind in the second half Clonoulty stretched out their advantage. Cathal Bourke hit five further points from placed balls, some inside the Clonoulty half of the field. By the time Seanie Ryan pointed a free in the 39th minute ending a 16-minute spell without a score, the defending champions had added 1-11 without reply.
Entering the final quarter, Seanie Ryan pointed a free but Clonoulty still held a 17-points advantage. Clonoulty further extended that large advantage with points from Michael Ryan (W) and Danny Slattery.
Credit to Eire Og they didn’t give in and the final ten minutes saw the sides share 12 points apiece including three from Eire Og substitute Aiden Griffin while Cathal Bourke continued his form from placed balls. Near the finish Darragh Mooney pulled off a very good save.
Clonoulty advance where they will meet the winners of Cashel King Cormacs and Sean Treacy’s.
Clonoulty/Rossmore will certainly be very happy with their performance especially with their scoring efficiency. They were strong down the middle with Enda Heffernan at full-back flanked well by Tommy Ryan and Jimmy Ryan C. John O’Keeffe at centre-back was pivotal in a very balanced half back line which included Ciaran Quirke and Sean O’Connor. Cathal Bourke was almost unerring from placed balls while Jack Ryan proved dangerous especially with his ability in the air. Their full forward line including Stephen Ferncombe and Danny Slattery was a constant threat and while Robert Doyle didn’t score, he worked extremely hard.
Eire Og to their credit battled hard but the concession of scores seem to drain their confidence. Tom Fox was solid at centre-back while Brian Fox and Donal O’Dwyer worked hard in the half-back line. Darragh Kelly got in for two nice points but their main scores came from placed balls from Seanie Ryan and Aiden Griffin when introduced.
Scorers and Teams:
Clonoulty/Rossmore: Cathal Bourke (0-16, (0-15f)), Danny Slattery (1-4), Stephen Ferncombe (1-2, (1-0p)), Jack Ryan (1-1), Michael Ryan W (0-1), Stephen Quinn (0-1), Sean O’Connor (0-1)
Eire Og: Seanie Ryan (0-8f), Aidan Griffin (0-3, (0-2f)), Darragh Kelly (0-2), Brian Fox (0-2), Dinny Crosse (0-1), Donal O’Dwyer (0-1), Paudie Bradshaw (0-1)
Clonoulty/Rossmore: Martin Sadlier, Tommy Ryan, Enda Heffernan, James Ryan C, Ciaran Quirke, John O’Keeffe, Sean O’Connor, Ronan Heffernan, Michael Ryan W, Aaron Ryan, Cathal Bourke, Jack Ryan, Stephen Ferncombe, Robert Doyle, Danny Slattery
Subs Used: Stephen Quinn
Eire Og Annacarty Donohill: Darragh Mooney, Darragh O’Brien, Conor O’Brien, David Fox, Michael Bradshaw, Tom Fox, Daniel Kelly, Connie Bradshaw, Paudie Bradshaw, Eoin Bradshaw, Brian Fox, Donal O’Dwyer, Seanie Ryan, Dinny Crosse, Darragh Kelly.
Subs used: Kevin Fox, Aidan Griffin.