Cappawhite made to work for quarter-final victory over stubborn Clonoulty Rossmore

Tipperary Credit Union West Intermediate Hurling Quarter Final

Cappawhite 1-21

Clonoulty Rossmore 0-18

John O’Shea at Pairc Ciocaim Dundrum

Holders, Cappawhite are through to the semi-final of the Tipperary Credit Union West Intermediate Hurling Championship following their six-point victory over Clonoulty Rossmore at Pairc Ciocaim Dundrum on Sunday evening.

In an evenly contested first half, with the sides level on five occasions, Clonoulty shaded it at the break by two points, with Aidan White putting over three minors from open play. The inside Cappawhite forward line caused problems early on with Dara McCarthy getting through for the game’s only goal on 12 minutes following a run through the centre by Conor Martin.

After the restart, Clonoulty stretched their lead out to three but Cappa were back on level terms by the 38th minute and had gone three up by the 41st minute. 

Clonoulty were back again on level terms six minutes later, but this was as near as they would get as Cappa upped their game for the closing ten minutes, completely closing down the Clonoulty attack.

Cappawhite were quickly off the mark with full forward Dara McCarthy opening their account at the railway end, inside the first minute, from a placed ball after Daire Duggan was fouled. 

Aidan White equalised a minute later before Duggan himself split the posts to give Cappawhite the advantage. White had the sides level again for the second time by the fourth minute when he put over from out near the sideline. 

Fiachra O’Keeffe and Ryan Renehan, from a long-range free, traded scores before Oisin Fryday cut through the Cappa defence to split the posts but Dara McCarthy was again on target from a placed ball. Oisin Fryday eased Clonoulty back in front for his second point of the game.

The only goal of the game came after twelve minutes following a defence-splitting run from Conor Martin who set up Dara McCarthy and the ace marksman made no mistake from close-in, giving Martin Sadlier no chance. 

David Buckley followed up with a good point before Clonoulty hit a purple patch, their best in the game, where they hit five unanswered points in eight minutes, going two to the good in the process. 

Dara McCarthy hit back with two converted frees, either side of a minor from Aaron Ryan (Rody). Fiachra O’Keeffe and Willie Barry were on the mark before Sean Ryan (Raymond) closed out the scoring to leave the half-time score, Clonoulty Rossmore 0-13, Cappawhite 1-8.

After the break, Clonoulty extended their lead out to three when Aidan White hit his fourth of the game. Cappawhite reacted positively and upped the intensity of their game. 

Conor Martin and Rian Doody hit two good scores before Willie Barry landed a huge point from out near the Station Road side to draw level by the thirty-eight minute. The holders pushed on with Colm O’Dwyer beginning to dominate around the middle third. 

Their defence tightened up considerably, while the half-back line snuffed out the Clonoulty attack. Willie Barry landed another long-range effort before David Buckley stretched their lead out to three. 

Paudie White and Jimmy Maher made it a one-point game before Conor Martin hit his second at the three-quarter mark.

The final quarter saw a dominant Cappa side transfer their possession onto the scoreboard and outscore Clonoulty eight points to two. Clonoulty had drawn level following points from Jimmy Maher and Aaron Ryan (Rody) with 13 minutes remaining but were unable to match a dominant Cappa side coming down the home stretch. 

Willie Barry hit his third long-range free to ease Cappa back in front before Mikey English hit two inside three minutes as the holders pushed for the line. Colm O’Dwyer hit his second of the half before Willie Barry, from a free, and Dara McCarthy, from open play hit the two final scores to close out the game.

Cappawhite: Jerry O’Neill; Mikey O’Brien, Sean Ryan (W), Philip Gantley; Kevin Stapleton, Ryan Renehan (0-1f), Brendan Murphy; Rian Doody (0-1), Colm O’Dwyer (0-2); Conor Martin (0-2), David Buckley (0-2), Mikey English (0-2); Daire Duggan (0-1), Dara McCarthy (1-5, 0-4f), Willie Barry (0-5, 0-4f).

Subs used: Tom Treacy for Conor Martin (52, inj).

Clonoulty Rossmore: Martin Sadlier; Niall Shanahan, Pádraig Carew, Aidan Loughman; Paddy Ryan, Ciarán Quirke (0-1), Jamie Davern; Seán Ryan (Raymond) (0-2), Jimmy Maher (0-2); Aaron Ryan (Rody) (0-2), Aidan White (0-4), Oisin Fryday (0-2); Fiachra O’Keeffe (0-2), Paudie White (0-3, 0-2f), Seamus Kennedy.

Subs used: Paddy Kennedy for Sean Ryan (Raymond) (48), Nicky Kearns for Seamus Kennedy (59).

Referee: Donie Horan (Eire Og Annacarty Donohill)