West Tipperary Under 21 hurling title holders Cashel hit the ground running

Cashel King Cormacs 3-18 Eire Og/Sean Treacys 0-12

Cashel King Cormacs, the holders, got the defence of their O’Dwyer Steel West Tipperary Under 21 A Hurling Championship up and running with a convincing victory over the Eire Og/Sean Treacys combination in the quarter- final at Leahy Park Cashel on Sunday.

In a tie played on a heavy underfoot surface, with a sharp breeze, the 200 or so patrons were served with a battling contest from the start, with the home side dictating the game for most of the contest.

Their ability to put over scores from both open play and placed balls, combined with their conversion of the goal chances presented, was the big difference between the sides.

On the other hand, the combo missed around eight of what could be classed as scorable frees, especially during the opening twelve minutes.

They were also guilty of some wayward shooting from open play and it took them all of twenty minutes to register their opening score, a point from wing back Colm Kennedy.

They were also hit with a sucker punch immediately before the break when Conor O’Dwyer ghosted from defence to collect a pass from David McGrath, before crashing home the opening goal of the game, which left them trailing by eleven points at half time.

After the break, both sides upped the pace of the game and this resulted in twelve scores during the third quarter. This was the combo’s best period, but like the opening quarter, their wides tally mounted.

With eight minutes of normal time remaining, a second Cashel goal killed the game as a contest and three minutes into added time Anthony Walsh’s third major was the icing on the cake.

Cashel were quickly out of the traps, with Ronan Connolly splitting the posts after 35 seconds. Further points from Connolly and David McGrath had them three to the good after seven minutes, as the combo struggled in front of goal both from open play and frees.

The first goal chance of the game fell to Cashel but a good move involving Jack McGrath and Fabian Ryan came to nothing. With their half back line and midfield in top form, the got scores on the board and led by 0-7 to 0-0 after 18 minutes with points from McGrath, Connolly, Andrew Irwin and Anthony Walsh.

Colm Kennedy got the combo off the mark with a long-range point after twenty minutes, but Cashel hit back with points from Dan Moloney and a free from Anthony Walsh.

The combo had missed five frees before Paudie Bradshaw converted with five minutes remaining to the break. The opening goal came on 29 minutes following a run by centre back, Conor O’Dwyer through the heart of the defence. A David McGrath pass from the right found the onrunning O’Dwyer, who gave Sean Malone no chance with a low shot to the corner. This gave the home side a commanding half time lead, 1-10 to 0-2.

After the break the combo hit the opening three scores, points from Pat Dawson, Darragh Carr and a converted free from Paudie Bradshaw. Ronan Connolly and Oisin O’Donoghue put over, either side of another Bradshaw free, as the game picked up pace.

This third quarter was the combo’s best period, although their failings from placed balls continued. The home side’s second major arrived with eight minutes of normal time remaining. Cathal Quinn did great work in the left corner before finding the unmarked Oisin O’Donoghue and the wing forward made no mistake from close range.

The final minutes plus added time saw the combo attack with pace but in the end an Anthony Walsh goal closed out the scoring for a comfortable victory. Cashel now play Clonoulty/Rossmore in the semi-final.

Cashel King Cormacs: Dylan O’Grady, Joey Davis, Padraig Brosnan, Kieran O’Dwyer, Donal Ryan, Conor O’Dwyer (1-0), Andrew Irwin (0-1), Cathal Quinn, Ronan Connolly (0-4, 2 frees), Dan Moloney (captain, 0-2), Fabian Ryan, Oisin O’Donoghue (1-1), David McGrath (0-2), Jack McGrath, Anthony Walsh (1-7, 6 frees).

Subs: Ross Whelan for Donal Ryan (25), Cian McGrath (0-1) for Jack McGrath (55).

Eire Og/Sean Treacys: Sean Malone, Tommy O’Dwyer, Brian Nolan, Darragh O’Brien, Colm Kennedy (0-1), Paul Nolan (0-1), Eoin Sheldon, Paudie Bradshaw (captain, 0-6, 5 frees), Dan Kelly, Adam O’Dwyer, Pat Dawson (0-1), Darragh Carr (0-1), Darragh Kelly (0-1), Stephen Rochford, Killian Kennedy (0-1).

Subs: Colm Ryan for Adam O’Dwyer (HT), Michael Furlong for Stephen Rochford (37), Philip Treacy for Tommy O’Dwyer (54), Colm Heffernan for Colm Ryan (55), Ronan Carr for Darragh Carr (55).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams).