Shannon Rovers hang on to win first Junior 'B' Football title

Shannon Rovers made their own bit of history on Saturday when they captured the County Junior ‘B’ Football title for the first time, hanging on in a thrilling finish to get the better of Clonmel Commercials.

GAA: FBD Insurance County Junior ‘B’ Football Championship Final

Shannon Rovers 1-6

Clonmel Commercials 0-8

Report: Michael Dundon in Castleiney

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers)

SCORERS – Shannon Rovers: George Hannigan 0-3 (2 frees); Paddy Heenan 1-0; Andrew Byrne, John O’Meara, Alan Hannigan 0-1 each.

Clonmel Commercials: Ben Browne, Alan Lonergan 0-2 each; Adam Cooney, Alex Creed (free), Jamie Ahearne, Daan Van Der Wall 0-1 each.

Though this was Commercials’ third team, they went into the final with an impressive campaign behind them, but on the day, they could not master a Shannon Rovers team that was in the driving seat from early on and that showed great resilience to finish the job off when the Clonmel men came late chasing a leveller.

It was a fine contest and a fitting result. Commercials will argue they had enough of the ball to win but Rovers can point to some wasted chances and salute a hard-working defence which soaked up the heaviest of the pressure Commercials could apply in a nail-biting finish.

Rovers put their stamp on the game early on. Playing with the breeze, they got a match-winning break after nine minutes when a George Hannigan shot came off the woodwork, but Paddy Heenan was in the right spot to return it to the net for a 1-2 to no score lead. It was no more than they deserved as they had been the more purposeful and positive side from the start and with points from John O’Meara, George Hannigan, Alan Hannigan, and Padraig O’Meara they led 1-4 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter.

As it transpired that was the decisive period of the game. Rovers went on to lead 1-4 to 0-2 at half-time and might have had a second goal but for the intervention of the woodwork again in the 23rd minute to deny George Hannigan.

A five-point deficit was not unmanageable for Commercials who, despite conceding a further point to George Hannigan, raised their game in the second half. Their difficulty was that they found it very difficult to shake off the shackles imposed by a resolute Rovers defence.

It took Commercials 21 minutes to come within a goal of their rivals (0-5 to 1-5) but that closing ten minutes were to prove nerve wrecking for the North lads. Points from Adam Cooney and Alex Creed for Commercials cut the lead to the minimum with three minutes to play.

The possibility of a draw and extra time loomed but Rovers held their nerve. When George Hannigan again hit the woodwork with a free on sixty minutes the ball rebounded to him, and he duly pointed to give his side breathing space.

That didn’t last long as Commercials threw everything into their quest for a winning goal. The Rovers followers were screaming for the final whistle, but Alan Lonergan had an injury time point for Commercials to leave just a point between them.

From the kick-out, the Rovers won possession and referee Seanie Peters sounded the long whistle leaving team captain Padraig O’Meara to accept the Dr Marsh Cup on behalf of his Shannon Rovers team-mates.

With this success comes promotion for Shannon Rovers who will be hoping to make an impression at the higher level next year. That’s for the future. For now, they will relish this win, which is particularly rewarding for, and richly deserved by some of the veterans of the side.

They had many fine performers in this game, but Conal Moran’s industry and intelligent use of the ball had a huge bearing on the outcome. His midfield partner Andrew Byrne too shone while George Hannigan’s experience as leader of the attack was also vital. These apart, Marcus Esmonde, in the first half, Padraig O’Meara, Alan Hannigan until injured, and Eamon Hough were key figures in this historic win.

It was a disappointing outcome for Clonmel Commercials who had high hopes of adding this county title to the senior championship won earlier in the year by the club. The failure of their attack to make better use of the play they had was their undoing, but no fault could be laid at the feet of such as Richie Gunne, Alan Lonergan, Alex McSherry, Shane Taylor, or Adam Cooney.

TEAMS - Shannon Rovers: Niall Cahalan (6); Derek Horan (6), Matt Tierney (6), Jack O’Sullivan (6); Emmet Moran (6), Padraig O’Meara (7), Eamon Hough (7); Conal Moran (8), Andrew Byrne (7); Marcus Esmonde (7), George Hannigan (7), Michael Tierney (6); Paddy Heenan (6), John O’Meara (6), Alan Hannigan (6).

Subs: Austin Tierney (6) for Horan (38); Vincent Mulvihill (6) for A Hannigan (39); Oisin McMahon (6) for Matt Tierney (47), Matthew Hardy (NR) for Heenan (57).

Clonmel Commercials: Cian Corcoran (6); Shane Taylor (7), Richie Carroll (6), Luke O’Donnell (6); Adam Cooney (7), Alex McSherry (7), Darragh O’Keeffe (6); Ben Browne (7), Mark Corcoran (6); Matthew O Ceallaigh (6), Stephen Kelly (6), Richie Gunne (7); Alex Creed (6), Alan Lonergan (7), Jamie Ahearne (6).

Subs: Daan Van Der Wall (6) for O’Donnell (HT); Cillian McNamara (6) for O Ceallaigh (39); Danny Hogan (6) for M Corcoran (42); Peter O’Dowd (6) for Browne (50).

Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow).