Junior A Football Championship final in Tipperary will be a south-west affair

Sean Treacys 2-14 St Patrick's 2-7

Sean Treacys had seven points to spare over St Patrick’s in Saturday’s County Junior A Football Championship semi-final in Boherlahan, as they set up a final date with Carrick Swan.

On a glorious day of bright sunshine, west runners-up Sean Treacys played against a light breeze in the first half.

Almost from the throw-in south champions St Pat’s won possession and with some slick passing movements they made the early threats, and were a point to the good after two minutes from the boot of full forward Aidan Buckley.

From the kickout Sean Treacys won possession and worked the ball to a scoring position, where corner forward Paddy Dawson duly obliged to level affairs.

Dawson doubled his account in the sixth minute, soon to be followed by a point for Treacys by Patrick Deegan to leave the score 3 points to 1 by the eighth minute.

A minute later St Pat’s wing back Aidan Fitzgerald narrowed the gap with a superb point. Both teams then traded points and by the 20th minute the scores were level on five apiece, Deegan adding to his earlier point and Darragh Kennedy also chipping in to raise a white flag.

For St Pat’s, Willie Cleere and James Broderick scored from play and Daithi Hogan also pointed a free.

By the 27th minute Treacys were two points ahead with scores from the boot of Paudie O’Leary, one from the dead ball position.

On the stroke of half time Treacys were awarded a penalty after Brian Carey was hauled down and Sean Ryan coolly dispatched the ball to the back of the net to leave matters 1-7 to 0-5 at the short whistle in a very tight and keenly contested encounter.

After three minutes of the second half, Treacys goalkeeper Cathal Kennedy slotted over a 45 and this was followed three minutes later by a goal from the boot of Paddy Dawson, following a defensive error by St Pat’s.

The Drangan/Cloneen team were quick to respond and Daithi Hogan split the posts to leave the score 2-8 to 0-6.

Treacys got the next three scores (2 frees) to leave them ahead by 2-11 to 0-6 as the game entered the final quarter.

St Pat’s were playing good football but their wides tally was mounting as the game entered the closing stages.

St Pat’s net minder Tony O’ Brien stroked over a 45 in the 17th minute of the half and gave some belief to the team that the game was far from over. With the clock ticking away they made an excellent move that ended with wing back Aidan Fitzgerald crashing the ball to the back of the Treacys net.

This was followed two minutes later by an excellent effort by substitute Paddy Moroney to raise another green flag for St Pat’s.

The final minutes of game saw Sean Ryan put the ball over the bar to seal a spot in the final for Sean Treacys.

Sean Treacys: Cathal Kennedy, Damian Dunne, Sean Hickey (captain), Brian Nolan, Paul Nolan, Sean Ryan, Brian Carey, Michael Feehan, Declan Hickey, Darragh Kennedy, Padraic O’Leary, Patrick Deegan, James Deegan, Matt Feehan, Patrick Dawson.

Subs: Andy O’Brien for Hickey (temporary), Tom Hickey for D Dunne, Stephen Rochford for P Deegan, Donncha O’Brien for M Feehan, Eoin Sheldon for B Carey.

St Pat’s: Tony O’Brien, Jack Cleere, Keith Morrissey, Cathal Foley, Aidan Fitzgerald, Ciaran Mockler, Robbie Noonan, Eoin Ryan, Conor Duggan, Jamie Broderick, Colm Dunne, Willie Cleere, Daithi Hogan, Richie Needham, Aidan Buckley.

Subs: Pauric O’Brien for Colm Dunne, Michael Boland for Robbie Noonan, Paddy Moroney for Daithi Hogan, John Moroney for Jamie Broderick, Mikey O’Brien for Keith Morrissey.

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne/Templetuohy).