AIB Munster GAA Football Intermediate Club Championship Semi Final – Mullinahone (Tipperary) 0-14 Dungarvan (Waterford) 1-3

Munster Club I.F. semi-final

Mullinahone to contest Munster Final

Mullinahone C.J.Kickhams 0 – 14 Dungarvan 1 – 03

Mullinahone C.J. Kickhams have become the first Tipperary club to contest the Munster Club Intermediate Football final. On Sun. afternoon in famed Fraher Field Dungarvan the lads from Kickham’s little village proved too strong for the home side and Waterford champions Dungarvan. The final score was 0-14 to 1-03 in favour of the Mullinahone men. Their reward for this fine semi-final win is a final clash with the Kerry representatives Milltown-Castlemaine. This game will be played in Mallow at 2pm on Sunday fortnight December 11th. In Sunday’s semi-final Mullinahone took the lead with a point in the first minute and were never led during the rest of the game. Conditions in Dungarvan were excellent for football. There may have been plenty of rain and wind in the week leading up to the game, but on Sunday afternoon everything was fine and dry and the pitch itself was not noticeably heavy. Well known County Cork referee Michael Collins was in charge of the whistle. As patrons scanned their programmes pre match the more recognisable names were those of inter county hurlers. C.J. Kickhams had Paul Curran and Paul Kelly in their first 15, while Eoin Kelly was among the subs. For Dungarvan Jamie Nagle wearing No 9, was to line out at midfield, but changes saw him start at centre half back. A calm afternoon saw neither side begin with an advantage from the elements.

C.J. Kickhams hit the ground running and a point from a free by Adrian Doheny in the first minute. Niall Cronin added a second point a minute later. In the fourth minute Dungarvan’s nerves were evident when Gavin Crotty sent a free wide. Edwin O’Meara followed suit for Mullinahone, but redeemed himself somewhat when he pointed from play within a minute. Johnny Lynch had the distinction of receiving the first yellow of what was turning out to be a sporting game. Nerves were still in evidence in 10 minutes when Kevin Walzer fouled the ball to give away a free which was again missed by the Dungarvan free taker. In 12 minutes Eoin Healy opened the Waterford lads account with a fine point off his left foot. The Dungarvan captain then picked up a yellow card. A.J. Cronin pointed for C.J.K. after the Dungarvan keeper Conor Mulcahy had pulled off a great save. Some of the Mullinahone attack at this stage were guilty of losing an amount of ball, but in the 23rd minute came the best point so far with Kevin Walzer, Sean Curran and finally Adrian Doheny applying the coup de gras. Dungarvan got their free taking going in 25 minutes when Ryan Donnelly pointed. In the 27th minute goalie Mulcahy was again the hero pulling off a splendid save from Sean Curran. The pressure continued and James Connolly up from wing back put his side four points up. Almost on the whistle A J Cronin pointed but Colm Curran brought the half to a close with a Dungarvan point. Half time score Mullinahone C.J.K. 0-07 Dungarvan 0-03

The interval was enlivened by two under 10 games between the competing sides which provided great entertainment for the spectators. It was also a great opportunity for the young footballers to show off their undoubted skills. Again Mullinahone came out of their blocks quickly at the start of the second half. Edwin O’Meara was at the end of a good move to point. When corner back Trevor Galvin saw yellow Adrian Doheny pointed the resultant free. Cormac Curran then came on and then Doheny who has been quite good with his frees off the ground in recent games had a bad miss. Alan Curran saw yellow as Dungarvan tried to come back and increased the pressure. Dungarvan messed up a free which was passed instead of pointed and ended up going wide. Adrian Doheny pointed yet another free in 12 minutes. Conor Sheridan came on for Dungarvan. Jason O’Mahony saw yellow and in 15 minutes trainer Franny Kelly had Eoin Kelly sprung from the Mullinahone bench. Four minutes later Gary Cronin came on as the game appeared to be petering out. With nine minutes left the Mullinahone defence relaxed and Karl Duggan was left free to goal when placed by Ryan Donnelly. The Kickhams responded. Paul Kelly pointed and then Gary Cronin added another. Richie Morrissey and Philip O’Shea were introduced. A second yellow saw Jason O’Mahony walk the walk. Gary Cronin converted the free to rack up Mullinahone’s 13th point. Eddie Phelan replaced A.J. Cronin and as the game ticked over into added time Kevin Walzer kicked a fine point. When the final whistle sounded the score stood Mullinahone C.J.K. 0-14, Dungarvan 1-03.

Mullinahone certainly deserved their win. Some will say that the win was inevitable from a long ways out. However, when Dungarvan goaled rather easily with 10 minutes left there was only four points between the sides. Mullinahone did, however, respond quickly with two points and remained in the ascendancy until the end. Some points worth pondering. Dungarvan outscored Mullinahone in the wides stakes by five to two in the first half. In the 2nd half Dungarvan got only one score even if it was a goal. Mullinahone scored seven points in each half. Both sides, but especially Dungarvan were guilty of some poor distribution. Eoin Kelly is not mentioned among the scorers, but when he came on he got possession a number of times and he always found one of his team mates. His introduction increased the attacking potential of Mullinahone. Brian Treacy, not previously mentioned was an outstanding covering corner back for C.J.K. Mullinahone have been playing constant football since Monday night October 10th. They have improved week by week and game by game. They now have three weeks to prepare for the greatest football test of their lives and with the wily Franny Kelly plotting the way there is no knowing how far they can go. To be the first Tipp team to have reached the Munster Intermediate Club Football Final is great. To be the first to bring the Richard Cummins Cup back so near to Fethard would be wonderful.

Mullinahone C.J. Kickhams:- Michael Lonergan, Joe O’Meara, Martin Costelloe, Brian Treacy, Kevin Walzer, Niall Curran, James Connolly, Paul Curran, Alan Curran, Seán Curran, Niall Cronin, Edwin O’Meara, Paul Kelly, A.J. Cronin, Adrian Doheny. Subs used: – Eoin Kelly, Gary Cronin, Richie Morrissey, Philip O’Shea, Eddie Phelan.

Dungarvan:- Conor Mulcahy, Trevor Galvin, Derek Barry, John Paul Tutty, Shane Kearney, Jamie Nagle, Jason O’Mahony, Colm Curran, Karl Duggan, Eoin Healy, Seamus Cunningham, Gavin Crotty, Ryan Donnelly, Johnny Lynch, Kenny Moore. Subs used: – Cormac Curran, Conor Sheridan, Darragh Fitzgerald.

Referee: – Michael Collins (Corcaigh).

Report supplied by Ricky Sheehan

For the Record

Munster GAA FOOTBALL Club Intermediate Championship 2011

Quarter-Finals
Sunday November 13^th

@ Clonmel Sportsfield                    Mullinahone (Tipperary) 1-9 Mountcollins (Limerick) 0-9
@ Páirc de Búrca Miltown Miltown / Castlemaine (Kerry) 2-5 Clondegad (Clare) 0-10

Semi-Finals (Extra time)
Sunday November 20th (Replay date – Saturday November 26th)

@ Fraher Field Dungarvan            Dungarvan (Waterford) v Mullinahone (Tipperary) 2:00pm

@ Mallow Newmarket (Cork) v Miltown / Castlemaine (Kerry) 2:00pm

Final (Extra time)

Sunday December 11th (Replay date – Saturday December 17th)

2:00pm throw-in @ Mallow GAA Grounds

Odds and Ends

Since the competition began in 2003, Kerry clubs have won 5 of the 8 Munster titles on offer, including the last 4 in a row. Cork clubs have won the other 3 Munster titles.

Cork clubs have won just 1 of their last 5 matches in this competition having won the first 3 Munster Club Intermediate Football titles from 2003 to 2005.

Prior to 2011, Clare clubs qualified for the final of 4 of the last 5 Munster Club Intermediate Championships.

Limerick clubs have lost their opening match in the last 6 Munster Club Intermediate Championships.

Munster GAA Club FOOTBALL Intermediate Championship Roll Of Honour

Kerry (5) – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Cork (3) – 2003, 2004, 2005

Munster GAA Club FOOTBALL Intermediate Championship

List of Winning Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site History section to view the complete list of each winning team since the competition began 1888 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/ifclub_teams/

All Ireland GAA Club FOOTBALL Intermediate Championship

In the Club Intermediate Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Cork and Kerry have secured 2 titles each courtesy of Ilen Rovers (Cork – 2003/2004), Carbery Rangers (Cork – 2004/2005), Ardfert (Kerry – 2006/2007) and St. Michael’s Foilmore (Kerry – 2008/2009).