*Aron Shanagher was starved of possession for Wolfe Tones. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
WOLFE TONES have been eliminated from the Munster intermediate club championship.
Watergrasshill 2-20
Wolfe Tones 2-13
Venue: Páirc Ui Rinn
All all-round better balanced Watergrasshill proved too strong for Wolfe Tones as the Shannon exited in their first outing of the Munster club in Saturday’s semi-final.
The sending off of full forward Aaron Cunningham midway through the second half was one of a number of talking points.
Cunningham had just been pulled down as he headed for goal and referee Alan Tierney had signalled for a penalty.
Following a long consultation with his linesman, he cancelled the free and sent Cunningham and defender Dylan Roche to the line.
Overall the Cork champions were deserving winners on the day as they dominated the key areas.
Despite getting a dream start with Aaron Cunningham firing to the net after just fourteen seconds, Wolfe Tones found themselves five points in arrears at half time when the score was 1-11 to 1-6.
Indeed from the moment the Cork champions got in for their goal at the midpoint of the opening half, they dictated matters and the visitors could count themselves lucky not to have been further in arrears at half time as the Cork champions were guilty of eleven wides in that first half.
The Shannon men struggled to win their own puckout and to get the ball beyond their opponents half back line.
Their inside forwards Aaron Cunningham and Aron Shanagher were starved of possession as Watergrassill cut off possession around their own ‘65.
Wolfe Tones, who made two changes in personnel and a number of positional changes at half time, started the second half well also, landing the first three points to cut their opponents lead to two but they were unable to get any closer.
As the three quarter stage approached the score was 1-15 to 1-11. Aaron Cunningham won possession, turned smartly and was heading for goal when he was dragged to the ground.
Without hesitation the referee signalled for a penalty and Darragh Lohan placed the ball ready to take the free when he linesman attracted the referee’s attention and pointed out that there had been a ‘coming together’ between Cunningham and Brian Roche who had been penalised for the foul.
After a long discussion the match official send Cunningham and Roche to the line and cancelled the penalty.
Aron Shanagher poinrted a free a minute later but the Cork champions responded with 1-4 without reply to kill the Clare champion’s challenge
Daire O’Leary at centre back, Adam Murphy and Shane Desmond, three members of the Imokilly divisional side which won the Cork senior title were leading lights for Watergrasshill in this tie.
Rory Hayes, Darragh Lohan, Cian O’Rourke, Cunningham and Shanagher worked hard for the Clare side but the day belonged to Watergasshill who deservingly qualified for the Munster final
Scorers Watergrashill: Adam Murphy (0-12 9f), Sean Desmond (1-2), Brendan Lehane (1-1), Shane O’Regan (0-2), Ian O’Callaghan (0-1), Liam Foley (0-1), Aidan Foley (0-1 1f)
Scorers Wolfe Tones: Aron Shanagher (0-5 2f), Cian O’Rourke (0-5 3f), Dean Devanney (1-1), Aaron Cunningham (1-0), John Guilfoyle (0-1), Evan O’Gorman (0-1).
Watergrassill
1: Aidan Foley
2: Shane Field
3: Dylan McCrthy
4: Dylan Roche;
5: Michael O’Driscoll
6: Daire O’Leary
7: Kevin O’Neioll;
19: Ciaran O’Leary
9: Aaron Spriggs
10: Shane O’Regan
11: Adam Murphy
12: Liam Foley;
13: Brendan Lehane
14: Sean Desmond
15: Padraig O’Leary
Subs:
8: Ian O’Callaghan for Field (42)
18: Anthony Cronin for Spriggs (44)
22: Chris Healy for D O’Leary (51)
23: Patrick Cronin for L Foley (51)
Wolfe Tones
1: Oisin O’Rourke
5: Rory Hayes
3: Daithi Lohan
4: Liam Murphy;
17: Dylan Frawley
6: John Guilfoyle
7: Sam Meaney
8: Darragh Lohan
13: Dean Devanney
10: Stephen Donnellan
11: Evan O’Gorman
12: Colin Riordan;
9: Cian O’Rourke
14: Aaron Cunningham
15: Aron Shanagher
Subs:
22: Gavin Carrig for Donnellan (HT)
18: Daithí O’Connell for Guilfoyle (HT)
2: Mikey Hayes for C O’Rourke (51) (inj)
20: Sean Costelloe for O’Gorman (57)
21: Conor Carrig for Meaney (60)
Referee: Alan Tierney (Tipperary)
