Commercials shade absorbing battle
Clonmel Commercials 0-7 Moyle Rovers 0-6
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 excitement throughout and both sides can take huge credit for the mannerin which the game was played. The sides were level on five occasions, as both Commercials and Moyle Rovers battled fora 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 2ndminute. 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, Carn 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 8thminute with his side's second pointed free. Scores were hard to come by and it took until the 15thminute for Peter Achesonto equalise for Moyle Rovers. Sean Carey put Rovers' in front a minute later as the Monroe side took a little control andCommercials appeared to briefly lose their way.The excellent Luke Moore pointed in the 17thminute 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 2ndminute. Some fine passages of play followed before Sean Carey pointed from a dead ball in the 8thminute 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 minutesremaining the brilliant Aldo Matassa scored a wonderful point to give Commercialsa 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.
A truly wonderful game played by two excellent sidesgave great excitement to an enthusiastic crowd. Moyle Rovers will point to squandered chances, particularly late in the game, but Commercials’ battling spirit and ability gave them a deserved victory and they will go into the final in buoyant mood. However they will need to be cautious, as a return to the form shown in their opening game against Cahir will mark the end of their bid for honours.
Commercials: P.Nolan, D.Ryan,C.Walsh, J.Peters, S.Taylor, D.Lynch,L.Moore, A.Lonergan, A.Matassa, J.Barnes, J.Power, C.Nolan, P.Powell, E.Carey, A.Ward. Subs Used: M.Quinlivan, D.McGrath, B.O’Sullivan, S.Power.
Moyle Rovers: K.Kendrick, D.Foley, S.Heffernan, C.Lorrigan, E.Burke, D.Dwyer, A.Campbell, S.Boland, P.Acheson, S.Foley, S.Carey, T.Hill, L.Boland, B.Smith, E.Ahearne. Subs Used: D.McGrath, L.Carey.
Referee - Keith O’Brien (Kilsheelan).
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Weather for Clonmel
Saturday 04 February 2012
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Heavy rain
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