St Mary's win first South Tipperary Senior Hurling title in 45 years
Clonmel team beat Mullinahone by two points in final
St Mary’s 1-16 Mullinahone 0-17
Almost a half a century of disappointment and frustration was erased at a sun-baked Fethard this afternoon, when St Mary’s beat Mullinahone in the Clonmel Oil South Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship final.
It was only the Clonmel club’s second divisional senior title and their first in 45 years, as they bridged that long gap to write a new and glorious chapter in their history.
This wasn’t a classic final by any means but the closeness of the scores meant that it was always exciting, the game offering edge-of-the-seat stuff on a sweltering afternoon.
The quality of the fare won’t have concerned St Mary's in the slightest. They had been beaten in three finals since their last success in 1981 and this long overdue triumph came 38 years after their last appearance in the final, when they lost to Killenaule in the 1988 decider.
A tricky wind that blew down the pitch made life difficult for both teams whenever they went in search of scores. St. Mary’s registered a massive 23 wides, including 16 in the second half when they had the aid of the breeze. Mullinahone were wasteful too, finishing with 15 wides.
Once they took the lead for the first time 14 minutes into the second half, courtesy of one of three frees converted by goalie Enda Dunphy, St Mary’s were determined that they wouldn’t be denied their day in the sun. They had drawn level three minutes earlier (1-10 to 0-13) - the fifth and final time that the scores were level - with their best move of the match. It was started in defence by Seamus Kennedy, the captain and heartbeat of this team. The county player sent the ball forward to Harry Lawlor and then made himself available for the return pass, before providing a hand-passed assist for Joe Higgins to shoot the game’s only goal with a crisp and accurate strike.
After Enda Dunphy’s free saw them hit the front for the first time, St. Mary’s extended their advantage with scores from Conor Deely and Ruairi Leahy’s free, before the game was halted for a much-needed hydration break. Once the play resumed, Mullinahone showed they were far from a beaten docket when Enda Keane cut a spectacular sideline ball between the posts from over 30 metres, into the wind.
After a great score from distance from St Mary’s’ Darragh O’Connor, Mullinahone responded with two scores from captain Micheal Dunne to cut the deficit to a single point with four minutes of normal time remaining, with the contest balanced on the proverbial knife edge.
However, St Mary’s held their nerve in the tense closing stages. They kept Mullinahone at arm’s length with another converted free from Ruairi Leahy and a further point from Aaron Cagney. Mullinahone’s final score from Sam Rowan was too little, too late to save their day, as their bid to win a 15th divisional senior title, and a first in seven years, came unstuck.
It was no surprise that St Mary’s captain Seamus Kennedy won the man of the match award. The emblem of his team’s spirit and character, he anchored the defence superbly all afternoon and was the instigator of that crucial second half goal.
While every St Mary’s player gave their all, other standout performances came from Aaron Cagney, who was always a threat in attack and scored three points from play; Ruairi Leahy and Enda Dunphy, who converted seven frees between them; Sammy Ryan and Thomas Charles, who were willing workers; Joe Higgins, who scored the all-important goal; while Tadhg Condon and Richie Gunne had their moments in a solid defence that put the shackles on Mullinahone’s attack.
Mullinahone were never too far away but will be disappointed that they allowed St Mary’s to gain the upper hand in the second half. Captain Micheal Dunne led by example in an attack in which Enda Keane and Sean Curran were also prominent. Sam Rowan provided the team with great momentum throughout while Darragh Linnane, Eoin Fennelly and Martin Kehoe were the pick of the defence, with the latter pair contributing five points from play between them.
The sides were level four times in the opening ten minutes. Scores from Micheal Dunne’s free and Martin Kehoe opened a two-point lead for Mullinahone before the first hydration break. Once play resumed, Eoin Fennelly’s point had them ahead by 0-7 to 0-4, with St Mary’s hitting back with Harry Lawlor’s point and Enda Dunphy’s long range free.
Mullinahone took control of the closing exchanges in the first half to carry a 0-11 to 0-7 lead into the second period. Enda Keane sent a piledriver over the bar, which was followed by two further points from Micheal Dunne (one from a free) and another from Eoin Fennelly.
Four points in arrears, St Mary’s had ground to make up once the teams changed ends and they set about their task with points from Aaron Cagney, Tadgh Condon and a Ruairi Leahy free. Mullinahone had scores from Sam Rowan and Martin Kehoe but the goal from Joe Higgins was the turning point, levelling the scores and tilting the balance in favour of St Mary’s.
St Mary’s Clonmel: Enda Dunphy (0-3 frees), Tadhg Sheehan, Liam Ryan, Darragh O’Connor (0-1), Richie Gunne, Seamus Kennedy (captain), Tadgh Condon (0-1), Sammy Ryan, Thomas Charles (0-1), Harry Lawlor (0-1), Ruairi Leahy (0-4 frees), James Power, Conor Deely (0-1), Joe Higgins (1-1), Aaron Cagney (0-3).
Substitutes: Cathal Deely for James Power (half-time), Michael Murphy for Joe Higgins (53 minutes), Sean Kennedy for Conor Deely (58 minutes), Darragh Landers for Thomas Charles (60 minutes).
Mullinahone: Brendan Kearney, Daire O’Brien, Paul Curran, Eoin Treacy, Eoin Fennelly (0-2), Darragh Linnane, Martin Kehoe (0-4), Eanna Ryan, Sam Rowan (0-3), Cillian White, Sean Curran (0-1), Enda Keane (0-2, 1 sideline), Eoin O’Dwyer, Graham Horan, Micheal Dunne (captain 0-5, 2 frees).
Substitutes: Matthew Direen for Eoin O’Dwyer (37 minutes), Jack Shelly for Cillian White (41 minutes), Colin Shelly for Martin Kehoe (48 minutes), Dylan Hennessy for Enda Keane (52 minutes).
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers).