St Mary's too strong for Abbeydorney in Munster IHC semi-final

The Tipperary side outscored their opponents by 16 points in the second half.

The Tipperry side were hugely impressive in Tralee. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

ST MARY’S 2-24 ABBEYDORNEY 0-12 

St Mary’s of Clonmel look a team with potential of going a long way in the provincial and All-Ireland race as they produced a blistering second-half performance to rip Abbeydorney asunder in this AIB Munster Club IHC semi-final at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.

When Michael O’Leary (two) and Oisín Maunsell notched the final three points of the first half to send in the Kerry senior kingpins just two points in arrears (0-8 to 0-6), there was general optimism among the home faithful that a ding-dong battle would break out in the second half.

However, going to their bench early, with Thomas Charles and Ross Peters introduced for the resumption, the Tipperary intermediate champions took complete control of proceedings. The fact they outscored their opponents by 16 points in the second half (2-16 to 0-6) tells its own story.

Peters, Charles and Joe Higgins were sensational off the bench, accounting for 1-5 between the influential trio, but St Mary’s were just dominant all over the park. Their defence, in particular, kept a much-vaunted Abbeydorney forward line to mere crumbs.

Once James O’Connor fouled Cathal Deely in the 37th minute for a penalty which was ruthlessly converted by Peter McGarry, St Mary’s gained a modicum of control on the scoreboard (1-11 to 0-7). From there on in, there was no way back for Abbeydorney.

Never showing their true colours at any stage of proceedings (or never being allowed to), the hosts looked a tired team long before the finish. In contrast, St Mary’s were ebullient and effervescent as they tacked on score after score.

The Tipperary side were so dominant at this stage that they hit nine unanswered points between the 45th and 59th minutes, with Abbeydorney also losing substitute Adam Maunsell to a straight red card during that spell.

The icing on the St Mary’s cake was supplied by replacement Higgins hammering home their second goal in injury time. The destination of the spoils had long been decided by then, as Fergal Condon and Jamie Wall’s side march on to a meeting with Dromin-Athlacca in two weeks’ time.

Scorers for St Mary’s: P McGarry 1-7 (0-6fs, 1-0pen), J Higgins 1-2, C Deely 0-3, A Cagney, M Murphy, J Morris, T Charles 0-2 each, H Lawlor, T Condon, Seamus Kennedy, R Peters 0-1 each.

Scorers for Abbeydorney: M O’Leary 0-5 (0-2fs), O Maunsell 0-3, M Slattery, J Sheehan, D Egan, J Hannon 0-1 each.

ST MARY’S: G Buckley; R Gunne, D O’Connor, R Slattery; T Sheehan, S Kennedy, J Morris; T Condon, S Ryan; A Cagney, P McGarry, S Kennedy; H Lawlor, M Murphy, C Deely.

Subs: T Charles for Ryan (ht), R Peters for Sean Kennedy (ht), R Leahy for Lawlor (44), J Higgins for Cagney (53), L Ryan for Sheehan (58).

ABBEYDORNEY: J Fealy; J Maunsell, S Egan, R Ó hAiniféin; D Hogan, R Donovan, J O’Connor; D Egan, D O’Connell; M O’Leary, N O’Mahoney, M Clifford; J Sheehan, O Maunsell, M Slattery.

Subs: A Maunsell for D Egan (35), D O’Leary for O’Connell (39), L Fitzmaurice for O’Mahoney (49), J Hannon for Sheehan (52).

Referee: S Scanlon (Cork).