Killenaule leave no room for argument with comfortable football victory in Tipperary

Killenaule 2-15 Ardfinnan 0-12

Killenaule eased their way into the Tom Cusack Cup senior football final with this nine-points victory over Ardfinnan in Kilsheelan on Sunday.

It was a fairly even contest at the start, with Ardfinnan getting the first score with a free from Billy Hewitt on four minutes.
Fionn Fitzgerald evened things up on the ninth minute and this scoring exchange followed with points by Ardfinnan’s Michael Barlow and Billy Hewitt and Killenaule’s Eoin Shaw (two), Dara Fitzgerald and Paudie Feehan.

James O’Mahoney got what turned out to be Ardfinnan’s last score of the first half and Killenaule pushed on with three quick points from Dara Fitzgerald, Joe O’Dwyer and Luke Ryan.

This left the half-time score Ardfinnan 0-4, Killenaule 0-8.

Things were not going to get any better for Ardfinnan and Killenaule never really took their foot off the pedal in the second half.

Points from Fionn Fitzgerald and Paudie Feehan for Killenaule were followed by a point from a free from Michael Barlow for Ardfinnan.

Killenaule’s Fionn Fitzgerald scored a point and this was quickly followed by a goal from Eoin Shaw.

Fionn Fitzgerald converted a free for Killenaule in the 36th minute to put them ten points ahead on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-5.
In the 39th minute Ardfinnan’s Billy Hewitt scored a point from play, and in the 11th and 12th minutes Fionn Fitzgerald responded with two points for Killeanule.

Michael Barlow then kicked a point from a free and this was followed by a brace of points from James O’Mahoney and a point for Michael Barlow. Paudie Feehan then delivered a hammer blow to Ardfinnan when he got on the end of a counter attack to score a goal for Killenaule, and put them on course for victory.

James O’Mahoney pulled a point back for Ardfinnan in the 25th minute. Killeanule’s Oisin Shelly then scored a point and this was followed by an Ardfinnan point from Michael Barlow, as Killenaule ran out comfortable winners.

An injury-hit Ardfinnan team will nonetheless be very disappointed with this display and will have to wait and regroup for the 2025 campaign.

Killenaule now move onto the Tom Cusack Cup final and will feel very confident after this fine display.

Ardfinnan: Cian O’ Mahoney, Shane Keating, Jonathan Ryan, Joe Keating, Darragh O’Brien, Jack O’Neill, Luke O’Brien, Sean Nagle, Gerry Cronin, Oisin Ryan, Michael O’Sullivan, John English, Billy Hewitt (0-3, 2F), Michael Barlow (0-5, 2F), James O’Mahoney (0-4).

Subs used: Mark Kelly, Cian Walsh, Sean Cunningham, Brian O’Donnell, Neil Gallagher.

Killenaule: John O’Dwyer, Finn Nolan, Jimmy Feehan, Denis Fogarty, Ciaran O’ Dwyer, Paddy Codd, Padraig O’Dwyer, Paudie Feehan (1-2, 1F), Joe O’Dwyer (0-1, 1F), Luke Ryan (0-1), Fionn Fitzgerald (0-6, 4F), Oisin Shelly (0-1), Eoin Shaw (1-2), Tom Stakelum, Darragh Fitzgerald (0-2).

Subs used: Nathan Barrett, Dennis Fogarty, Johnny Gleeson.

Referee: Brian Tyrrell (Clonmel Commercials).