Golden/Kilfeacle advance in West Tipperary Under 21 A Hurling Championship

Golden/Kilfeacle 3-16 Arravale Rovers 0-15

Three second half goals ensured that Golden/Kilfeacle booked their place in the semi-final of the O’Dwyer Steel West Tipperary Under 21 A Hurling Championship at the expense of Arravale Rovers in Golden on Sunday morning.

Golden/Kilfeacle, who were pre-match favorites, led from start to finish, holding a five-point interval lead. They came under pressure in the third quarter when Arravale Rovers brought the deficit back to a point.

Both sides had goal chances up to this point, with Arravale’s best chance coming in that third quarter. The difference, however, was that Golden took theirs when they came their way in the second half– admittedly the second was a bit lucky. Once Padraig Dalton scored their first towards the end of the third quarter the eventual winners, led by Jack Leamy, who finished with 11 points, never looked back.

Golden were on top from the start, with Jack Bergin pointing twice inside the opening six minutes either side of a Jack Leamy free. They possibly could have had more scores on the board, hitting a number of wides and finished the half with seven to Arravale’s three.

Sean O’Mahoney was Arravale’s main scoring threat in the opening half and he settled them with points from play and a placed ball. Jack Leamy, now operating closer to goal, led the Golden attack, adding two further points, while Ben Currivan was providing the ammunition for Golden’s forwards.

Arravale on the other hand were struggling to breach the Golden defence and struggled for primary possession, with players often getting bottled up or taking the wrong option. By the 27th minute of the half Jack Leamy had stretched Golden/Kilfeacle’s lead to six. A late Sean O’Mahoney pointed free saw five between the sides at the interval, 0-10 to 0-5.

Scores were slow to come by at the start of the second half. Eoghan Lonergan and Jack Leamy swapped a point a piece in the first six minutes.

Arravale gradually started to claw their way back into this game with points from Sean O’Mahoney frees, Micheal Lowry and Shane Quigley. Quigley finished with 0-3 to his name.

When Quigley had his second point, Arravale were just a point behind with twelve minutes played in the half.

Golden had now dropped Eanna Ormond deep and they operated with just two players in the full forward line, with Shane Maher the spare man at the opposite end.

Arravale were now back in the game but it was as close as they would get. Jack Leamy pointed and then following a good movement Padraig Dalton broke the Arravale resistance with Golden’s first goal.

Arravale, though, refused to give in and points from Sean O’Mahoney and Shane Quigley had the gap back to three. Arravale were still finding it harder to breach the Golden defence.

With eleven minutes to play Padraig Dalton had Golden’s second goal, although this was a bit fortunate as the ball went through the hand of Arravale goalie Paddy O’Donnell.

Eoin Marnane completely put the game beyond reach three minutes from time when he got in for goal number three.

Golden/Kilfeacle will now face the winners of Cappawhite Gaels and Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams in the last four.

Scorers: Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Leamy (0-11, 5 frees), Padraig Dalton (2-0), Eoin Marnane (1-0), Jack Bergin (0-2), Lee Hayes (0-1), Michael Bergin (0-1), Eanna Ormond (0-1).

Arravale Rovers: Sean O’Mahoney (0-7, 6 frees), Shane Quigley (0-3), Micheal Lowry (0-2), Niall Sharpe (0-2), Eoghan Lonergan (0-1).

Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Lonergan, Jason Morey, Brian Marnane, Michael Bergin, Gavin Dalton, Ben Currivan, Eoin Marnane, Aaron Colohan, Jack Dalton, Padraig Dalton, Jack Leamy, Jack Bergin, Eanna Ormond, Luke Bennett, Lee Hayes.

Subs: S Hall for Jason Morey, Daniel Queally for Padraig Dalton, Luke Keane for Luke Bennett, James McLoughlin for Aaron Colohan, Kevin Hogan for Jack Lonergan.

Arravale Rovers: Paddy O’Donnell, Aiden Roche, Shane Maher, Odhran O’Dwyer, Peter Ryan, Raymond Kelly, Jack English, John Paul Lohan, Eoin Doocey, Caleb Hickey, Sean O’Mahoney, Micheal Lowry, Niall Sharpe, Eoghan Lonergan, Shane Quigley.

Subs: Daniel Ryan for Micheal Lowry, Eamon Ryan for Caleb Hickey, Colm Power for Aidan Roche.

Referee: Donnacha Horan (Eire Og Annacarty Donohill).