REPORTS: Cappawhite and Clonoulty Rossmore edge league semi-finals in West Tipp

Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Junior B Hurling League Semi-Finals

Clonoulty/Rossmore 4-11

Sean Treacys 2-14

Francis Coughlan at Cappawhite 

Clonoulty/Rossmore qualified for a first ever Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Junior B Hurling League final after edging out Sean Treacys in an entertaining semi-final at Cappawhite on Tuesday evening. The eventual winners trailed by three at the break but helped by three second half goals turned it into a three-point victory.

Shane Fahy and Kieran Carroll swapped early points before Donnacha O’Brien’s goal in the third minute gave Sean Treacys an early advantage. The effort for a point dipping into the net. Sean Treacys were to the fore with Shane Fahy, Donnacha O’Brien and Seamus Carey getting on a lot of ball.

The goal separated the sides for most of the quarter but gradually Clonoulty/Rossmore got into the game. helped by points from Ger Mockler and Cathal Ryan. The sides were level at the quarter mark before Treacys pulled two ahead again with points from Declan Hickey and Seamus Carey.

In the twentieth minute a quickly taken free from Patrick Hennessy found Cathal Ryan who got in for Clonoulty/Rossmore’s first goal. The lead was short lived and Sean Treacys finished the half stronger with four unanswered points from Eoin Sheldon and Jayden Healy to lead 1-9 to 1-6 at the interval.

Clonoulty/Rossmore introduced Finbarr Ryan into attack for the second half and his pace made a big difference as did the experience of Kevin Maher who came more into the game.

It took almost six minutes for the first score of the half. Cathal Ryan’s free dropping short and going into the net off a defender to tie the game. Treacys struggled for scores as Finbarr Ryan edged the Clonoulty/Rossmore men into a one-point advantage. They were further ahead in the eleventh minute when Kevin Maher goaled.

That was almost immediately cancelled out by Jayden Healy at the far side. Heading into the final quarter a Patrick Hennessy point edged Clonoulty/Rossmore three in front. The eventual winners looked to have it wrapped up with ten go when Nickey Mockler got in for goal number four.

Sean Treacys rallied with points from Seamus Carey and a long range free from Shane Fahy to bring the deficit to a manageable three points with two to play. Jayden Healy cut the gap to a dangerous two put Patrick Hennessy stretched the lead back out to three.

A long delivery by Emmett Ryan looked to have ended with a Sean Treacys goal but it was ruled out for a square infringement and with that with the final whistle. 

Teams & Scorers: Clonoulty/Rossmore: Cathal Ryan (2-3, (1-0f)), Kevin Maher (1-0), Nicky Mockler (1-0), Darren Corcoran (0-2), Patrick Hennessy (0-3), Kieran Carroll (0-1), Finbarr Ryan (0-1), Ger Mockler (0-1f).

Sean Treacys: Shane Fahy (0-4, 0-1f), Declan Hickey (0-1), Seamus Carey (0-2), Jayden Healy (1-2), Donnacha O’Brien (1-1), Eoin Sheldon (0-3), Darrach Carr (0-1).

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Paddy Ryan, Donnacha Carroll, Dylan Kennedy, Richard Ferncombe, Michael Ryan, Jamie Davern, Darren Corcoran, Ger Mockler, Keelan Ryan, Kieran Carroll, Kevin Maher, Fintan Kearney, Nickey Mockler, Cathal Ryan, Patrick Hennessy.

Subs: Joey O’Keeffe, Finbarr Ryan, Niall Shanahan

Sean Treacys: Colm Ryan, Philip Treacy, William Mackey, Brendan O’Dwyer, Conor Nolan, Emmet Ryan, Thomas O’Dwyer, Seamus Carey, Donnacha O’Brien, Shane Fahy, Eoin Sheldon, Darrach Carr, Michael Hayes, Declan Hickey, Jayden Healy
Subs used: Stephen Rochford, James Deegan.

Referee: Franny Quinn (Cappawhite) 

Cappawhite 0-22(22)

Emly 2-13(19) AET 

Michael McCarthy at Sologhead

Cappawhite eventually got the better of Emly in an exciting game played in the Sologhead GAA club grounds on Tuesday evening. 

The game needed extra time to separate the sides with the lead changing hands many times over the course of the game. 

Emly had the brighter start and raced into a three-point lead though the stick of Aidan O'Heney before Cappawhite got their first score from a pointed Anthony Barry free followed by two quick Fionn Brady frees to tie the game.

Emly went back into the ascendency through a long range Darragh McCauley free and two more Aidan O'Heney points from play. Cappawhite dug in and had the better of the last 10 minutes outscoring their opponents six points to three to level proceedings at the break. 

Emly were quick out of the blocks again and John O’Brien had a goal on the board after 40 seconds of the 2nd half. However, for the next 20 minutes Cappawhite would do all the hurling and with Ryan Renehan now on free taking duties would enter the last 10 minutes a point to the good.

Emly managed to get back level and edge ahead before two Cappawhite points would see them back in front. Emly tied the game up on the 57th minute which would be the final score of the game and Patsy Coffey blew for extra time with the score standing at Cappawhite 0-16 to Emly’s 1-13. 

Following a shower of rain things brightened up and Cappawhite were the better team in Extra time scoring the only two points of the initial ten-minute spell through the ever-improving Anthony Barry and another Renehan free.

Emly’s only score in extra time would come three minutes into the 2nd half when Aidan O’Heney fired in an excellent goal to put them one ahead with 6 minutes to play. Cappawhite finished strongly scoring four without reply and held on to win by three points.   

Cappawhite now meet Clonoulty/Rossmore in the final. 

Cappawhite: Neil Clancy, Cormac Heffernan, Michael O'Neill, James Quinlan, Daire Duggan, Ryan Renehan, Cian O'Carroll, Colm O'Dwyer, Tommy Coughlan, Ciarán Doody, Ben White, Eoghan Ryan, Sean Cleary, Anthony Barry & Fionn Brady.

Subs: Ciarán Ryan

Emly: Tom Healy, Patrick McGrath, Darragh McAuley, Declan Hennessy, Sean McGrath, Paul O'Heney, Christopher Lonergan, Brian Burke, James Cunningham, Oisin Fawl, Shane Carroll, Bob McIniry, Kevin McGrath, Aidan O'Heney, John O'Brien.

Subs: Conor Phipps, Joey Lonergan, Kevin Lonergan, Cian Quish, Darragh Heuston 

Referee: Patsy Coffey (Cappamore)