Limerick champions Newcastle West secure extra-time win to reach Munster club SFC final

“WE played the game this time, not the occasion” was manager Jimmy Lee's reaction after Newcastle West defied the odds and pundits when overcoming Clonmel Commercials 1-16 to 1-11 after extra time at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles to set up a Munster senior club football final meeting with Kerins O'Rahillys.

The Munster club senior football final is set to be played on Saturday, December 10.

Although they needed a last kick point to survive at the end of regulation time, Limerick champions Newcastle West streaked away from Clonmel Commericals, who had ambushed Nemo Rangers in the previous round, in extra-time to set up their second appearance in the provincial decider thirty-five years after winning their first county title in 1987.

A game that was played at the lowest of low keys exploded into life when Commercial took a two point lead in first half injury time and held that gap right up to the closing minutes of the sixty as both sides overcame their earlier caution and took the game to their opponents.

But with the finish line coming into sight and determined not to repeat last year's tame exit from the championship against Austin Stacks, the Magpies kept up the pressure, used the power runs of county stars Iain Corbett and Cian Sheehan to set up the openings for regaining the lead and, even though Commercials struck back, they kept their focus intact to force extra time.

Two Clonmel black cards carried over from the 60 minutes into extra-time should have given Newcastle the advantage and when they managed just a single score, it looked as if they'd blown the opportunity when the Tipp champions were back at full-strength coming up to the end of the first extra period.

But then a lightning movement from defence to attack saw Emmet Rigter pounce for the goal that decided the match.

SCORERS: NEWCASTLE WEST: Eoin Hurley 0-5 (2 frees, 1 mark), Emmet Rigter 1-1, Cian Sheehan 0-4, Diarmaid Kelly 0-3 (1 free), Iain Corbett, Brian O'Sullivan, Ruadhán O'Connor 0-1 each; CLONMEL COMMERCIALS: Seán O'Connor 1-2 (0-1 free), Jason Lonergan 0-3 (2 frees), Michael Quinlivan, Jack Kennedy (1 free) 0-2 each, Cathal Deely, Kevin Fahey 0-1 each.