*Darragh Stakelum takes on Conor Rynne and Kevin Hehir. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
INAGH/KILNAMONA’s historic senior season came to an end when a last gasp Robbie Stapleton score proved the difference in extra time of the Munster club semi-final.
Thurles Sarsfields 0-23
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-22
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis
(after extra time)
A year full of highs ended with the last puck of the game as Inagh/Kilnamona’s hopes of reaching a first Munster final were dashed.
In a truly tit for tat encounter, the sides were tied on eleven different occasions across eighty minutes. After scoring four points without reply, Inamona managed to force extra time, this following Aidan McCormack sending Thurles Sars back ahead before Aidan McCarthy stepped up to equalise in additional time.
When it came to extra time, Inamona never led and were constantly chasing. At best, it appeared that they would have to settle for penalties, Pádraic Maher and his Thurles Sarsfields management were of a similar mindset as they scrambled unsuccessfully to get Pa Bourke on the field for a shootout which never materialised thanks to Robbie Stapleton sealing the win. These efforts stalled the clock momentarily which has caused frustration for The Combo who felt the final whistle could have been blown before the long-range free that resulted in Stapleton winning possession.
Instances where Inagh/Kilnamona led were rare, they were in the ascendancy for two minutes in the opening half but only once more for the remainder of the game, another two minute spell in the closing stages of the first half. That said, they fought constantly and were able to get back on level terms but crucially could never gain the upperhand to carve out an advantage of any sorts.
Match-winner Stapleton struck three points in extra time and typified the greater impact Thurles Sarsfields received from their bench. Jason McCarthy to his credit fought like a lion when brought into the fray at full forward and created scorers, but their bench failed to provide a scoring threat which Stapleton added, Tommy Maher also had a point while Ronan Maher made his influence known when introduced.
Withdrawing Conner Hegarty would have to be considered a mistake by the Inagh/Kilnamona management, one they appear to have conceded by bringing the former Clare minor back into the fold, shortly into the first period of extra time.
Coming to Ennis with plenty of fight, Thurles tackled in numbers, the best example arriving in the first half when David Fitzgerald was outnumbered five to one when he was turned over. Similarly, the energy they applied resulted in Seán Rynne getting turned over twice in quick succession in the run-up to Keith Rossiter’s score on six minutes, the lack of options for Rynne aided Sarsfields in winning back possession. This was Rossiter’s second point with Rynne and Hegarty scoring for the hosts following Aidan Stakelum’s opener on forty seconds.
Paddy Creedon’s missed goal chance on ten minutes was a wake-up call for Inagh/Kilnamona. They hit five of the next six points including four in a row to take the lead for the first and only time. Conner Hegarty’s white flag on twenty two minutes saw the ever-industrious Mark Callinan win a breaking ball from the puck out arising from Aidan McCarthy’s second free, David Fitzgerald powered forward before offloading to Hegarty.
Finishing the first half the stronger with three of the last four scores, Thurles Sarsfields equalised via Daniel Rossiter with Euan Murray and Aidan McCormack on target with McCarthy firing over a free after Darren Cullinan was fouled. Tied at 0-8 apiece, Inagh/Kilnamona would have been pleased, the cross-field breeze appeared as if it was going to be in their favour for the second half.
However they managed to register just the one point in the first ten minutes on the restart, McCarthy converting a free with Aidan McCormack scoring twice as Keith Rossiter and Keith Loughnane both registered further scores to go three clear.
McCarthy plucked an Éamonn Foudy puck out from the sky to set up Conner Hegarty and it was followed by a long-range Foudy free to narrow the deficit back to one. An An excellently timed James Hegarty tackle on Aidan McCormack prevented a goal chance but McCormack still managed to get a point, one which was quickly cancelled out by Seán Rynne, McCarthy again providing the assist.
At times Inagh/Kilnamona over-used the short game in defence and this cost them on fifty one minutes when James Hegarty was turned over after receiving a pass from Keith White, Hegarty’s miscontrol allowed McCormack make it a two point game. They then doubled their advantage through Rossiter and Tommy Maher.
Four Aidan McCarthy points in a row, two from play and two from frees levelled matters with fifty eight minutes played, his older brother Jason providing two of the assists. McCormack swung the tie back towards Thurles when nailing a free on sixty one minutes but it was McCarthy that stepped up to force extra time and give Eugene Cullinan’s men one more roll of the dice.
At three different stages in extra time, the sides were tied but Inamona could never nudge in front and Thurles march on to meet Ballygunner in the Munster final. Losing the rock solid Keith White for extra time hurt their cause, Mark Callinan had already left the field of play having emptied the tank in the middle third and Darren Cullinan also departed in extra time, having got through a body of work at wing back.
White and Callinan had been standout performers while on the field of play, once again Aidan McCarthy led by example and did his best to force extra time. Éamonn Foudy’s puck outs were superb against the breeze with Conner Hegarty and Seán Rynne also stepping up at different stages of the affair for the county champions.
Pádraic Maher’s Thurles just about deserved the win and on this day were the better side, if both teams went at it again tomorrow, the outcome could well be different. Credit is due to the Tipperary champions who managed to win a county title without having Ronan Maher at full fitness, he provided a lift when introduced in the third quarter. Impressive players across the afternoon for them were Aidan McCormack, Conor Stakelum, Keith Loughnane, Denis Maher, Keith Rossiter and Euan Murray.
Scorers Thurles Sarsfields: A McCormack (0-10 3f), K Rossiter (0-4), T Stapleton (0-3), A Stakelum (0-2), E Murray (0-1), D Rossiter (0-1), K Loughnane (0-1), T Maher (0-1).
Scorers Inagh/Kilnamona: A McCarthy (0-11 7f), S Rynne (0-3), C Hegarty (0-3), D Fitzgerald (0-2), E Foudy (0-2 2f), J Guyler (0-1)
Thurles Sarsfields:
1: Patrick McCormack
4: Stephen Maher
3: Denis Maher
2: Paul Maher
5: Keith Loughnane
6: Conor Stakelum
7: Cian Stakelum
8: Daniel Rossiter
12: Euan Murray
11: Aidan McCormack
13: Darragh Stakelum
9: Aidan Stakelum
15: Kieran Rossiter
14: Paddy Creedon
10: Eoin Purcell
Subs:
20: Ronan Maher for Purcell (37)
19: Tommy Maher for Creedon (51)
17: Seosamh Ryan for S Maher (59)
21: Ronan Stapleton for K Rossiter (FT)
18: James Armsrong for Cian Stakelum (FT)
Eoin Purcell for D Stakelum (74)
Inagh/Kilnamona:
1: Éamonn Foudy
4: Conor Rynne
2: Keith White
3: Shane Woods
5: Kevin Hehir
6: James Hegarty
7: Darren Cullinan
8: Mark Callinan
9: Seán Rynne
10: David Fitzgerald
11: Keelan Guyler
14: Aidan McCarthy
12: Fred Hegarty
13: David Mescall
15: Conner Hegarty
Subs:
20: Gearoid Barry for Mescall (35)
21: Niall Mullins for Guyler (46)
17: Jason McCarthy for F Hegarty (55)
19: Josh Guyler for C Hegarty (57)
18: Jack Mescall for Callinan (59)
Conner Hegarty for Barry (65)
24: Cathal Ryan for White (HT ET) (inj)
Fred Hegarty for J Mescall (HT ET)
22: Brian Foudy for Cullinan (77) (inj)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (WaterfordP)
