Clonmel Commercials make no mistake against Newcastle West

Clonmel Commercials 2-07 Newcastle West 0-06

A second-minute goal from Seánie O'Connor helped Clonmel Commercials to gain revenge on Newcastle West in their Munster quarter-final at Semple Stadium.

In a tight battle, Peter McGarry’s super goal after an 80-metre solo run ensured their progress to a home semi-final against Kerry representatives Dingle on Sunday week.

The Tipperary champions were heavily fancied to beat the same opposition last year but fell to an extra-time defeat. This time, they made no mistake.

The three-in-a-row Limerick champions were without their All-Star nominees of recent years in Cian Sheehan (travelling) and Iain Corbett (injured), with the captain ruled out due to a hamstring strain picked up in last week’s county final.

The Magpies, managed by incoming Treaty boss Jimmy Lee, hadn’t conceded a goal in their last five games but that record didn’t beyond the first attack of a Clonmel side netting their 20th this season.

O’Connor took his personal tally to five goals in five games when found by a lovely low kick pass from kit-again Jack Kennedy. The inside man looked penned in but he sidestepped his way through three defenders and applied a composed finish.

But after Colman Kennedy’s sixth-minute point, Commercials became so straitjacketed by the blanket defence and constant pressure on the ball, they didn’t have so much as a shot, never mind a score, for the next 23 minutes.

Newcastle West kicked three long-range points in that time via two Eoin Hurley frees and a super Bryan Nix point while falling.

Their opponents’ frustrations were compounded when McGarry was black-carded for his reaction after conceding another Commercials free for overcarrying while encircled by preying Magpies.

But Newcastle West