Two-point win puts Killenaule through to Munster football semi-final

Killenaule 1-11 Na Piarsaigh 1-9

The November fog cleared just in time for throw-in at Clonmel Sportsfield last Sunday, where Killenaule ensured their Munster football odyssey would continue for another round at least.

The Robins emerged deserving winners against Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh in a mostly dogged yet at times greatly entertaining affair in the AIB Munster GAA Intermediate Club Football Championship quarter-final.

Killenaule will now face Cork champions Uibh Laoire in the semi-final at a Cork venue on November 22.

Both clubs arrived at this fixture on remarkably similar paths. Relegated last year, each returned to the senior ranks at the first attempt and claimed a county football title just seven days after defeat in the hurling decider.

Na Piarsaigh began brightly, Tommy Grimes making his presence felt at midfield and “The Nap” quickly settled into a two-points to no score lead, courtesy of a Jack McCarthy score from play and a Kieran Daly free. Killenaule had gone close earlier through Luke Ryan and Tom Stakelum, but it was a brilliant individual effort from corner back Tony Ryan that gave them their first score on the board on nine minutes.

Na Piarsaigh lost wing-forward Daniel Collins to a shoulder injury before frees from Michael Doyle and Luke Ryan subsequently put the Tipperary champions ahead by the 17th minute.

With the heavy pitch hampering both teams, the contest was becoming a case of the walking wounded, as Killenaule’s Jack Hassett and Tom Stakelum were forced to leave the fray through injury within five minutes of each other. A see-saw battle looked likely at this stage, as an Evan Egan free split the posts following a foul on Thomas Glynn to level matters.

However, either side of half-time saw Killenaule produce their best football of the hour. Veteran Michael Doyle landed two massive left-footed points from either corner and in between Charlie Barrett got in on the act, following a clever tap-and-go move with Paudie Feehan.

Killenaule closed out the half in the ascendency just as Na Piarsaigh’s shooting went astray; the Limerick men shot three wides in succession and dropped an effort into the hands of John O’Dwyer, much to the disappointment of their supporters.

At half-time the score was Killenaule 0- 6 Na Piarsaigh 0-4.

Killenaule, moving the ball at pace, had a second half opener from Charlie Barrett. Then their lead was enhanced on 33 minutes when Barrett, a constant thorn in Na Piarsaigh’s side, combined with Paudie Feehan and Michael Doyle to win a free, which Doyle duly converted.

The arm wrestle of the early exchanges soon returned, and while there was no score for a ten-minute period, Killenaule’s four-point cushion looked comfortable. Sean Long, Na Piarsaigh’s “Mr Dependable” gave his team some respite, though, on 41 minutes with a speculative score from distance.

Charlie Barrett, once more availing of great spadework from Paudie Feehan, made it nine points to five entering the final ten minutes. Na Piarsaigh were trying hard, but finding the Killenaule rearguard led by Jimmy Feehan and Podge O’Dwyer more than uncompromising. To their credit, they persevered, and two quickfire points from Kieran Daly and substitute Fionn Ó Tiarnaigh left the same amount between the sides.

The game’s decisive score arrived on 52 minutes when man of the match Charlie Barrett finished to the net at the second attempt, following a rampaging run and excellent pass from Oisin Shelly.

Moments later Darragh Doyle fisted over, and then the industrious Shelly all but made it safe with an assured point of his own.

Killenaule were now seven clear heading for additional time, the lead looking unassailable. Na Piarsaigh rallied and shot 1-2 as the seconds trickled away. Christy O’Hagan’s close-range strike gave Na Piarsaigh eleventh-hour hope but it was too little, too late.

Killenaule J. O’Dwyer, J. Hassett, J. Feehan (captain) T. Ryan (0-1), C. O’Dwyer, P. O’Dwyer, D. Doyle (0-1), O. O’Dwyer, P. Feehan, T. Stakelum, L. Ryan (0-1 free), O. Shelly (0-1), C. Barrett (1-3), M. Doyle (0-4, 2 frees), F. Fitzgerald.

Subs: C. Johnson-Croke for J. Hasset (injured) 17 minutes, E. Shaw for T. Stakelum (injured) 22 minutes, T. Keaveny for O. O’Dwyer 48 minutes, M. Stakelum for F. Fitzgerald 55 minutes, J. Ryan for C. O’Dwyer 58 minutes.

Na Piarsaigh: E. Sherlock, F. Minihane, C. Counihan, C. McMullan, C. O’Hagan (1-0), S. Long (0-1), A. Jordan, T. Grimes, J. McCarthy (0-1), D. Collins, K. Daly (0-1f), T. Glynn, J. Daly (0-4, 3f), E. Egan (0-1f), M. Hogan.

Subs: E. Gilvary for D. Collins (injured) 6 minutes, C. McLaughlin for E. Gilvary 34 minutes, F. O’Tiarnaigh (0-1) for A. Jordan 34 minutes, O. Gilroy for E. Egan 44 minutes, K. Daly for T. Glynn 47 minutes.

Referee: Sean Joy (Laune Rangers Kerry).