Emotional victory for Clonmel Commercials in Tipperary county senior football final

Clonmel Commercials 1-26 Kilsheelan/Kilcash 1-5

Three weeks to the day since his sudden, sad passing, Clonmel Commercials paid the best possible tribute to Philly Ryan, a man whose name has been interwoven with the club’s fortunes for the past few decades, by winning Saturday’s County Senior Football Championship final against Kilsheelan/Kilcash, and with something to spare. 

It was a day of high emotion and huge significance for the Clonmel club. Their victory at FBD Semple Stadium was a record-breaker, their 22nd title pushing them one ahead of Fethard in the county's roll of honour.

It was also their eighth success in the last 14 years, and a fifth title in the past seven years.

They simply had too much in reserve for a young Kilsheelan team, who battled bravely throughout but had no answer on the day to the strength and experience of the Clonmel team, who fully justified their strong favourites' tag.

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The first half was evenly contested, with Commercials holding a three-point lead at the break. However, the second period was a totally one-sided affair, with Kilsheelan registering just a single point and Commercials outscoring them by 1-16 to 0-1.

Commercials set the tone with early second half points from Cian Smith, Thomas Charles and Sean O’Connor to establish a 0-13 to 1-4 lead. Suddenly, a significant gap had opened on the scoreboard.  And it became even more substantial eight minutes into the half when Michael Quinlivan played a one-two with Ross Peters before shooting to the net, which put his team virtually out of sight of a by-now struggling Kilsheelan side.

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Kilsheelan's only point of the second half came from Liam Freaney midway through, a score that was cheered enthusiastically by their large contingent of supporters in the attendance of approximately 1,700.

However, there was really only one team in it in the second half, as Commercials eased through the gears towards the finishing line. Their victory was built on the prowess of so many players including Jack Kennedy, Sean O’Connor, man of the match Michael Quinlivan, Cathal Deely, Cian Smith, Peter McGarry, Ross Peters and Seamus Kennedy.

Kilsheelan, who were contesting their first final since 1981, and chasing a first success since 1972, will want to get back for more next year, having reached a first decider in 44 years. On Saturday they lost their way after a promising first half, on a day when their best performers included Shane Garland, Jamie Roche, Barry Kehoe, Mark Stokes, Emmet Butler and Daire Brennan.  

After a pedestrian opening phase, and with Commercials leading by 0-2 to 0-1, Kilsheelan threw the cat among the pigeons with Jamie Roche’s goal in the tenth minute, when he showed great composure to finish low to the net after a searing run by Barry Kehoe from the left wing.

They went three points clear two minutes later when Shane Garland converted a mark.

After that, however, Commercials started to hog possession, as they forced their way back into the game. Cian Smith got the ball rolling with a 14th minute point, and they were back on level terms after a quarter of an hour thanks to Peter McGarry’s two-pointer.

Further Commercials points followed from Jack Kennedy, Sean O’Connor’s free and Kennedy again, to leave it 0-8 to 1-2 by the 21st minute.

Kilsheelan had their first score in 16 minutes courtesy of Shane Garland’s ‘45. Commercials were still in the ascendancy in the closing stages of the half, with further scores following from Ross Peters and Jack Kennedy,  before Shane Garland’s converted free with the last kick of the half left it 0-10 to 1-4 at the break, with Kilsheelan still very much in with a fighting chance.  

But all was changed, changed utterly in the second half.

Clonmel Commercials: Shane Ryan, Tadhg Condon, James Morris, Ross Slattery, Kevin Fahey, Seamus Kennedy (captain), Cathal Deely, Darragh O’Connor, Jack Kennedy (0-5, 0-1 45, 1 2 pointer free) Rory O’Dowd, Sean O’Connor (0-6, 3 frees), Peter McGarry (0-4, 1 2 pointer), Ross Peters (0-1), Michael Quinlivan (1-1), Cian Smith (0-6, 1 free, 1 2 point free).

Substitutes:Thomas Charles (0-1) for Kevin Fahey (15), Colman Kennedy (0-1) for Ross Peters (41 minutes), Sean Kennedy (0-1) for Cathal Deely (50 minutes), Joe Higgins for Darragh O’Connor  (55) and Ryan Lambe for Michael Quinlivan (57 minutes). 

Kilsheelan/Kilcash: Evan Comerford, Kian Quinn (joint captain), Eoin Kehoe, Jason Madigan, Emmet Butler, Daire Brennan, Billy O’Connor, Mark Stokes (joint captain), Billy Murphy, Tommy O’Connor, Micheál Freaney, Shane Garland (0-3, 1 mark, 1 ‘45, 1 free) Senan Butler (0-1), Jamie Roche (1-0), Barry Kehoe.

Substitutes: Conor Grant for Evan Comerford (18), Liam Freaney (0-1) for Billy Murphy (38), Mikey McGuire for Shane Garland (41), Ru Kelly for Senan Butler (55).

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers).