Carrick Swan beat Fr Sheehy's in thrilling Premier Junior Football final
Both teams whet appetite for county championship
Carrick Swan 2-14 Fr Sheehy’s 2-12
Carrick Swan came out on top in a thrilling game to win the inaugural McCarra’s Bus Hire South Tipperary Premier Junior Football Championship final against Fr Sheehy’s at Monroe on Saturday evening.
Fr Sheehy’s had a thundering start to the game, as they opened their scoring within thirty seconds of the start when wing back Conor Walsh marauded up the field to convert the first point.
The next score came after a great move saw Fr Sheehy’s Shane McGrath find Dan Burke, whose shot on goal took deflections off Swan bodies before it found the boot of Thomas Quirke and the back of the net.
Thomas Quirke scored his second goal after twenty minutes, after quick thinking from a Shane McGrath free found the full forward in open space, and he slotted a low shot past Swan goalie Darragh Gibbs.
Throughout the first half Fr Sheehy’s held the majority of possession but Swan were able to keep within touching distance after three two-point scores in the first half, the first after ten minutes when Eric O’Halloran struck from open play, before another from the left boot of Stephen Hahessy from a free. The final two-pointer in that sequence came as the last score of the first half, when Eric O’Halloran stepped up again and struck one from the outside of his boot.
In a similar start to the second half as the first, Fr Sheehy’s began the stronger when Cathal English plucked the ball from the throw-in, charged forward and scored a point with great finese.
However, a purple patch from the Swan over the next ten minutes proved to be decisive, as they scored 2-2 without reply. The goals came from Aaron O’Halloran and another from Eric O’Halloran, who dispatched a shot to the right corner of the net after a mazy run up the field.
Despite the best efforts of Sheehy’s forwards Thomas Quirke and Cormac Flynn, who scored great back-to-back two-pointers late in the second half, as well as a brilliant save from Sheehy’s goalkeeper Joseph O’Brien, Evan Hogan got the last score of the day to seal the win for Carrick Swan. Both teams will feel they are in great stead to perform well in the upcoming Premier Junior County Championship.
Best on the night for Fr Sheehy’s were Thomas Quirke and Cormac Flynn, who scored a combined total of two goals and eight points. Cathal English’s aerial prowess in the middle third was immense and goalie Joseph O'Brien pulled off great saves at crucial stages in the game to keep his side within touching distance.
Carrick Swan had strong performances from Aaron and Gavin O’Halloran, who carried a lot of ball through the lines. Captain Ryan Waters and Eoin Hogan also had great games and linked up effectively down the left side, while Stephen Hahessy’s accuracy was important.
Man of the match was Swan’s Eric O’Halloran, who carried crucial ball forward and took his goal neatly.
Carrick Swan: Darragh Gibbs, Bobby Coady, Dean Kiely, Scott Hogan, Ian Holloway, Gavin O’Halloran, Ryan Waters (captain), Aaron O’Halloran, Mikey Loughman, Sean Foley, Eric O’Halloran, Eoin Hogan, Evan Hogan, Stephen Hahessy, Darragh Dunne.
Subs: Aidan Hanlon for Bobby Coady, Joshua Simpson for Dean Kiely.
Scorers: Eric O’Halloran 1-4 (1 tpf, 1 tp), Stephen Hahessy, 0-6 (2f, 1tpf), Aaron O’Halloran 1-0, Evan Hogan 0-3, Gavin O’Halloran 0-1.
Fr Sheehys: Joseph O’Brien, Pa Ryan, Robbie O’Brien, Dylan Flynn, Conor Walsh, Rob Maher, Cian O’Brien, Cathal English, Tom Conway, Dan Burke, Cormac Flynn (captain), Daire English, Pat Mulcahy, Thomas Quirke, Shane McGrath.
Subs: Alex Spens for Cian O’Brien, John English for Pat Mulcahy, Eoin O’Neill for Dan Burke, Adrian O’Brien for Dylan Flynn.
Scorers: Thomas Quirke 2-3 (1tpf, 1f) Cormac Flynn 0-5 (1tp, 2f) Cathal English 0-2, Conor Walsh 0-1, Daire English 0-1.
Referee: Martin Doyle (Ardfinnan).