Two clubs that have served up some excellent encounters over the years once again delivered in the Sean O'Donoghue Motor Factors South Under 21 A Football semi-final at Newcastle on Sunday evening last. This was a game that had skill, passion and e
xcitement throughout and both sides can take huge credit for the manner in which the game was played. The sides were level on five occasions, as both Commercials and Moyle Rovers battled for a place in the final.
From the throw-in the intensity of the exchanges gave a flavour of the game. Commercials' Jason Barnes opened the scoring with a pointed free in the 2nd minute. Tipperary senior footballer Sean Carey replied four minutes later when he converted a free from thirty metres. Both sets of backs were on top in the early stages with Jamie Peters, Luke Moore and Donal Lynch excellent for Commercials while David Foley, Cíarán Lorrigan, and Darragh Dwyer were dominant at the other end.
At centre field there was a real battle going on - Peter Acheson and Sean Boland against Alan Lonergan and Aldo Matassa - and the exchanges in this area were thrilling. Jason Barnes had Commercials ahead in the 8th minute with his side's second pointed free. Scores were hard to come by and it took until the 15th minute for Peter Acheson to equalise for Moyle Rovers. Sean Carey put Rovers' in front a minute later as the Monroe side took a little control and Commercials appeared to briefly lose their way. The excellent Luke Moore pointed in the 17th minute to tie the game up again. Moyle Rovers were enjoying the greater share of possession but some wasteful shooting and some sloppy passing denied them a scoring advantage. Corner forward Liam Boland had Moyle Rovers on top again after 22 minutes. Commercials finished the first half strongly and points from Alan Lonergan and Aldo Matassa gave them a single point half time advantage.
The second half may have only produced four points in total but it delivered some tremendous football, as both teams gave their all in pursuit of victory. Jason Barnes opened a two-point lead for Commercials when he pointed a free in the 2nd minute. Some fine passages of play followed before Sean Carey pointed from a dead ball in the 8th minute and followed up 7 minutes later to level the game again entering the final quarter.
This was Rovers' final score as their number of missed chances increased alarmingly in the closing stages. Both sides battled bravely to gain the upper hand in this enthralling battle. With five minutes remaining the brilliant Aldo Matassa scored a wonderful point to give Commercials a one-point lead. Moyle Rovers had late chances but two excellent saves from Paul Nolan in the Commercials goal and some wasted frees late in the game denied Moyle Rovers, and earned Commercials a place against Ardfinnan in the South final on this Saturday.
