Emotional win for Carrick Davins in South Tipperary football championship

Carrick Davins 4-16 Clonmel Óg 0-9

Just over a week after the sad death of one of the club’s most loyal and committed members, Carrick Davins had something to celebrate when they were crowned South Tipperary Junior Football C Championship winners at Kilsheelan on Saturday afternoon.

The club was still mourning the passing of Alan Faulkner when they took to the field against Clonmel Óg in the decider. A minute’s silence was observed before the throw-in, but the subsequent performance of the Davins players would surely have brought a smile to Alan’s face.

They proved much too strong for the Clonmel side, running out nineteen points winners. And there was a poignant moment towards the end of the game when Alan’s son, Luke, was introduced as a substitute, ensuring there was a Faulkner on the pitch for the championship win.

To cap a very special occasion for the club, Luke scored the side’s final goal in the one-sided contest, and then team captain Adam Foran stood aside to allow Luke accept the cup.

The result was never in any doubt once Davins raced into a 1-7 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. They were 1-10 to 0-6 ahead at half-time and pulled further clear in a dominant second half, with two goals from Mark Roche and one from Luke Faulkner adding to a first half goal from John Murphy.

Team captain Adam Foran gave a man of the match performance at midfield with Lee Mackey, Willie O’Dwyer, Mikey Ryan and Charlie O’Sullivan all prominent.

It was a difficult afternoon for Clonmel Óg. They never got to the pace of the game and seldom threatened the Davins goal. Too many handling errors cost them scores after some good build-up play but they battled to the end with good displays from Max Ryan, Simon Ahearne and Marc Ahearne, while substitute Jimmy Stokes looked lively when introduced.

The direction that the game was taking was established in the opening minutes, Conor O’Leary kicking Davins’ opening point in the first minute, and John Murphy hitting a goal two minutes later.

Clonmel Óg hit back with a great point from Griffin O’Keaney in the fourth minute, but that was their last score for fifteen minutes.

Davins continued to dominate possession and took their chances well, Ray Cooke, John Murphy with two, Mikey Ryan with two and Mark Roche among the scorers.

Alex Greene had the Clonmel side’s second point in the 19th minute to make it 1-8 to 0-2, and Jake O’Donnell followed up from a free within a minute. Mikey Ryan was among the scorers as Davins stretched the lead out to 1-10 to 0-3 five minutes from the interval, but Clonmel Óg finished the half in blistering style.

Dean Kelleher hit a fine point following a good move through the centre, Jake O’Donnell followed up with a pointed free, and then in their best move of the half Dean Kelleher kicked a great score after good play from Marc Ahearne and TJ Quigley.

A seven points deficit, 1-10 to 0-6, suggested that Clonmel Óg were still in the game with thirty minutes to play, but that hope was extinguished when Davins outscored them 3-6 to 0-3 in the second half.

A goal in the second minute of the half set Davins on their way, Mikey Ryan putting Mark Roche through close to the endline and his shot across goal deceived Johnny Cagney in the Clonmel goal.

Adam Foran extended the lead, and even though Clonmel Óg hit back with points from Alex Slattery and Simon Ahearne, Davins maintained the pressure as both sides started to empty the bench.

Mark Roche’s second goal of the half finally put paid to any lingering hopes that the Clonmel side might have had, finishing well after strong Davins pressure, for a 3-12 to 0-8 lead entering the final quarter.

Substitute Sean Cagney hit Clonmel Óg’s final point ten minutes from the end with Lee Mackey, Adam Foran and Alan Redmond hitting late Davins points before Luke Faulkner’s late goal provided a fitting finale to the game. It was a special moment in a sad week for the family and for the club.

Carrick Davins: Anthony Keyes, Liam Butler, Willie O’Dwyer, Conor Corcoran, Patrick Harris 0-1; Ray Cooke 0-1; Aaron O’Halloran, Adam Foran, 0-2, 1 free; Lee Mackey 0-1; Conor Mackey, Mikey Ryan 0-3; Kevin Butler 0-1; Conor O’Leary 0-1; Mark Roche 2-1; John Murphy 1-3, 1 free.

Subs: Alan Redmond 0-2 for Conor O’Leary, Conor O’Shea for Conor Corcoran, Shane Cronin for Liam Butler, Luke Faulkner 1-0 for Kevin Butler, Jake Maher for John Murphy.

Clonmel Óg: Johnny Cagney, TJ Quigley, Sean Barrett, Alex Greene 0-1; Dean Slattery, Marc Ahearne, Alex Slattery 0-1; Simon Ahearne 0-1; Griffin O’Keaney 0-1; Max Ryan, Dean Kelleher 0-2; Kyle Grant, Karl Kearney, Jake O’Donnell 0-2 frees; Cian Hogan.

Subs: Eoin Condon for Cian Hogan, Sean Cagney 0-1 free for Jake O’Donnell, Johnny Stokes for Kyle Grant, Noel Walsh for Karl Kearney, Jack Sweeney for Max Ryan, Eoin Fallon for Alex Green.

Referee: Paddy Ivors (Ballingarry).