PREVIEW: Cashel vs Clonoulty - West Senior Hurling Final

By Francis Coughlan 

For just the third time time in twenty-eight years defending champions Clonoulty/Rossmore and Cashel King Cormacs will meet in the 94th Tipperary Co-Op West Senior Hurling championship divisional showpiece.

The newly recoated O’Dwyer Cup awaits the winners who clash in Golden this Saturday at 7.15pm.

It’s a repeat of the 2021 decider which Clonoulty/Rossmore won by five points. It secured a second six in a row for Clonoulty/Rossmore.

While Cashel King Cormacs battled well that day, Clonoulty/Rossmore used all their experience to get over the line. Players like Timmy Hammersley, Thomas Butler and John Keeffe used their experience to keep that wheel turning and bring the younger players through.

Every team goes through change as players move on and way for the next generation and Clonoulty/Rossmore over the last few years having been introducing new players every year. Before going further, the loss of Dillon Quirke who went to his eternal reward all too soon cannot be understated and he will certainly be in the players minds as the Championship unfolds.

Clonoulty/Rossmore have won thirteen of the last sixteen West Senior Hurling Championship titles showing their dominance in the division. They match their six in a row in 2021 and went one better in 2022.

On Saturday they will be looking for their twenty fourth title. When the sides met in the 1996 final it was truly different landscape in the West Senior Hurling Championship.

Cashel King Cormacs had twelve months previous claimed a record eighteenth West Senior Hurling Championship title and sixth in eight seasons. Going into the final Clonoulty/Rossmore stood eleven titles behind them.

Few would imagine how the landscape would change. Their success is backboned from eleven West U21A Hurling title’s in fifteen seasons between 2005 and 2019 and finally breaking their county duck in the grade in 2018. Cashel will hope that their time in coming too. On St. Stephen’s day last they bridged a thirty year gap to claim the West U21A Hurling title.

Can Cashel say they have improved on two years ago? There is definitely an argument to say they have. Their launch pad and wining of the semi-final came from their half back line which offered very little change to the Sean Treacys half forward line and thus limited the supply to the inside line.

Conn Bonnar has relocated to centre back and flanked by Daniel Moloney and James Cummins though the latter went forward when Simon Delaney was introduced. If Cashel are to succeed they will have to nullify the effect of Jack Ryan’s ability while Aaron Ryan offers a physical presence.

Cathal Quinn if fit could slot back into the half back to pick up Ryan or could be an option at midfield. Cathal Bourke was almost unerring from placed balls the last day but he also got onto to plenty of ball so an interesting duel awaits between him and Conn Bonnar.

The picking of the Clonoulty/Rossmore full forward line raised a few eyebrows before throw in but by half time the selection was justified. Danny Slattery and Robert Doyle both played in defence for the Tipperary U20’s this year and most would have expected to see them line out in defence.

Slattery has pace to burn and the way he took on his marker and the finish pass Darragh Mooney to the top corner was surely a contender for goal of the season if not the goal of the season already.

His movement will likely cause problems and it is likely he could have to be followed. One of the main duels of the game could be Nathan Ryan on Robert Doyle.

Ryan has settled into this position on the team and while Doyle didn’t score the last day out he won a lot of ball. This will be a very interesting match up.

Stephen Ferncombe is another dangerous forward who has bedded in nicely to this team. We saw what he do in the U19 last season and the power of his strike was evident in the penalty he took on Friday last.

Anything close to goal and he will certainly give the capable Aaron Browne a good test of his credentials. Eoghan Connolly has grown as a major leader in this Cashel team and his work rate an overall ability to score from long range is another huge asset.

He was the one who set up the first goal though he could hardly believe the space that opened up before him before setting up James Cummins. Placed at midfield this lad will cover a lot of ground. It will be interesting to see how Clonoulty/Rossmore counteract this.

The last day with such a strong breeze a lot of the puckouts by passed midfield and it took Ronan Heffernan and Michael Ryan  a while to get into the game. Devon Ryan took his goal well in the semi-final while also was dangerous from placed balls and open play.

It will be interesting to see if Jimmy Ryan or Tommy Ryan picked up Devon. Paddy Fahy named at full forward will probably be picked up by Enda Heffernan and this will provide another good physical battle.

Cashel will be happy to have got sixty minutes into Ger Browne the last day out and he is an option of coming more out around the middle of the field. Like Cashel, the Clonoulty/Rossmore half back line was solid in their semi-final win over Eire Og on Friday night.

John O’Keeffe provided all his experience at centre back but in last years West Final got down the field this time to win a penalty. Ciaran Quirke and Sean O’Connor flank him are both very experienced.

Ross Bonnar will likely face up against O’Keeffe. Ronan Connolly will likely drift out to win ball while James Cummins could yet take up the other half forward role. The latter taking his goal chance well the last day out.

Significantly if you go back to the 1940 final both sides stood on four titles each, Clonoulty having been the original standard bearers but on that occasion Cashel King Cormacs came out on top to go clear in the roll of honour something they held over the Clonoulty men for seventy-seven years until they drew level with Saturdays opponents in 2018.

Could this Saturday spark another twist in both club’s fortunes?

Interestingly the sides have met just eight times previous in the decider with the record 5 to 3 in Cashel King Cormacs favour. Cashel King Cormacs though have to go back to 1999 for their last West championship win over Saturdays opponents having been defeated in the last ten meetings. 

The talking point on Clonoulty/Rossmore’s win was their efficiency with just three wides. It was certainly a ruthless performance but did the second goal knock Eire Og’s confidence and if so this will bring Cashel King Cormacs firmly into the picture? They are certainly not without a chance.