Cashel find groove to clip Swans wings

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Cashel King Cormacs 2-17

Carrick Swan 0-19

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Devon Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs)

SCORERS – Cashel King Cormacs: Devon Ryan 1-7 (0-4 frees); Eoghan Connolly 1-2 (1-0 free); David McGrath, Ross Bonnar 0-2 each; Ronan Connolly, Conor O’Dwyer, Oisin O’Donoghue, Anthony Walsh, Ger Browne 0-1 each.

Carrick Swan: Calum Lanigan 0-14 (12 frees); Aaron Dunne 0-2; Dean Walsh, Calum Walsh, Danny O’Hanlon 0-1 each.

After a ten year absence, Cashel King Cormacs are back at the top table in Tipperary hurling as goals in each half proved crucial in seeing off the challenge of Carrick Swan in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling final on Sunday, claiming the O Riain Cup, promotion to senior, and a place in the Munster intermediate club championship – not a bad day’s work.

This was a final that whetted the appetite of hurling fans, not just in south and west Tipp, but countywide, as two clubs with rich hurling traditions sought a return to senior ranks after prolonged absences. They went into the decider with impressive credentials.

Cashel, in addition to the divisional title, had also won the Crosco Cup in West Tipp while Swan had a south senior title under their belt. However, it was the O Riain Cup that both targeted and the contest lived up to expectations, Both registered nineteen scores but significantly, Cashel bagged two goals and that is what ultimately decided the issue in their favour.

The first came after fourteen minutes when James Cummins set up Devon Ryan with a perfectly weighted pass and Ryan duly obliged with a rasping shot to the net. That goal put Cashel 1-1 to 0-3 ahead, and, playing into the fresh breeze, it was hugely important.

The Swan were having more of the play and with Calum Lanigan razor-sharp off placed balls, they were quickly back in front before going on to lead 0-11 to 1-5 at the break.

Lanigan shot seven points in the first half, six from frees with Aaron Dunne supplying a brace but a three point deficit would not have fazed Cashel although they needed to raise their game a notch on the changeover.

Instead, it was Swan who continued to have the better of things and with three Lanigan points to Devon Ryan’s reply for Cashel, the south boys were five points clear (0-14 to 1-6) on 36 minutes.

Three minutes later, the game took a dramatic twist when Eoghan Connolly’s free from well inside his own half went all the way to the net, a score that kick-started a Cashel surge that was to sweep them to victory. Cashel quickly followed with points from Devon Ryan (3) and Ross Bonner to go two points clear.

It got worse for the Swan as they had defender Jack Murphy red-carded for an off the ball incident on 48 minutes. The ball was now very much in Cashel’s court, but the Swan were not wilting. With six minutes left, just two points separated the sides, 2-13 to 0-17, but the numerical advantage began to tell, and Cashel had four points in the closing minutes to Carrick’s two, to get them over the line.

This was a big win for Cashel, and it was much needed in the west division which now will have two senior teams next year as Cashel join Clonoulty-Rossmore in the top flight.

It’s merit is beyond question. Especially in the second half they were impressive going forward and in Devon Ryan, who was awarded the Man of the Match accolade, they had a classy forward who took his chances with great aplomb.

Conor O’Dwyer got through a huge amount of work at the heart of the defence, his reading of the game heading off potential danger on many occasions. Eoghan Connolly too had a big say in Cashel’s win, a commanding figure for them around the field. They may have been the leaders, but they did not lack for support with James Cummins, Ross Bonner, David McGrath, and Kieran O’Dwyer also doing very well.

Carrick Swan came into the game with high hopes, but a lack of scoring options was their undoing. Calum Lanigan hit twelve points from frees– a seven point return from play falls well below what is required to win a championship. No blame can be attached to Lanigan, but he needed more support.

Aaron Dunne did well with two points from play and Gavin O’Halloran was excellent at the heart of their defence. Dean Kiely and Dean Walters were others to work very hard for the Carrick cause.

Next up for Cashel is the Munster Club Championship and an away quarter final to Limerick’s Garryspillane or Newcastlewest. They must be very optimistic about their chances at that level.

After some big wins in the division and in the county campaigns, they have a lot of momentum behind them and with Ger Browne, who made a brief late appearance after injury, and scored a point, to come back into the reckoning for a starting position, they have the quality and the strength in depth to challenge for provincial honours.

TEAMS - Cashel King Cormacs: Johnny Walsh (6); Con Bonner (6), Nathan Ryan (6), Kieran O’Dwyer (6); James Cummins (7), Conor O’Dwyer (8), Ronan Connolly (6); Paddy Fahey (7), Eoghan Connolly (7); Cathal Quinn (6), Devon Ryan (9), Oisin O’Donoghue (6); David McGrath (7), Anthony Walsh (6), Ross Bonner (7).

Subs: Adrian Cummins (7) for R Bonner (56), Ger Browne (7) for R Connolly (57); Simon Delaney (NR) for A Walsh (60+2).

Carrick Swan: Kieran Lonergan (6); Dean Kiely (7), Scott Hogan (6), Jack Murphy (6); Colin Loughman (6), Gavin O’Halloran (7), Ben Mulcaire (6); Aaron O’Halloran (7), Dean Waters (6); Eric O’Halloran (7), Calum Lanigan (8), Dean Fitzgerald-Walsh (6); Aidan Waters (6), Aaron Dunne (7), Calum Walsh (6).

Subs: Danny O’Hanlon (6) for D F Walsh (35); Taylor Fleming (6) for A Waters (44).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Newcastle).