CLONMEL COMMERCIALS WERE defeated by Ballyboden St Enda’s in the first of the AIB All-Ireland club championship semi-finals this afternoon in Portlaoise.
The Tipperary and Munster champions, who are managed by Charlie McGeever, lost out on a 0-15 to 0-10 scoreline against the Dubliners, who won Leinster and have Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan in their ranks.
McGeever, from Derryconnor, Fallcarragh, is a clubman of Cloughaneely and former manager of Finn Harps.
Durcan signed for the Dublin side last year from Four Masters in Donegal town and although based in Dubai, the 2012 and 2014 All-Ireland goalkeeper has been commuting for championship games.
Clonmel looked to have won it in normal time, two points in front at 0-10 to 0-8 in injury time against 14 men only for Daragh Nelson to tie it up at 0-10 to 0-10 at the death.
Ballyboden’s Declan O’Mahony had been sent off for a high tackle on Jason Lonergan on 56 minutes.
Michael Quinlivan of Clonmel was black-carded in extra-time as Andrew Kerin scored twice to set up a 0-12 to 0-10 lead for Ballyboden after the first period. Ryan Basquel stretched the gap out to three and Conal Keaney also pointed twice as McGeever’s team ran out of steam.
Michael Darragh Maccauley, whose late father Michael was from Lettermacaward, was black-carded in the last minute but was named man of the match.
Ballyboden will play either Castlebar Mitchels of Crossmaglen Rangers – who meet in the other last four tie now – at Croke Park in the final on St Patrick’s Day.
Tags:
