A stunning last 25 minutes saw St Mary’s come from seven points down to win by four over Killenaule in the South Tipperary U19A Hurling Championship Final at Kilsheelan on Wednesday night last.

Trailing by 2-13 to 1-9 to the John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer-managed Killenaule side five minutes into the second half, they outscored their opponents by 2-10 to 1-5 in the final 25 to record their fourth divisional title in a row – and it’s five on the trot if the U18 win in 2020 before the age change is included.

Second-half goals from Jack Lawlor and Aaron Cagney proved crucial – especially Cagney’s four minutes from time that put the Clonmel side four ahead, 3-17 to 2-16. The sides shared the last four points of the game as Killenaule just failed to claw their way back into contention.

Leading by 2-11 to 1-8 at the break, with their goals from Luke Ryan and Darragh O’Gorman, Killenaule were the better side in the first half, with team captain Podge O’Dwyer putting in a huge amount of work at midfield, and Ryan, O’Gorman, Fionn Fitzgerald and Oisin Shelly causing major problems for the St Mary’s defence.

Killenaule were more committed in the tackle, winning a lot of dirty ball, but their performance dropped off a little in the second half as St Mary’s upped their display. 

Backboned by senior panelists such as man-of-the-match Thomas Charles, Tadgh Sheehan, James Power, Darragh O’Connor, and Darragh Landers, the Clonmel side chipped away at the Killenaule lead, before levelling at 2-15 each after 19 minutes of the second half, and when Harry Lawlor put them ahead from a free a minute later, they were never headed again.

Lawlor, with three points from play as well as two pointed frees, Niall Deely also with three, and Finn Napier with 1-1, proved a potent inside forward line for the Clonmel side who have made this competition their own in recent years. 

Manager Richie Gunne and his management team were delighted with the way they responded to a major challenge from the Slieveardagh side.

In a free-flowing game, the first six points were evenly shared, Landers, Napier, and Lawlor for St Mary’s with Darragh Doyle pointing three frees for Killenaule. Scores from Alex Creed and a Cagney free pushed St Mary’s two ahead before Killenaule took the lead for the first time in the 11th minute. 

Darragh Doyle created the chance with a fine run and Tony Ryan provided the final pass for Luke Ryan to shoot past team captain Cian Corcoran in the St Mary’s goal for a 1-3 to 0-5 lead.

Points from Oisin Shelly and Darragh O’Gorman pushed Killenaule into a three-point lead as they looked the better team. 

Harry Lawlor pointed a free for St Mary’s after Finn Napier was fouled when charging towards the goal, but Killenaule hit back with four in a row over three minutes, from Luke Ryan, two from the lively Darragh O’Gorman, and a Doyle free for 1-9 to 0-6 lead after twenty-one minutes.

When it looked like the game might be slipping from them, St Mary’s hit back with a goal, a high ball over the top deceiving the Killenaule defence, and Finn Napier found himself in the clear to shoot past David McCormack.

Podge O’Dwyer replied immediately with a Killenaule point and then it looked as if St Mary’s might be through for their second goal, following a brilliant catch and run from Niall Deely, but he opted for a point when a goal might have been on.

Instead, it was Killenaule who got the next goal a minute before the break, Darragh O’Gorman reacting quickest to shoot home when a Luke Ryan shot came back off the post. 

An Oisin Shelly point put Killenaule seven points clear, 2-11 to 1-7, but a quick reply from Aaron Cagey had it back to a six-point margin at the interval.

It was seven again twice more in the first five minutes of the second half – Fionn Fitzgerald pointing for Killenaule after great work from Darragh Doyle; Deely replying in the next move, and Doyle with a free coming back again for Killenaule.

Three in a row for the holders, two Cagney frees and a superb score from Thomas Charles, who finished a great run from defence with a lovely point, brought the margin back to four 2-13 to 1-12, but in a topsy-turvy period of the game, Killenaule hit back with two of their own, from Darragh Doyle, after great work from Luke Ryan, and Oisin Shelly, with an assist from Tony Ryan.

A six points gap, 2-15 to 1-12, was a little worrying for St Mary’s entering the final quarter, but that’s when they showed the quality of champions. 

A through ball from Harry Lawlor put his brother Jack in the clear and he blasted past David McCormack for the side’s second goal. When Harry Lawlor, Cagney from a free and Niall Deely from a James Power pass, hit three in a row, the sides were level for the first time since the 7th minute, at 2-15 each.

Killenaule came back strongly, but brilliant St Mary’s defence repelled the threat, and when Harry Lawlor was fouled following a great Darragh O’Connor clearance, Lawlor took the free himself to put St Mary’s ahead. 

Darragh Doyle from a free equalised but the pendulum had now swung in St Mary’s favour, and after Harry Lawlor restored the lead with a fine point from a tight angle, taking the pass from Darragh O’Connor again, St Mary’s got through for their crucial third goal, a lofted ball in from Niall Deely and Cagney finished to the net. 

When Cagney pointed a free following a foul on James Power thirty seconds later, the cup was heading back to Clonmel for another year.

Cagney pointed another free, sandwiched between Killenaule points from a Darragh Doyle free and Nathan Barrett, but there was no way back for Killenaule.

The win will add to the medal collection this year of St Mary’s duo David McSweeney and Aaron Cagney, who were members of the All Ireland winning Tipperary minor panel.

Last week’s game was one of the first to be played at the re-opened Kilsheelan venue, with the pitch and facilities looking resplendent after the major redevelopment.

St. Marys: Cian Corcoran; Max O’Dwyer, David McSweeney, Thomas Charles (0-1); Jack Lawlor (1-0), Tadgh Sheehan, Darragh O’Connor; Darragh Landers (0-1), Alex Creed (0-1); James Power, Paul Maher, Aaron Cagney (1-7, 0-6f); Finn Napier (1-1), Harry Lawlor (0-5, 0-2f), Niall Deely (0-3). 

Subs used: Jamie O’Keeffe for Paul Maher; Daniel Charles for Max O’Dwyer.

Killenaule: David McCormack; Shane Ryan, Finn Nolan, Bill Smyth; Charlie Barrett, Owen O’Dwyer, Jimmy Ryan; Podge O’Dwyer (0-1), Nathan Barrett (0-1); Oisin Shelly (0-3), Fionn Fitzgerald (0-1), Tony Ryan; Darragh O’Gorman (1-3), Luke Ryan (1-1), Darragh Doyle (0-8, 0-6f). 

Subs used: Luke Fitzgerald for Jimmy Ryan.

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers)

Match report by Michael Heverin - Tipperary Live.

Full photo gallery from the game can be viewd HERE , thanks to Paul Morris.