Aherlow book Munster final date with late point sealing a win over Clare champs Wolfe Tones

AIB Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship Semi-Final

Aherlow 1-6 

Wolfe Tones 0-8

By Michael McCarthy 

Aherlow reached a first-ever Munster football final with a win by the minimum over Clare double winners Wolfe Tones. 

Played in trying conditions with a wind blowing into the dressing room corner in the fine facilities in Lattin, Aherlow were on the front foot from the throw-in and won a free inside the '45 after 20 seconds. 

Grogans’ free drifted wide and a second effort from play went the same way all inside the first two minutes. The Wolfe Tones kickout was under pressure throughout the game and an interception from one led to Grogan opening the scoring in three minutes. 

Five minutes later Grogan doubled the lead with his first from a placed ball. The Aherlow half-back line and midfield were on top and coupled with the advantage of the wind Wolfe Tones were finding it very difficult to get out of their half. 

However, good defending and wayward shooting kept the chances to a minimum. The Shannon side would have one shot wide after ten minutes and another five before they'd have their second, resulting in their opening score from midfielder Joe McGauley. Both sides were playing very defensively, and getting any foothold in the game was tough. 

Barry Grogan had two more wides before Wolfe Tones wing forward Jack Ryan would get a second point following a good move down the stand side. The defining moment of the game would come as half-time approached. 

A long kick out from Shane Russell was contested and Liam Carew picked up the breaking ball, he fed Tadgh Carew who found the unmarked Ben Carey who finished to the net for a green flag. 

It would turn out to be a huge score in the game. Barry Grogan kicked a third point following a free which was moved up ten for backchat and Aherlow had a four-point lead going in at the break. 

Micheal Elligott was introduced for the Glen side at the break but it was Wolfe Tones who upped the ante. The very impressive wing-back Aaron Kelly got them off the mark after four minutes. 

Aherlow were finding the going tough as they tried in vain to work the ball up the field. Wolfe Tones were patient and kept probing. 

In four minutes though the game opened up, centre forward Craig Riordan kicked a free and thirty seconds later scored from play before Gary Leahy won a ball on the edge of the square and pointed to tie the game up. 

Cathal Dillon was starting to find more space around the middle and he burst forward on sixteen minutes to put Aherlow back in front. Grogan pushed the lead out to two with eleven minutes to go from another placed ball. Niall Fitzgerald was on for the Shannon side at this point and he was very unlucky with an effort from the stand side. 

Full forward Colin Riordan reduced the deficit to one with a good effort on 25 minutes before they were reduced to 14 when centre-back Jayme O'Sullivan picked up his second yellow. Wolfe Tones were pushing hard and Craig Riordan scored the point of the day to level things up on 29 minutes. 

He cut in from the right-hand side and with the outside of the boot floated over an equaliser. The game was deep in injury time and Aherlow pressed forward and won a free. Grogan kept his cool and pointed. 

Wolfe Tones tried to move the ball up the field as quickly as possible, but Barry Grogan picked up a second yellow on 34 minutes in a tense finale. Wolfe Tones had one last chance to equalise but couldn't get a shot off and when the ball was turned over David Murnane's long whistle brought an end to proceedings with the Tipperary men one point to the good. 

Craig Riordan and Gary Leahy were a danger all day for the Shannon side while Eoghan Casey has moments throughout. 

For the victors, Barry Grogan was the target man despite being double-marked for the majority of the game. Tadgh Carew and Diarmuid Looby were very efficient while Raymond Hennessy was safe as houses at the back. 

Aherlow were deserved winners but made it hard for themselves with the wind in the first half kicking seven wides to Wolfe Tones' one. 

Aherlow: Jack Whelton; Mark Hanley, Raymond Hennessy, Tom O'Donoghue; Tadgh Carew, Lawrence Coskeran, Darragh O'Brien; Diarmuid Looby, Mark Russell; Gary Quirke, Ben Carey (1-0), Jack O'Halloran; Cathal Dillon (0-1), Barry Grogan (0-5, 0-4f), Liam Carew. 

Subs used: Micheal Elligott for Gary Quirke; Thomas Cooper-Fahey for Jack O'Halloran; Sean Mullins for Tom O'Donoghue. 

Wolfe Tones: Shane Russell; Shane Nihill, Eoghan Casey, Aaron Brennan; Jason McAuley, Jayme O'Sullivan, Aaron Kelly (0-1); Joe McGauley (0-1), Brian Murphy; Conor Carrig, Craig Riordan (0-3, 0-2f), Jack Ryan (0-1); Dean Devanney, Colin Riordan (0-1), Gary Leahy (0-1). 

Subs used: Chris Dunning for Jack Ryan; Eoghan Gough for Brian Murphy; Niall Fitzgerald for Conor Carrig. 

Referee: David Murnane (Cork)