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2024 AIB Munster Club Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Final – Aherlow (Tipperary) 1-12 Stradbally (Waterford) 1-7

November 10 @ 1:15 pm - 3:00 pm

Aherlow (Tipperary) defeated Stradbally (Waterford) by 1-12 to 1-7 in the AIB Munster Club Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Final on Sunday November 10th at Fraher Field Dungarvan.

Tipperary Intermediate football champions Aherlow march on to the last four in Munster

Report by John O’Shea for Tipperary Live

Aherlow 1-12 Stradbally 1-7

Aherlow, back in the Munster club championship for the first time since going down to Dr Crokes of Kerry, after extra time, in the 2010 Senior Championship semi- final in Cashel, ground out a hard-earned win over Stradbally in the Intermediate Football quarter-final at Fraher Field, Dungarvan on Sunday.

The experience of Mark Hanley, Cathal Dillon, Mark Russell, Laurence Coskeran and the evergreen Barry Grogan was a telling factor at the end of this encounter.

Played on a yielding surface before a good travelling support, the men from the Glen made all the running from the off and with the exception of an eight-minute spell during the second quarter, they had the measure of their opponents.

The Waterford Premier Intermediate champions finished the game with just twelve men after the dismissal of three players in the closing minutes, two to straight red cards and an other to a black card, three minutes into added time. To say that this was a tempestuous and unsporting game would be a downright injustice to all the players involved, as all through, this game was played in a good sporting manner, devoid of any rancour whatsoever.

It was Aherlow’s first appearance in this competition, which started back in 2003, having won their second Tipperary Intermediate championship last month.

Once again, Barry Grogan proved to be their talisman, the difference between the sides as he kicked 1-8 in total, including six from placed balls from either foot. Up to the 56th minute this game was in the melting pot, having been on level terms on five occasions, but a big finish ensured an upcoming semi-final appearance against Wolfe Tones of Clare.

During the last four minutes of normal time, plus three minutes of added time, Aherlow hit 1-2 without reply, with Mark Russell having a huge influence. Russell kicked a wonder point from out on the sideline at the stand side with four minutes remaining to put the minimum between the sides and two minutes later, after linking up with Stephen Carey, provided the cross for Grogan to punch home the decisive goal. This, coupled with an inferior numerical advantage was too much for the home side in those tense closing minutes.

The first impressive move from the Tipperary champions saw Tadhg Carew carry the ball out of defence before linking up with Mark Russell, who off loaded to Ben Carey who in turn split the posts for the opening score.

Barry Grogan’s white flag from a placed ball, one minute later, following a foul on Russell doubled their advantage before Rory Fennell set up midfielder Michael O’Brien, who put over from 35 metres, for the home side’s opening score.

As the game headed towards the quarter hour mark Tadhg Carew was again instrumental in a good build-up from the back, and put a high ball across the goalmouth. Grogan, who was being doubled-marked, won possession before being pulled to the ground. The full forward made no mistake from the resulting placed ball, putting his side two up.

Stradbally’s Pa Skehan made no mistake in the 17th minute as he split the posts to cut the deficit to the minimum. Worse was to come for the visitors, as an attempted short kick out was intercepted by Rory Fennell, who offloaded to Daniel Weldon and he easily beat Aherlow goalie Jack Whelton with a low shot to the net.

However, Aherlow lifted their game, defending in numbers and breaking at speed. Grogan put over a placed ball following a foul on Diarmuid Looby.

Barry Grogan was again on the mark from a placed ball, after drawing a free on the edge of the square after winning a high ball in from Cathal Dillon. This brought the sides back on level terms with seven minutes of the first half remaining.

Ben Carey got in for his second point when he finished off a move involving Mark Russell and Tadhg Carew, as gaps began to open in the Stradbally defence, with Grogan causing all sorts of problems. Aherlow finished the half on a high with another Grogan minor, his fifth of the half, to leave the half time score Aherlow 0-7, Stradbally 1-2.

Stradbally nailed two wonder points from midfielder Jack Mullaney inside the opening three minutes after the restart to tie the game. Cathal Dillon then won a big kickout before offloading to Bernard O’Brien, whose run through the centre found Ben Carey, who kicked his third point with ease.

Stradbally were back on level terms by the 40th minute when Michael O’Brien put over from a mark. But again Barry Grogan replied, this time from open play with his sixth point. Stradbally’s Liam Fennell equalised with twelve minutes remaining.

Grogan engineered a free to put Aherlow one up with seven minutes remaining but again Stradbally replied through Michael Mullaney.

This score was their last, as the game turned in Aherlow’s favour coming down the home straight. First Mark Russell kicked the score of the game, at a vital stage, from the sideline. Then Paddy Kiely was red-carded for a foul on Russell and when Diarmuid Looby found the unmarked Barry Grogan from the resulting quick free he made no mistake, putting two between the sides with three minutes of normal time remaining.

When a long ball found Mark Russell, his interplay with Stephen Carey resulted in Russell putting a high ball across the goal, where Barry Grogan outjumped the defenders to crash the ball home for the insurance score.

Aherlow’s Barry Grogan scored 1-8 of his side’s total

Scorers: Aherlow: Barry Grogan (1-8, 6 frees), Ben Carey (0-3), Mark Russell (0-1).

Stradbally: Daniel Weldon (1-0), Michael O’Brien (0-2, 1 mark), Jack Mullaney (0-2), Pa Sheehan (0-1 free), Liam Fennell (0-1), Michael Mullaney (0-1).

Aherlow: Jack Whelton, Mark Hanley, Raymond Hennessy, Tom O’Donoghue (captain), Tadhg Carew, Diarmuid Looby, Darragh O’Brien, Cathal Dillon, Mark Russell, Stephen Carey, Ben Carey, Jack O’Halloran, Bernard O’Brien, Barry Grogan, Laurence Coskeran.
Subs: Sean Mullins for Mark Hanley (40), Gary Quirke for Cathal Dillon (42), Thomas Cooper Fahy for Bernard O’Brien (45), Micheál Elligott for Jack O’Halloran (53).

Stradbally: Chris Casey, Kevin Lawlor, Liam Fennell (captain), Luke Casey, Joseph Fenlon, Paddy Kiely, Barry O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Jack Mullaney, Daniel Fenlon, Daniel Weldon, Paul Connors, Rory Fennell, Michael Mullaney, Pa Skehan.
Subs: Tommy Fennell for Pa Skehan (43), Brendan Gough for Luke Casey (45).

Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare).

Team Sheets

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Match Preview

Match Coverage

The game will be shown live on Clubber.

Details

Date:
November 10
Time:
1:15 pm - 3:00 pm

Venue

Fraher Field Dungarvan

GAA Units

Clare GAA
Cork GAA
Kerry GAA
Limerick GAA
Tipperary GAA
Waterford GAA
US GAA