Clonoulty-Rossmore crowned West Tipperary Crosco Cup senior hurling champions

Clonoulty Rossmore regained the Berties Bar Dundrum, Crosco Cup for the first time since 2009, when they overcame Cashel King Cormacs in the final  in Dundrum, winning 3-27 to 1-17.

Clonoulty signalled their intent before the start when manager John Devane announced a team which contained eleven of the players who had retained the West Senior championship back in April.

This game was a very close contest for the opening twenty minutes, a period where Cashel took the game to their opponents, but wayward shooting both from open play and placed balls meant that they were unable to convert their possession into scores.

So much was Clonoulty’s strength on the night that four of the five second half substitutes had previously played in West senior finals and county championship games.

Clonoulty got off to a dream start when Cathal Bourke pointed in the opening minute. Paddy Hennessy then got the game’s first goal when he scored from close in, giving Michael O’Meara no chance in the Cashel goal.

Paddy Fahy got Cashel off the mark after three minutes before Paul Hayes, from play and Cathal Bourke from a free, stretched Clonoulty’s lead out to five points. Cashel came more into the game and three unanswered points from Eoghan Connolly, Mickey Coleman and Simon Delaney reduced this lead down to two. Dillon Quirke hit two long range points, either side of an Eoghan Connolly pointed free, before Michael Ryan (Winnie) got off the mark after fifteen minutes.

Eoghan Connolly replied with two points but a Paul Hayes effort left a goal between the sides with eight minutes remaining in the half. This remaining period before half time proved to be Cashel’s undoing as Clonoulty got into a rhythm and played some brilliant hurling. First up was John O’Neill with a rocket of a goal to the top corner. Points followed from Conor Hammersley, Enda Heffernan and Cathal Bourke, Cashel replied with points from Mickey Coleman and Connolly before a long range effort from Cathal Bourke ended up in the Cashel net to leave the half time score, Clonoulty Rossmore 3.11, Cashel King Cormacs 0.9.

Clonoulty piled on the pressure after the break and added points from all angles and distances from Aaron Ryan (Rody), John O’Neill and Dillon Quirke in the opening five minutes. Simon Delaney replied with a Cashel point but further points from Paul Hayes, John O’Keeffe, Cathal Bourke and Michael Ryan (Winnie) had Clonoulty in a commanding lead with fifteen minutes remaining.

The final quarter was evenly matched but Cashel were relying too much on Eoghan Connolly to find the target. Connolly hit one goal and five points in that closing quarter but further points from Clonoulty had them well ahead at the final whistle.

Clonoulty Rossmore: Declan O’Dwyer, Joey O’Keeffe, James Heffernan, Jimmy Ryan (Con), Ciaran Quirke, John O’Keeffe (0.1), Enda Heffernan (0.1), Conor Hammersley (0.4), Mikey Ryan (Winnie) (0.2), John O’Neill (1.2), Dillon Quirke (0.4), Aaron Ryan (Rody) (0.1), Cathal Bourke (1.9,1.4f), Paul Hayes (0.3), Paddy Hennessy (1.0). Subs used; Niall Shanahan, Sean O’Connor, Donncha Quirke, Paddy Ryan, Padraig Heffernan.

Cashel King Cormacs: Michael O’Meara, Tony Hewitt, James Cummins, John Darmody, Pat Muldoon, Lee Burke, Ciaran Quinn, Conn Bonnar,(0.1). Eoghan Connolly (1.10, 1.8f). Brendan Kelly, Simon Delaney (0.2), Paddy Fahy (0.1), Mickey Coleman (0.2), Adrian Cummins, Ross Bonnar (0.1). Subs used; Adam Skeffington, Adam Kennedy, Dylan Fitzelle, Murragh McDermott, Robbie Anglim.

Referee; Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)