2013 South Senior Hurling Championship Final
The Killenaule Senior Hurling team took to Clonmel Sports field last Saturday night (27th July) in search of the club’s 18th South Senior Hurling Championship title. Carrick Swans were the team who stood in Killenaule’s way.
Carrick Swans were first off the mark but three points, one after the other from John ”Bubbles O’ Dwyer” put Killenaule into a 0-03 to 0-01 lead. Carrick Swans battled back and the teams were level at 0-04 each after 20 minutes. Killenaule began to pull away after that and thanks to scores from Bubbles, Pat ”Festy” Kerwick and Michael Doyle to fire Killenaule into an 0-08 to 0-04 lead. This advantage didn’t last too long however when Carrick Swans were given a life line thanks to their forwards putting serious pressure on Killenaule goalkeeper Gerry Kennedy, which resulted in James Waters blasting the ball into the top corner of the net to leave the bare minimum between the two teams. Killenaule responded quickly to the goal when Damien McCormack gathered possession from a low ball sent in from his team mates and tapped it over the bar to increase Killenaule’s lead to 0-09 to 1-04. Swans responded with a point of their own but then took the lead through a Dwayne Fogarty goal which was Carrick’s second of the game and gave them a 2-05 to 0-09 lead. Scores from Bubbles (2) and Festy along with two more Carrick points before halftime left Killenaule trailing by one point at the interval on a scoreline of 2-07 to 0-12.
The second half began just like the first with scores being hit over the bar from all angles from both teams. Bubbles got the sides level at 2-07 to 0-13 but the Swans weren’t long in restoring their one point lead. The Swans managed to double their lead not long into the second half on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-14. Killenaule did manage to get back level thanks to scores from Bubbles and Michael Doyle but they could never manage to get ahead of the Swan as the Swan restored their two point lead by 2-12 to 0-16. It really wasn’t looking like it was going to be Killenaule’s night when the Swans increased their lead by 2-13 to 0-16 mid way through the second half. Scores from Festy and Bubbles, got Killenaule to within the minimum once again of their opponents but Swans were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over and they led by 2-14 to 0-18 with just under ten minutes to go. A point from Tony Doyle got Killenaule to within one point of the Swan again but just couldn’t seem to find the equaliser as the Carrick side restored their two point lead with the score now reading 2-15 to 0-19. Bubbles kept the Killenaule dream alive with a point but once again Carrick Swans showed how determined they were not to be beaten as they once again restored their two point advantage from a score that looked to have guaranteed victory for Carrick Swans and the score now read 2-16 to 0-20. However, Killenaule didn’t throw in the towel despite normal time being up on the clock. Joe Caesar gave Killenaule slight hope with his first score of the game which came in the first couple of seconds of injury time. So here we were, in injury time with Carrick Swans winning by one point and playing the better hurling in the second half, it looked like it was up for Killenaule until suddenly it all happened. Killenaule won the puck out and as the ball was driven up to the forwards, substitute Dominic Blake gained possession, who then turned the Carrick defence and headed straight for the goal. With nobody but the Carrick Swans goalkeeper to beat, Dominic unselfishly passed the ball to an unmarked Festy Kerwick who sent the ball into the roof of the net and his team mates and set of supporters into dreamland with only a minute and a half of injury time remaining. This left the score 1-21 to 2-16 and was followed by a very quick Carrick puckout which Killenaule were alert to and resulted in a 21 yard free for The Robins which John ”Bubbles” O’ Dwyer sent over the bar to leave three points between them. It looked like Killenaule had stolen it but Carrick Swans had one more opportunity to save the game which was robbed from them, their final chance resulted in a sideline cut which was cut into the danger area, the Killenaule backs hung on and managed to clear the ball up the field when the final whistle eventually was blown.
Killenaule players and supporters celebrated with huge joy and huge relief. Both teams were left dazzled at the end of the match, Carrick Swans were wondering how they lost it while Killenaule couldn’t believe that they had won it. No doubt about it, this was definitely the best South Senior Hurling final played since the Killenaule vs Ballingarry saga in 2005 where it took a replay and extra time to separate the teams. A proud and well deserved Captain, Declan Fanning received the O’ Riain cup which was followed by a fantastic speech. From what was seen from both teams in this South final, Declan announced that there’s no reason why either Killenaule or Carrick Swans could go on and have a say in this years County Championship and you would have to say that it is quiet a true statement. This was followed by the Man of the Match reward being awarded to John ”Bubbles” O’ Dwyer who scored 0-14. Killenaule go forward to a County Quarter final after winning their 18th South Senior Hurling title and their first since 2008, while the Swans prepare for a County Qualifier which we would like to wish them the very best of luck in.
Congratulations To Killenaule, South Senior Hurling Champions 2013
