'The word legend gets used a lot, but I don’t think it does him justice:' Commercial's O'Connor on late Ryan 

The late Philly Ryan before the Allianz Football League Division 4 match between Tipperary and Longford. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Clonmel Commercials are appearing in their seventh successive Tipperary SFC final, yet none has been freighted by the same emotion as this Saturday.

The tragic passing of county football manager and Commercials stalwart Philly Ryan will be on all minds when they meet Kilsheelan-Kilcash at Semple Stadium.

Each member of the Clonmel team has been coached by Ryan somewhere between underage and senior football. Plenty of the Kilsheelan crew will have come under Ryan’s influence, too. Six of them were represented on the Premier panel this year.

“Philly was not just a great Commercials man and a Tipp man, he was an unbelievable man. Any person he coached, Commercials or Tipp, he left a lasting impact on them,” star forward Seán O’Connor told Clubber after their rescheduled semi-final victory over Upperchurch-Drombane last weekend.

“I can’t praise him enough for the impact he had on me and most of the boys out there. We’re still recovering. It’s going to take a while.

“The word legend gets used a lot, but I don’t think it does him justice.” 

O’Connor also paid tribute to Ryan’s son, Shane, who has been a standout performer in the No.1 jersey, conceding just one goal in five games this season.

“To be fair to Shane, he was incredible out there. The way he’s regrouped and the way he played, I can only imagine how hard it is for him. He’s a credit to himself and his family.” 

Commercials are eyeing a 22nd title, which would move them one clear of Fethard atop the Tipperary roll of honour.

Captain Séamus Kennedy and Michael Quinlivan have an eighth county medal in their sights. With a handful of Tipp U20 footballers involved, plenty more are going in search of their first.

Their near-neighbours, Kilsheelan, haven’t appeared in a senior final since 1981, while their most recent title was achieved in 1972.

They retain some momentum, having dumped out double-double-chasers Loughmore in the semi-finals thanks to Micheál Freaney’s stoppage-time two-pointer.

The young centre-forward has already made his mark in county colours, while clipping 2-11 for his club. 

Jamie Roche has accounted for 4-18 (3-8 from play), while joint-captain Mark Stokes is a key figure around the middle.

Goalkeeper Evan Comerford is one player with county-winning experience, having fielded for Commercials in their 2012 triumph. 

Their coach, Michael O’Loughlin, has already enjoyed success in the past month, training Comeragh Rangers to Waterford and Munster senior titles.

Kilsheelan put five goals past Cahir and took Aherlow for four. That sharp attack meets a Commercials defence which has allowed just 10 points per game en route to the final.

The Clonmel giants have dominated recent knockout meetings between the pair, with an average 0-15 to 0-5 margin of victory. Yet, Kilsheelan’s underage progress should make this a closer contest.

Commercials showed some vulnerability in a quarter-final scare against Moyle Rovers, with O’Connor’s last-gasp free bailing them out before winning in extra-time.

Otherwise, they’ve looked in control.

With a spine of James Morris, Séamus Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, O’Connor (whose 4-19 total includes 3-13 from play), and Quinlivan (2-10), they have no shortage of match-winners.