Killenaule were always in control against Arravale Rovers in Tipperary County Senior Football Championship

Killenaule 2-13 Arravale Rovers 0-6

Killenaule got off the mark in the FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship with a very comfortable victory over Arravale Rovers in Boherlahan on Saturday evening.

Few in the crowd would have expected such a sizable victory at referee Keith Delahunty’s full time whistle.

Killenaule were the fitter and more physical side, with the football to match, and they controlled the game throughout.

Arravale struggled to shake off the Killenaule defence, who were supported well by their midfield and attack, and the telling stat of just three points from play for the 2022 west champions tells its own story.

Killenaule on the other hand dictated terms and their opponents struggled to match them physically, with the south side confidently going forward and breaking the tackle while comfortable in playing the ball back through the hands when necessary to get into a good scoring opportunity. Just three points of their final tally came from placed balls.

Goals were crucial and the first certainly knocked the Arravale confidence heading in at the break, with Eoin Shaw’s goal four minutes before the half-time whistle a killer blow and a huge boost to the south side. That, coupled with a second goal from Joe O’Dwyer in the twelfth minute of the second half, ensured there was only ever going to be one outcome.

Killenaule had leaders all over the field, including Jimmy Feehan and Paddy Codd. Paudie Feehan covered a lot of ground while finishing with five points from play. He was well partnered by Tom Stakelum.

Joe O’Dwyer proved a threat when running with possession while Eoin Shaw and Micheal Doyle kept the scoreboard moving in the right direction.

Arravale, while winning a number of their own kickouts, were turned over on numerous occasions by a more physical and stronger Killenaule side.

While Arravale struggled, players like Micheal Lowry, Cian Ryan and Donagh Leahy tried to take the game to their opponents but the challenge proved too hard.

The south side played with the aid of the breeze from the start and Paudie Feehan had them on the board with a well-taken point in the second minute after Thomas Keaveney laid off the ball. Ciaran O’Dwyer won the resulting kickout and the attacking move ended with Micheal Doyle opening his account for Killenaule.

It was the sixth minute before Caleb Hickey opened Arravale Rovers’ account from a placed ball. Joe O’Dwyer then pointed a free. Rovers did have a half goal chance when a high ball was collected by Darren Lowry but he failed to get full control of it and it rolled off the post and was collected by goalkeeper Michael Fitzgerald.

By the 15th minute Paudie Feehan had kicked his second point of the game from long range as Killenaule led 0-4 to 0-1. A minute later Caleb Hickey kicked Arravale’s only point from play in the half.

The next six minutes saw Killenaule add three further points to their tally, with Micheal Doyle kicking two further pointed frees while Eoin Shaw opened his account. Killenaule now led by 0-7 to 0-2.

The turning point came in the 26th minute when Eoin O’Connell played a ball from the halfway line. Micheal Doyle won it and offloaded to onrunning Paddy Codd who in turn fed Eoin Shaw, who tucked the ball low to the Arravale net. It was a huge score that gave the south side an eight-point advantage. Paudie Feehan kicked two further points before the half-time whistle as Killenaule led 1-9 to 0-2.

Scores were evenly shared in the first ten minutes of the second half with two each. Eoin Shaw got in behind the Arravale defence and his shot went over the bar when certainly a goal was on. Micheal Lowry and Caleb Hickey both pointed for Arravale either side of Eoin O’Connell’s first for Killenaule.

The game was well and truly wrapped up in the twelfth minute of the half. Eoin Barry did the hard work, bursting through before offloading to Killian O’Dwyer, who handpassed to the onrushing Joe O’Dwyer, who had lost his marker and he shot low past Darren Heuston for the second goal.

Both sides traded scores as the fourth quarter played out, with Arravale getting a few more chances, but the game was gone well beyond them at that stage.

Scorers: Killenaule: Paudie Feehan (0-5), Eoin Shaw (1-2), Joe O’Dwyer (1-1, 0-1 free), Micheal Doyle (0-3, 2 frees), Eoin O’Connell.

Arravale Rovers: Caleb Hickey (0-4, 3 frees), Micheal Lowry (0-1), Donagh Leahy (0-1).

Killenaule: Michael Fitzgerald, Dean O’Connor, Jimmy Feehan, Jack Hassett, Killian O’Dwyer, Paddy Codd, Ciaran O’Dwyer, Paudie Feehan, Tom Stakelum, Thomas Keaveney, Joe O’Dwyer, Eoin O’Connell, Eoin Shaw, Luke Ryan, Micheal Doyle.

Sub used: Eoin Barry.

Arravale Rovers: Darren Heuston, Jack Lowry, Conal Donovan, Raymond Kelly, Cian Ryan, Niall Fitzgerald, Micheal Lowry, Matthew Moroney, Eoin Doocey, Shane Maher, Mikey O’Dwyer, Donagh Leahy, Caleb Hickey, Darren Lowry, Cormac Maher.

Subs used: Johnny Lowry, Eoghan Lonergan.

Referee: Keith Delahunty (Moyle Rovers).