Tipperary final
Loughmore/Castleiney 1-12 Clonmel Commercials 1-11
Loughmore/Castleiney’s heartache is no more as they claimed the Tipperary senior football title after John McGrath’s injury time goal snatched victory over Clonmel Commercials in the final at Semple Stadium on Sunday.
Having failed to win three county finals played in both hurling and football over the past year, more disappointment was set to come their way as they trailed in added time before the Tipp hurling star scored the goal to end Commercials’ dreams of a three-in-a-row.
As usual, Loughmore had to do it the hard way, coming from behind after another slow start, conceding 1-2 in the first five minutes, Michael Quinlivan getting the goal for Commercials. However, once Loughmore settled, they were the better team for the remainder of the half, with scores from Conor Ryan with John McGrath landing their first from play in the 24th minute to cut the gap back to four after two Jason Lonergan points from play had reasserted Clonmel’s command.
Loughmore were back within two at half time (1-5 to 0-6) and at the second water-break but Clonmel were always able to stay in front, even when they lost Séamus Kennedy to the sin-bin with 10 minutes to go. They were still a point in front in added time when Loughmore’s sheer doggedness forced a mistake in defence from where Liam McGrath played in John McGrath who fired to the net and their pain was at an end.
They go for the double in the hurling final replay next Sunday.
Loughmore/Castleiney: S Hennessy; J Ryan, J Hennessy, W Eviston; L Egan, E Meagher, T Maher; J McGrath (1-2, 0-1f), E Connolly (0-1); Conor McGrath, L Treacy, A McGrath; C Ryan (0-7, 5f), N McGrath, L McGrath (0-1).
Subs: E Sweeney (0-1) for C McGrath (HT); Ciaran McGrath for Connolly (43); B McGrath for Meagher (54).
Clonmel Commercials: M O'Reilly; C Cannon, L Ryan, J Aherne; J Peters (0-1), K Fahey (0-2), P Looram (0-2); Conal Kennedy, S Kennedy; J Kennedy, R Peters, Colman Kennedy (0-1); J Lonergan (0-3), S O'Connor (0-2, 2f), M Quinlivan (1-0).
Subs: M Murphy for Aherne (28); C Deely for J Kennedy (HT); P McGarry for O'Connor (57); K Harney for R Peters (57). Referee: D O'Mahoney (Ardfinnan).
Fermanagh final
Enniskillen Gaels 0-5 Derrygonnelly Harps 2-8
It’s six out of the last seven Fermanagh championships for Derrygonnelly Harps, as they put away an inexperienced Enniskillen Gaels squad in the final at Brewster Park.
It was very much a case of an inexperienced team there on the day to learn lessons. What they lacked in composure, they tried to make up for in fire and effort in an error-strewn first half. Ultimately, the Gaels’ measly total of three points from play showed up their deficiencies.
The decisive play came in the 39th minute. Gaels fullback James Ferguson was adjudged to have fouled Gary McKenna in the penalty area and while it looked harsh, there was no saving Conall Jones’s spot kick that pinged off the inside of the post on the way in.
Throughout that time, Harps kept Gaels scoreless from the 20th to the 50th minute.
The second goal came deep into added-time, a poked finish from Stephen McGullion icing the victory.
Enniskillen Gaels: 1. C Newman; 2. N Love, 3. J Ferguson, 4. A Nolan; 5. C McShea, 6. J Cassidy, 7. P Reihill (0-1); 8. B Horan, 9. E Beacom (0-1); 23. J Horan, 11. C Jones (0-1), 12. C Quinn; 13. C Love (0-2, two frees), 14. R O'Callaghan, 15. J Reihill.
Subs: 17. R Beattie for Quinn (half-time), 18. R Bogue for Nolan, 24. C Smith for Cassidy (both 47 min), 10. C Watson for Jones (52m), 25. J Tierney for Ferguson (56m)
Derrygonnelly Harps: 1. J McGurn; 2. A Jones, 3. T Daly, 4. M Jones; 5. O Smyth, 6. D Cassidy, 7. A McKenna; 8. S McGullion (1-0), 9. R Jones (0-2); 10. E McHugh, 11. G Jones (0-1, free), 12. Leigh Jones (0-1); 13. S Gilroy, 14. C Jones (1-2, 1-0 pen, one free), 15. G McKenna (0-2, one free).
Subs: 24. C Burns for Gilroy (40 min), 20. Lee Jones for A McKenna, 18. Rian McGovern for Leigh Jones (both 53m), 26. G McGovern for G Jones (61m), 25. Ronan McGovern for G McKenna (64m)
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Irvinestown).
Waterford SFC final
The Nire 1-7 Rathgormack 0-9
The Nire survived a late rally from Rathgormack to lift the Conway Cup for the 10th time on Sunday.
Aaron Ryan netted two minutes into the second half for the Ballymacarbry side while man of the match Dermot Ryan shot three points.
They finished with 14 men as Waterford All Star Jamie Barron received a black card but Rathgormack were guilty of eleven wides.
A minute’s silence was observed to mark the death of Clonea chairman Pat Hunt. Pat’s son Paudie started in goal for Rathgormack.
It was 0-4 to 0-4 at half time. Shane Ryan opened the scoring before Jason Curry capitalised on a stray Nire kickout. Shane O’Meara and Curry swapped frees.
At the start of the second quarter, Jason Gleeson intercepted a Nire kickout to fist Rathgormack in front before Curry added his third (0-4 to 0-2). Sean Walsh got a point back for The Nire. David Meehan then denied Rathgormack a certain goal. Dermot Ryan tied it up again with a free from 45 metres out.
On 32 minutes, Jamie Barron and Shane Ryan worked the ball into Conor Gleeson who was brought down but Aaron Ryan poked it home. Dermot Ryan burst through the middle to strike over off his right as The Nire led 1-7 to 0-6 at the second water break.
Barron was black carded with four minutes left as Martin Scurry, Conor Murray and Curry left just one in it. The 14 men held firm.
The Nire: C Guiry; J Mulcahy, T O'Gorman, D Meehan; T Barron, J McGrath, D Ryan (0-3, 2f); S Walsh (0-1), D Guiry; S Boyce, S Ryan (0-1), J Barron; A Ryan (1-0), C Gleeson (0-1), S O'Meara (0-1, 1f).
Subs: K Cuddy for A Ryan (46), M Moore for Boyce (51).
Rathgormack: P Hunt; C Walsh, W Hahessy, J Kirwan; G Power, B Power, R Flynn; M Scurry (0-1), M Curry; J Curry (0-6, 5f), C Murray (0-1), J Power; R Elliffe, S Curry, J Gleeson (0-1).
Subs: S Kirwan for Elliffe (46), P Drohan for Gleeson (57).
Referee: P Smith.
Westmeath SFC final replay
St Loman’s, Mullingar 1-16 Garrycastle 1-12 (after extra-time)
St Loman’s, Mullingar deservedly retained their Westmeath senior football title after extra-time was needed in a very entertaining replay against Garrycastle in Mullingar on Sunday afternoon.
Alex Gardiner’s fine goal in the 15th minute helped the challengers to lead by 1-2 to 0-3 at the first water break.
However, Garrycastle failed to score in the second quarter. Two late points by John Heslin left St Loman’s ahead by 0-7 to 1-2 at the interval.
The lively TJ Cox availed of loose Garrycastle defending to score a fine goal in the 36th minute to put his side four points clear.
Goalkeeper Sean Brennan scored a superb 45 with the last kick to leave the sides tied at 1-10 apiece.
Skipper Heslin came good in the first period of extra-time when he kicked three points from play. The impressive Shane Dempsey scored two from play to bring his tally to five, and this left the Mullingar men ahead by 1-15 to 1-12 at half-time in extra-time. Sub Ken Casey scored the only point of the second period.
St Loman's, Mullingar: J Daly; D Whelan, D O'Keeffe, P Dowdall; J Geoghegan, K Reilly, S Flanagan; K Regan (0-1), S McCartan (0-1); S Dempsey (0-5), R O'Toole (0-1), TJ Cox (1-0); F Ayorinde; J Heslin (0-6, one free), P Foy (0-1).
Subs: O Hogan for Whelan (18), K Casey (0-1) for Foy (56), P Foy for Regan (e/t, 7), C O'Donoghue for Dowdall (e/t, 15).
Garrycastle: S Brennan (0-1, '45'); M McCallon, J Donohue, G McCallon; D Harte, J Gaffey (0-1), B Kelly; A Monaghan, J Barrett; T O'Halloran (0-1), E Mulvihill, E Monaghan (0-3); M Monaghan, A Gardiner (1-5, four frees, one mark), J Dolan.
Subs: J Nugent for M Monaghan (32), J Sheerin for Dolan (38), C Cosgrove for Kelly (47), C Mannion (0-1) for O'Halloran (52), A Kennedy for A Monaghan (e/t, h-t), T O'Halloran for Harte (e/t, h-t), J Dolan for Cosgrove (e/t, 16).
Referee: D Nugent (Maryland).
