AIB Munster GAA Football Intermediate Club Championship Semi Final – Clyda Rovers (Cork) 0-15 Ballyporeen (Tipperary) 1-4

A cruise for Clyda as they power into final

Clyda Rovers (Cork) 0-15 Ballyporeen (Tipperary) 1-4

By Conor Kane for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Despite a shake in the second half against the comeback specialists, Clyda Rovers’ place in the Munster IFC final was rarely in doubt yesterday in Clonmel. Building from a foundation of general dominance around midfield, Clyda used their short passing to good effect and enjoyed long passages of possession. The presence of 10 separate names on the scoresheet is testament to the hard graft and teamwork which has become a hallmark of the Cork intermediate champions and they were good value for the eight-point gap at the end.

Ballyporeen had previously bridged a nine-point deficit in the previous round before downing De La Salle in a replay but they never looked like getting back on terms with Clyda this time around. Their main threat, Conor Sweeney, was subdued in the middle in the first half and while he upped the tempo after the break and finished with 1-3, it wasn’t enough. Rovers raced to a 0-7 to 0-0 lead inside 22 minutes and the teams were never closer than five points for the rest of the game.

Daniel O’Callaghan dominated midfield, often breaking the ball to the half-forwards who were able to keep attacks going with hand passing before releasing the inside forwards or whoever happened to be pressing forward, to finish off their chances. Ballyporeen’s sole first half response was a Shane Molan point while Conor Sweeney hit the woodwork with his best chance. After the break, Rovers had 10 points on the board before Sweeney converted a penalty to give Ballyporeen some hope but after a Eoin Kearney disallowed “goal”, those hopes faded. Clyda finished strongest with closing points by Paudie Kissane and Colin Ronayne for insurance.

Scorers for Clyda Rovers: J Murphy (0-4, 2fs), Conor O’Sullivan, Cian O’Sullivan (0-2 each), S Ronayne, D O’Callaghan, C Flanagan, P Kissane, C Ronayne, C Buckley, F O’Shea (0-1 each).

Scorers for Ballyporeen: C Sweeney (1-3, 1pen, 2fs), S Molan (0-1).

CLYDA ROVERS: C Conway; N O’Mullane, R Carey, C Kenny; C Buckley, F O’Shea, S Ronayne; D O’Callaghan, C Flanagan; Conor O’Sullivan, P Kissane, G Carey; J Murphy, J O’Hanlon, Cian O’Sullivan. Subs: P Mullane for J O’Hanlon, S O’Connell for G Carey, D Roche for C Flanagan, C Ronayne for J Murphy, R Willis for S Ronayne.

BALLYPOREEN: J English; S O’Callaghan, B Breedy, R O’Callaghan; S Molan, W English, E Morrissey; J O’Callaghan, C Sweeney; J Martin, E Kearney, D Lyons; P Fitzgerald, T Sweeney, D Barrett. Subs: A Crotty for S Molan, S Lynch for S O’Callaghan, N Barrett for D Barrett, F Martin for E Kearney.

Ref: Seán Joy (Kerry)

When – Sunday November 17^th at 2:00pm

Where – Clonmel Sportsfield

Referee – Sean Joy (Kerry)

Extra time – (2 periods x 10 minutes only) to be played if sides finish level at the end of 60 minutes

Replay date – Saturday November 23^rd at a Cork venue

Next Round – the winners will play St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay (Clare) in the Munster Final on Sunday November 24^th

Admission Prices
Adults – €10
Student/OAP – €5
Under 16s free

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ed Donnelly at pro.munster@gaa.ie for more information

For the Record

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Club Intermediate Championship 2013

Quarter-Finals
Sunday November 3^rd

@ Clonmel Sportsfield                    Ballyporeen (Tipperary) 2-12 De La Salle (Waterford) 4-6

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick St. Joseph’s Milltown Malbay (Clare) 3-11 St Marys Sean Finns (Limerick) 0-7

Quarter-Final Replay

Sunday November 10th

@ Walsh Park Waterford                Ballyporeen (Tipperary) 3-8 De La Salle (Waterford) 1-3

Semi-Finals (Extra time)
Sunday November 10th

@ Milltown Malbay              St. Joseph’s Milltown Malbay (Clare) 1-8 Currow (Kerry) 1-7

Sunday November 17th

@ Clonmel Sportsfield                    Clyda Rovers (Cork) v Ballyporeen (Tipperary) 2:00pm

Final (Extra time)

Sunday November 24th
St. Joseph’s Milltown Malbay (Clare) v Clyda Rovers (Cork) or Ballyporeen (Tipperary)

Odds and Ends

Ballyporeen are the second club in the last six seasons to win a match in the Munster Intermediate Football Championship. Mullinahone in 2011 were the other.

Cork clubs have won two of their last eight matches in the Munster Club Intermediate Football Championship with both wins coming courtesy of St. Vincent’s last year en route to the final.

Clare clubs have a 50% win/loss record since the Munster Club Intermediate Football Championship began, winning 10 out of 20 matches.

The victory of St. Joseph’s Milltown Malbay (Clare) over Currow (Kerry) in the semi-final was the first time since 2005 that the Kerry representatives have lost a game in this competition.

Since the competition began in 2003, Kerry clubs have won 7 of the 10 Munster titles on offer, including the last 7 in a row. Cork clubs have won the other 3 Munster titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Munster GAA Club FOOTBALL Intermediate Championship Roll Of Honour

Kerry (7) – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Cork (3) – 2003, 2004, 2005

All Ireland GAA Club FOOTBALL Intermediate Championship

In the Club Intermediate Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Kerry clubs have secured 3 titles courtesy of Ardfert (Kerry – 2006/2007), St. Michael’s Foilmore (Kerry – 2008/2009) and Milltown-Castlemaine (Kerry – 2011/2012). Cork clubs have won 2 All-Ireland titles at this grade – Ilen Rovers (Cork – 2003/2004) and Carbery Rangers (Cork – 2004/2005).