In a gripping senior Tipperary football final at Ardfinnan yesterday, holders Moyle Rovers held off a storming Clonmel Commercials finish to win their fourth championship in five years.

Leading 1-6 to 1-3 at half-time, the champions had to pull out all the stops against opponents who had every chance of forcing a replay.

All Star Declan Browne led the way for the holders in the opening half and was the star of the show with an impressive 1-5 to his credit.

Within seconds of the second half restart, Rovers centre forward Derry Foley delivered the killer blow when his overhead flick deceived Clonmel's goalkeeper Philly Ryan and gave Rovers the momentum.

Commercials did not fold, however, and a flurry of points from Kevin Dempsey, Fergal O'Callaghan, Anthony Wall and James Keating saw them trailing 1-9 to 2-7 after 47 minutes. Donal Foley then landed a crucial point for the Rovers in the 50th minute.

MOYLE ROVERS - S Delahunty; N Wall, L Cronin, K O'Connor; J McGrath, M McGrath R Boland; J Dunne, J Owens; T Hewitt, Derry Foley 1-0, J Shanahan; Donal Foley 0-1, D Browne 1-6, J Williams 0-1.

CLONMEL COMMERCIALS - P Ryan; F Condon, K O'Reilly, M O'Mahony; T Galvin, G Deeley, S McEwan; E Hanrahan, T Kelly 0-1; P Scully, A Wall 0-1, F O'Callaghan 0-1; P O'Keeffe, K Dempsey 0-4, J Keating 1-2. Subs - D Lavin for K O'Reilly, F Kelly 0-1 for P O'Keeffe, J McNamara for P Scully.

Referee - G Hayes (Moneygall).