TIPPERARY SFC SEMI-FINAL Thomas McDonaghs 1-5 Clonmel Commercials 0-6:THOMAS McDONAGHS created history yesterday as they became the first team from North Tipperary to reach a county senior football final since Kilruane McDonaghs in 1975.

McDonaghs are eligible to pick from nine clubs in North Tipperary and they shocked 14-time county champions Clonmel Commercials in Holycross to set up a final meeting with Moyle Rovers.

McDonaghs, having played against the breeze, led by 1-3 to 0-4 at the end of an eventful first half but the sides managed just four points between them after half-time as the weather deteriorated.

The first half was a tale of two penalties, one missed by Commercials’ Ian Barnes before county star and leading scorer Philip Austin nailed his effort in the final minute of the half.

A goal was no more than McDonaghs deserved as they created a number of chances before Austin banged home his penalty.

But it wasn’t all one-way traffic as Commercials were awarded a 12th minute penalty. Barnes stepped forward and aimed a shot into the bottom corner but McDonaghs’ goalkeeper Jim McDonnell dived low to pull off a superb save.

THOMAS MCDONAGHS: J McDonnell; D Hackett, D Buckley, F Williams; K Maher, N O'Meara, J Carroll; S Murphy (0-2), L England; P O'Meara, A Hannigan, J Gallagher; B O'Meara, P Austin (1-3, 1-0 pen, one free), D Egan. Subs: R Gleeson for Maher (34 mins), R McLoughney for Williams (39 mins), F Hayes for Egan (57 mins).

COMMERCIALS: C McMenamin; F Condon, C O'Connell, D Lynch; S Buckley, K Harney, S Taylor (0-1); E Hanrahan, A Matassa (0-2, 45s); L Moore, D Madigan, R Carroll; I Barnes (0-2, frees), J Harney, B O'Hara (0-1). Subs: C Walsh for Buckley (h-t), I Fahey for Hanrahan (43 mins), M Quinlivan for Carroll (43 mins), F O'Callaghan for O'Hara (55 mins), Hanrahan for Harney (59).