Clonmel Commercials edge out Thurles Sarsfields in thrilling Tipperary U19A footbal final

FBD Insurance County Under 19A Football Championship Final

CLONMEL COMMERCIALS 2-9 THURLES SARSFIELDS 1-11

Pre-match expectations suggested this FBD Insurance County Under 19A Football Championship final could be a very interesting one and those who were in Golden on Saturday afternoon weren’t to be disappointed.

In what was a fine advert for Tipperary football, Clonmel Commercials and Thurles Sarsfields served up a cracking game, with the Clonmel side just holding out for the narrowest of victories in the end, 2-9 to 1-11.

When the same sides met in the minor final at Dundrum last year, Commercials came through a ding-dong battle after extra-time. On Saturday, no one would have begrudged ‘The Blues’ extra-time either at the end of an enthralling encounter, but the Clonmel boys, thanks in the most part to two superb second half saves from Shane Ryan, held on gallantly to capture their first-ever title at this grade.

On a cold grey day in Golden the strong wind was to play a big part in matters, Commercials taking full advantage in the first half to lead by six at the break, 2-7 to 1-4.

However, on the resumption, Sarsfields took the game to their opponents, holding them to just two scores in the second 30 minutes, but crucially they never succeeded in getting their noses in front even once. They did manage to get within a point with a huge free from the superb Liam McCormack in the 59th minute, his sixth free of the day, but thereafter were denied another opportunity, the Clonmel side having the composure to close out a tight game.

Commercials’ Oisín Forristal kicked the opening point of the game from a tight angle in the third minute and directly from the resultant restart things were to get a whole lot better for the South champions. The strong wind held up the kick-out inside the Sarsfields 45 and when Peter McGarry took possession he ran through the middle to send a scorcher off the underside of the crossbar into the back of the net for an early 1-1 to 0-0 lead.

With their tails up, further points from Cian Smith and Anthony Keeley put Commercials six points clear after only 10 minutes. Eventually the Midmen managed to settle, a Darragh Stakelum run impeded, before captain Liam McCormack opened their account with his first free of the day in the 11th minute. Two minutes later McCormack tagged on another when a Commercials defender was adjudged to have picked up.

Peter McGarry’s long delivery to Cian Smith was well held by the Commercials full-forward who made ample room to kick a super score for a five points advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The game sprung to life in the 19th minute when Sars’ midfielder Aidan Stakelum cut in from the side to crash a thunderbolt off the upright. The same player gathered the rebound and when a second bite of the cherry was again denied, Josh Fogarty got a volley free to rattle the Commercials net in the ensuing ping-pong goalmouth action.

Three minutes later Liam McCormack with another free made it a one point game, the initial award moved in to within range after dissent from a Commercials player.

Now, Commercials were being tested like never before in this campaign, but their response was totally emphatic and ultimately match-winning as they hit back with 1-3 unanswered in three minutes.

In the 25th minute Darragh O’Connor and Anthony Keeley combined before Peter McGarry bisected the uprights from 40 metres out.

And McGarry was involved again with his side’s second goal which had a great sense of deja vu attached. From the kick-out Commercials’ full-back Ross Slattery came through to field, ran down the throat of the defence, played a one-two with McGarry, before sending a rocket past Lorcan Cummins to put his side 2-5 to 1-3 up.

Two further points were to follow in quick succession from Anthony Keeley and Cian Smith (the latter a possible goal opportunity) for a seven points advantage to the Philly Ryan-managed side. 

Just before the half-time whistle Josh Fogarty kicked a point from play for Sarsfields, Urban Nolan playing a part in its making.

County Tipperary Under 19A Football Champions 2022: Clonmel Commercials squad pictured with the cup following their win over Thurles Sarsfields in the final played at Golden on Saturday afternoon. Pic: Michael Boland

At the break, Commercials would have been happy enough going in at 2-7 to 1-4 having weathered that Sarsfields storm midway through.

Slowly but surely Sarsfields were to make inroads into those arrears and their first point of the second half came from Alex Moloney three minutes in, Robbie Stapleton and McCormack involved.

A pair of frees from McCormack, one from the sideline 35 metres out, the other off the ground from 40 metres, hauled his side to within three by the 40th minute.

Commercials’ first of only two second half points came in the 41st minute, the incredibly hard-working centre-forward Declan Nee forcing a turnover and kicking the point himself into the wind.

If the scores aren’t coming your way, the key then is not to concede, and in the 43rd minute, Commercials had goalkeeper Shane Ryan to thank for a superb save from Liam McCormack, the talented Commercials custodian at full stretch to deny in the one-on-one.

On the three quarters mark Ciaran Woodlock kicked a magnificent point after a well delivered long foot pass from Alex Moloney. Now, with 15 minutes left to play there was just a kick of the ball in it,  in a thoroughly enjoyable game, 2-8 to 1-8 for the southerners.

Ruairí Leahy landed Commercials final point of the game in the 48th minute when a Sarsfields attempt to play the ball from defence was intercepted; it might well have been a goal with a little more composure.

The proverbial kitchen sink was then thrown at the Clonmel side over the remaining 12 minutes or so.

In the 49th minute a great run by centre-back Darragh Stakelum was finished when he curled a left-legged shot over, and four minutes later another run at the Commercials defence ended with Liam McCormack narrowing the gap to just two points with his only point from play, 2-9 to 1-10.

Four minutes from the end of normal time Liam McCormack got through on goal for the second time, and once more was denied by another vital diving save from Shane Ryan at the expense of a 45. If McCormack was Sarsfields outstanding player, the DNA and heroics of Ryan in the Commercials goal was the saving of Clonmel Commercials.

In the 59th minute, Liam McCormack kicked another huge free for the Cathedral Town side to leave just a single point in it, but despite the four minutes of added-time played, they weren’t to get another chance. Indeed it was Commercials who had those late chances but Tadgh Sheehan and Cian Smith were off-target, and fortunately they weren’t to rue those misses by the final whistle.

All in all for the time of year this was an excellent game of football played in the best of spirits.

Having lost the inaugural final in this grade to Ballina 12 months ago, Commercials will be delighted to get their hands on this silverware for the very first time. Interestingly they will have done so without having a single score from a free, their entire 2-12 coming from play, with just one free from within range over the entire 60 minutes

For them Shane Ryan, Ross Slattery, James Morris, Peter McGarry, Declan Nee, Anthony Keeley and Cian Smith were most prominent, Tadgh Sheehan and Thomas Charles having their moments when introduced.

For the never-say-die Sarsfields they had some solid showings from the excellent Liam McCormack, Tommy Maher, Darragh Stakelum, Killian Rafter, Aidan Stakelum, Alex Moloney, Josh Fogarty and Ciaran Woodlock.

TEAMS AND SCORERS

CLONMEL COMMERCIALS:

Shane Ryan, Alex McSherry, Ross Slattery (1-0), Oisín Power, Rory O’Dowd (captain), James Morris, Darragh O’Connor, Peter McGarry (1-1), Oisín Forristal (0-1), Kian O’Reilly, Declan Nee (0-1), Dean Cagney, Anthony Keeley (0-2), Cian Smith (0-3), Ruairí Leahy (0-1).

Subs; Tadgh Sheehan for O’Reilly (36 minutes); Thomas Charles for Cagney (48).

THURLES SARSFIELDS:

Lorcan Cummins, Jack O’Meara, Emmet Fogarty, Scott Brennan, Tommy Maher, Darragh Stakelum (0-1), Killian Rafter, Aidan Stakelum, Alex Moloney (0-1), Robbie Stapleton, Josh Fogarty (1-1), Ciaran Woodlock (0-1), Liam McCormack (0-7, 0-6f), Conor Wall, Urban Nolan.

Subs: Fiachra O’Gorman for Wall (45 minutes).

Referee: Pat O'Mahony (Kiladangan).