Clonmel Commercials 1-7
Nemo Rangers 0-9
MICHAEL QUINLIVAN STRUCK for a 62nd-minute goal as Clonmel Commercials became the first Tipperary club to win the Munster Club SFC on Sunday.
In a tense and tight battle at Mallow, Cork’s Nemo Rangers looked to have secured their 16th provincial title when points from Paul Kerrigan and Jack Horgan put them two points clear as injury time dawned.
However, there was time for one last Clonmel attack when a free was won around midfield. When Aldo Matassa’s delivery wasn’t dealt with by the Nemo defence, the ball fell to Quinlivan who created just enough room for a shot, which crept past the grasp of Micheál Martin and just inside the post.
It was a famous victory for Clonmel, who stayed with their opponents all through, with the sides level on five occasions during the game. Having fallen behind to points by Paul Kerrigan and James Masters, Clonmel responded through captain Kevin Harney and Quinlivan and the sides traded scores from there to half-time, going in at 0-5 each.
Clonmel had a great start to the second half, with Quinlivan nailing a 45 to put them ahead for the first time and then converting a long-range free as the game became a war of attrition.
Kerrigan finally opened Nemo’s second-half account in the 45th minute and he was desperately unlucky not to goal immediately after, his shot rolling past the post.
They did draw level through a Luke Connolly free and then looked to have seized the momentum with the late scores from Kerrigan and Horgan. From there, it appeared that they couldn’t be beaten but Quinlivan and Clonmel had other ideas.
Scorers for Clonmel Commercials: Michael Quinlivan 1-3 (0-2 45, 0-1 free), Jack Kennedy, Aldo Matassa, Kevin Harney, Jason Lonergan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Paul Kerrigan 0-3, James Masters 0-2 (0-1 free), Jack Horgan, David Niblock, Luke Connolly (0-1 free), David O’Donovan 0-1 each.
CLONMEL COMMERCIALS
1. Jack McDonald
4. Jamie Peters
3. Donal Lynch
2. Fergal Condon
10. Luke Moore
7. Kevin Fahey
13. Kevin Harney
8. Jack Kennedy
9. Aldo Matassa
15. Pádraig White
12. Jason Lonergan
11. Ian Fahey
24. John Harney
14. Michael Quinlivan
6. Séamus Kennedy
Subs:
17. Ian Barnes for John Harney (40)
18. Pádraig Looram for Jack Kennedy (43)
5. Danny Madigan for White (47)
19. Eoin Fitzgerald for Ian Fahey (59)
NEMO RANGERS
1. Micheál Martin
2. Aidan O’Reilly
3. Ciarán O’Shea
19. David O’Donovan
5. Kevin Fulignati
6. Tomás Ó Sé
7. Alan O’Donovan
8. David Niblock
9. Michael Dorgan
15. Colin O’Brien
12. Paul Kerrigan
10. Dylan Mehigan
17. James Masters
11. Barrry O’Driscoll
14. Conor Horgan
Subs:
13. Luke Connolly for Mehigan (half-time)
23. Ciarán Dalton for Horgan (39)
21. Peter Morgan for Dorgan (45)
25. William Morgan for Masters (50)
24. Jack Horgan for O’Brien (53)
Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)
