Clonmel Commercials too strong for Mullinahone in South Tipperary U21A Football Final

South Tipperary Under 21 A Football Championship Final

CLONMEL COMMERCIALS 2-13 CJ KICKHAMS MULLINAHONE 0-4

Clonmel Commercials were crowned South Tipperary Under 21 A Football champions for 2023 following a facile 15-points win over CJ Kickhams Mullinahone in the final played at Fethard Town Park on Saturday afternoon.

In what was a disappointing divisional decider the favourites were never led nor troubled against Mullinahone who were playing their first game in this year’s competition having received quarter-final and semi-final walk-overs from Fethard and Grangemockler/Ballyneale respectively.

Commercials led by 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of a very lacklustre first half, despite having the greater share of possession and kicking eight wides during that period. But the second half went the way it always looked like going and the town side eased to victory despite the gallant efforts of a Mullinahone side who were up against it all day long.

The final 20 minutes were totally dominated by Commercials, outscoring their opponents by 2-4 to 0-1. Their first goal arrived in the 40th minute, a penalty superbly tucked away by Alex Creed after Tadgh Sheehan had been fouled; the second green flag arriving four minutes from time when Tadgh Sheehan set up substitute Cillian Fahey who finished his chance well.

On a bitterly cold afternoon there was very little in the early exchanges to warm the hearts of those looking on, the only early highlight was a rocket of a shot from Niall Deely which crashed back off the Mullinahone crossbar in the sixth minute with the keeper beaten all ends up.

Commercials had kicked five early wides before they eventually opened their account in the 14th minute via Darragh O’Connor with the same player doubling their tally two minutes later with a free.

Mullinahone, with the stiff breeze to their advantage, recorded their only score of the first half 21 minutes in when Sam Rowan sent over a fine point from a tight angle. For all their possession, Commercials were ahead by the bare minimum, the Mullinahone defence, led well by Conor O’Brien, thwarting their opponents time and time again.

In the run-up to the interval Commercials tagged on two more from play, Oisin Forristal finishing off a fine move in the 26th minute, added to a minute later by Darragh O’Connor with his third point of the half.

Clonmel Commercials' Niall Deely gets his shot off despite the attentions of Josh Rowan (Mullinahone) during the South Under 21 A Football Championship final at Fethard Town Park on Saturday. The ball crashed back off the crossbar and away to safely much to the relief of the CJK side. Pic: Michael Boland

Inside two minutes of the restart Mullinahone had their keeper Sean O’Dwyer to thank for diverting a bullet from Oisin Forristal over the bar. And they matched that score with a point of their own in the 37th minute following a nice move linking Steven Hickey and Eoin O’Dwyer which was finished by Matthew Direen to leave an almost disbelieving three points between the sides at 0-5 to 0-2.

Commercials though began to up the tempo and three points between the 38th and 41st minutes from the powerful Joe Higgins, Alex Creed (free) and Anthony Keeley gave them some breathing space at 0-8 to 0-2.

A close-in free by Matthew Direen won by Danny Dunne was but a short respite before Oisin Forristal and Darragh O’Connor pointed two in quick succession to extend the advantage for the Clonmel side to seven at the three-quarters mark.

The Mullinahone defence was then stretched to the extremes by a passage of play that combined Alex Creed, Oisin Forristal and Tadgh Sheehan before the later was dragged back for a penalty; Creed duly obliged with a left footed shot low into the corner to make it 1-10 to 0-3 in the 40th minute.

Game over as a contest now, a Darragh O’Connor free increased the lead before Mullinahone had their last point of the final seven minutes from time. To their credit, when the opportunity arose they tried to take on the Commercials rearguard and Eoin O’Dwyer kicked a fine point from a tight angle after good work in the build-up from Sam Rowan and Matthew Direen.

Oisin Forristal kicked his fourth point from play from 35 metres in the 54th minute followed two minutes later by Commercials’ second goal which was well finished by Cillian Fahey who had just come on. And the same player wrapped up the scoring a minute later when kicking a point on a day that he’ll remember but many others will forget in a hurry. Sean Lonergan’s timely long blast bang on the 60th minute was a welcome reprieve for everyone.

For Commercials, who it must be said had a much tighter semi-final against Knockmealdown Gaels five days earlier, there were some solid performances in defence from Adam Cooney, Ross Slattery and a lively Thomas Charles. Joe Higgins and Dean Cagney worked well around the middle, while up front Darragh O’Connor and Oisin Forristal were the main men with Creed, Keeley and Fahey also showing prominently.

Mullinahone, who were bidding for a first-ever win at this grade never looked like achieving that milestone and were forced to live on a quarter of the possession that their opponents enjoyed over the 60 minutes. But to their credit they represented their club well and Alamo-like at times were still just three points off their opponents after 37 minutes.

There was much to admire in the efforts of keeper Sean O’Dwyer, Fionn Morrissey, Conor O’Brien, Danny Dunne, Darragh Linnane, Eoin O’Dwyer, Patrick Hayes, Sam Rowan and Matthew Direen.

Clonmel Commercials:

Shane Ryan, Adam Cooney, Josh Kennedy, Oisin Power, Billy Tierney, Ross Slattery, Thomas Charles, Dean Cagney, Joe Higgins (0-1), Niall Deely, Darragh O’Connor (0-5, 0-2F), Oisin Forristal (0-4), Alex Creed (1-1, penalty and free), Tadgh Sheehan, Anthony Keeley (0-1).

Subs: Mark Corcoran for Deely (44 mins); Cillian Fahey (1-1) and Matthew Ó Ceallaigh for Creed and Keeley (50 mins); Deji Williams for Cooney (54 mins).

Mullinahone: 

Sean O’Dwyer, Fionn Morrissey, Josh Rowan, Eoin Treacy, James Cody, Conor O’Brien, Diarmuid White, Darragh Linnane, Steven Hickey, Danny Dunne, Eoin O’Dwyer (0-1), Patrick Hayes, Sam Rowan (0-1), Matthew Direen (0-2, 0-1F), Nathan Quinn.

Subs: Liam Doyle for Quinn (25 minutes); Cian Ivors and Brian O’Dwyer for Hayes and J. Rowan (50 mins); Luke Vaughan for Hickey (57 mins).

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers).