Clonmel Commercials’ are now the firm favourites to win the Munster club football title after sweeping past Nemo Rangers on Saturday night.
Their seven-point victory marked just the fourth time that a Tipperary club trumped Cork opposition in the competition’s history, taking the 1970-71 staging as the first edition that fed into the new All-Ireland Club Championship at the time.
Three of those wins belong to Clonmel, who inflicted a sickening defeat on Nemo in the 2015 final through Michael Quinlivan’s last gasp goal, while they also beat St Finbarr’s back in 1990.
READ MORE: Kilcoo overpower Ballybay to march on to Ulster football quarter-final
The only other victory for a Tipp club over Cork representatives was Moyle Rovers’ against Bantry Blues in 1998, with the other 12 fixtures resulting in defeat - the first of them being Commercials’ defeat to UCC in the 1971 final.
Outside of that, Clonmel’s only other meetings with Cork clubs saw them lose to Castlehaven (1994) and Nemo (2019), leaving them with a respectable 50% win rate from six outings.
Their record, and that of Tipperary champions, against Kerry opposition is much less impressive, however. Out of 21 meetings, there have been just three wins and two draws, though Commercials account for all but one of those results.
They beat Waterville (Kerry’s representatives as county champions Mid Kerry weren’t permitted to take part as they were a divisional team) in the 1971 semi-final and only lost to Castleisland Desmonds and Dr Crokes after replays in 1982 and ‘90 respectively, while they beat Austin Stacks in 1994.
Crokes proved to be something of a bogey side for them though, as they also lost to them in 2012 and ‘17. Indeed, Tipp champions haven’t lost in Munster to opposition outside of Cork or Kerry since Kilmurry-Ibrickane beat Galtee Rovers back in 2008.
But the Kerry champions are not Munster this year as East Kerry’s divisional status means that they cannot represent the county, with Kerins O’Rahilly’s, winners of the local club championship last month, enjoying that honour instead.
The Strand Road club didn’t contend strongly for county championship, however, and don’t have a formidable history in Munster having only reached the final once, in 2009.
They play Eire Og of Ennis in the semi-final on Sunday week while Clonmel take on Newcastlewest, who they beat in 2015 en route to becoming the only Tipperary club to win the provincial title.
Moreover, Clonmel have only lost to opposition from Limerick and Waterford just once each, while they have won all of their meetings with Clare representatives, beating St Joseph’s Milltown Malbay on each occasion in 1990, 2015 and ‘19.
Meeting the expectation that will now come with their performance on Saturday night is the challenge for Clonmel, the only club left in Munster to have won it before and just one of three clubs, along with Kilcoo and Kilmacud Crokes, of the 16 left across the four provinces to have won provincial honours previously in what is one of the most open club championships in years.
Their chances are already somewhat compromised by the news that Jason Lonergan, man of the match against Nemo with 0-6 in an all-action display, departs for San Jose in California this week to take up a new job, which puts his participation against Newcastlewest at least in doubt.
“Jason has been our best player all year, every game he’s Mr Consistency,” manager Tommy Morrissey told Tipp FM.
“Actually I’ll go further back, for the last seven years I’d say watching games, Jason is Mr Consistency.
“In games we don’t play well, Jason plays well, that’s always the scenario.
“You saw him in the second half, he carried unbelievable ball from the 65 forward, just putting Nemo under pressure and the scores he got, he’s a joy to watch when he has a football in his hand.”
READ NEXT:
Higgins wants Cup win to be 'springboard', hails Candystripes heroes
Charles Oliveira says 'let's go' in response to McGregor fight rumours
Padraig Harrington forks out on beers for fans after lucrative win in USA
Erik ten Hag and Man Utd dressing room's reaction to Cristiano Ronaldo's shock interview
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
