Clonoulty-Rossmore rule

CLONOULTY-Rossmore captured the Tipperary Co-op Supervalu West Tipperary senior hurling championship for a fourth successive year with a comfortable nine-point victory over Éire Óg Annacarty at Seán Treacy Park yesterday.

Over 1,500 spectators witnessed a low-key encounter in Tipperary Town as the champions, after pulling clear to lead 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time, were rarely troubled by an Éire Óg outfit over-reliant on midfielder Pádraic O’Dwyer.

Fiachra O’Keeffe’s goal six minutes after half-time put Clonoulty-Rossmore in the driving seat as they led by eight points, 1-11 to 0-6.

Kev Fox hauled Éire Óg back into contention with a goal midway through the second half and when 47-year-old John Quinn drilled over a 49th minute point, the Annacarty outfit were within four points.

But Clonoulty-Rossmore comfortably held their opponents at bay until the finish.

Éire Óg finished with 14 players after sub Brian Ryan received a straight red card in the final minute.

Clonoulty-Rossmore added real gloss to the final scoreline when sub Conor Ryan netted deep in stoppage time before top scorer Tom Butler scored his sixth and final point.

Scorers for Éire Óg: P O’Dwyer 0-6 (3f), K Fox 1-0, D O’Brien, R O’Brien & J Quinn 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clonoulty-Rossmore: Tom Butler 0-6 (5f), F O’Keeffe 1-2, C Ryan 1-0, J O’Neill 0-3, T Hammersley 0-2, P Heffernan & S O’Connor 0-1 each.

ÉIRE ÓG: D Mooney; D Ryan, O Kelly, M McGrath; B Fox, P McLoughlin, E Kennedy; C O’Brien, P O’Dwyer; D O’Brien, P Horan, R O’Brien; K Fox, G Ryan, J Quinn.

Sub: B Ryan for Horan (45).

CLONOULTY-ROSSMORE: D Dwyer; J O’Keeffe, J Heffernan, K Horan; P Heffernan, J Devane, L Devane; Tom Butler, S O’Connor; J O’Neill, Thomas Butler, P White; F O’Keeffe, T Hammersley, J Forrestal.

Subs: C Ryan for White (38), M Coen for Forrestal (60+2), C Hammersley for Thomas Butler (60+4).

Referee: R. Barry (Cappawhite).