Enthralling West final required extra time for Cashel to finally best Éire Óg

Tipperary Co-Op West Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final

Cashel King Cormacs 3-27

Eire Og Annacarty Donohill 1-30

Francis Coughlan at Dillon Quirke Grounds Clonoulty

Cashel King Cormacs are Tipperary Co-Op West Premier Intermediate Hurling champions for 2024 following a titanic battle with Eire Og Annacarty Donohill at the Dillon Quirke Grounds, Clonoulty on Sunday evening.

A minute's silence was observed before the game in memory of the recent passing of Peter O’Sullivan and Ned Marshall of Cashel King Cormacs.

The game was played in ideal conditions with just a slight sprinkle of rain midway through the opening half. From the off neither side was willing to give an inch and this was evident right to the final whistle when Johnny Walsh’s foot deflected away Darragh Mooney’s late free in an attempt to draw the game level. The physical challenges were tough but fair and both sides dropped players deep with the middle becoming very crowded at times with players under constant pressure when in possession resulting in numerous hooks and blocks.

In truth it was a game that could have gone either way and Eire Og could and possibly should have seen the game out leading by three points going into injury time of normal time. However, Cashel found that energy in those final few minutes with two pointed frees from Devon Ryan and a late one from Cathal Quinn ensuring the teams would see another twenty minutes of each other.

Extra time continued to prove tight but Simon Delaney’s goal in the seventh minute would see Cashel hold a slender one-point advantage at the changeover. The opening five minutes of the resumption went point for point and penalties were now becoming the talk. However, Cashel seem to find that extra energy in the remaining minutes with points from Devon Ryan and Eoghan Connolly to finally seal honours.

The big question had been would Eire Og follow up their performance of the previous week or would Cashel prove to be too strong. Eire Og arrived with huge intensity and work rate and aided by Darragh Kelly with 1-3 and another three from Aidan Griffin Eire Og lead 1-10 to 0-8 at the interval and had Cashel in all sorts of bother as they struggled to deal with the inform Kelly.

The second half continued to be tit for tat and Oisin O’Donoghue’s goal looked to have given Cashel a huge advantage especially when Ronan Connolly followed with a point to give Cashel a three-point advantage. However, credit to Eire Og they turned that into a three-point advantage going down the home straight only to be pinned back by Cashel.

Eire Og were first on the board in the second minute when Aidan Griffin pointed in the second minute from a placed ball. Eire Og were operating a two man inside forward line with Griffin and Darragh Kelly while Dinny Crosse came further out the field. Devon Ryan levelled into the dressing room end just over a minute later however Eire Og were causing problems.

Brian Fox along with their midfield partnership of Tom Fox and Seanie Ryan, Donal O’Dwyer and Conor O’Brien were leading the fight. In the forwards Darragh Kelly was causing serious problems. Mooney pointed a long range free and Cashel woes saw them pick up two early yellow cards. 

Tom Fox pointed before the end of the first quarter to give Eire Og a 0-6 to 0-3 lead. Cashel had been struggling to find the target and take the right option however Conn Bonnar and David McGrath reduced the deficit. The first major arrived ten minutes before the break. Tom Fox sent a long clearance down towards Darragh Kelly on the stand side, as the Cashel players seemed to think the sliotar had gone out over the sideline however the flag didn’t go and Darragh Kelly played on cutting in for goal unmarked and made no mistake against Johnny Walsh. Eoghan Connolly responded with a point as Cashel looked to get their game going.

Eire Og received a blow eight minutes before half time with the withdrawal of Aidan Griffin through injury. He was replaced by Kevin Fox. Kelly and Conor O’Brien extended that lead out to seven points. Cashel finished the half outscoring Eire Og three to one and this would be crucial in terms of the overall result. Devon Ryan and two from Oisin O’Donoghue ensuring five between the sides at the break, 1-10 to 0-8.

The second half had an explosive start. Donal O’Dwyer extended Eire Og’s advantage. However, the crucial score came for Cashel in the fourth minute. Paddy Fahy broke through the tackle and head for goal before passing to David McGrath who gave Mooney no chance.

Cashel looked as if they were coming more into the game with Eoghan Connolly covering a massive amount of ground while Ross Bonnar had come deeper out the field. They hit a number of wides before Devon Ryan pointed from a free in the tenth minute and he quickly followed that with one from play. Just before the end of the third quarter Cashel had a second major and led for the first time.

A move involving Anthony Walsh and David McGrath resulted in Oisin O’Donoghue goaling from close range. David McGrath now having a big influence on the game. When Ronan Connolly followed with a point it looked as if Cashel had turned the corner. Time and time again Eire Og have proved they are not easily beaten and this would be no exception.

Donal O’Dwyer and two from Darragh Kelly with the latter now on free taking duty tied up proceedings. Ronan Connolly and Ross Bonnar responded only for Darragh Kelly and Conor O’Brien to reply in kind. Both sides were giving everything with neither side refusing to wilt.

The lead changed hands over the next few minutes as both sides tried to kick for home, with three to remain they were level again. The remainder of normal time was gripping.

Eire Og courtesy of three Darragh Kellys efforts led by three going into injury time and looked the likely victors from here however Cashel forced two frees which Devon Ryan pointed. Then at the death Cathal Quinn struck over the leveller to send the game to extra-time.

Donal O’Dwyer and Sean Ryan traded points with Anthony Walsh and Cathal Quinn early in extra-time. The game just seemed to have that see-saw nature with neither side offering the white flag. Cathal Quinn was coming more and more into the game while Seanie Ryan who had a huge game for Eire Og pointed them in front in the seventh minute.

Cashel now reintroduced Simon Delaney. Delaney had been quiet when he was initially on but he exploded on his reintroduction. A long-range free dropped short in a round the square and as the sliotar bounded around in the air Delaney got the vital touch to steer to the net.

Eoin Bradshaw had an earlier chance at the opposite end however his effort went straight at Johnny Walsh. Conor O’Brien and Seanie Ryan would ensure the just a point separated the sides at the break.

Both sides continued to trade scores. Five minutes into the half Darragh Kelly brought the sides level once more and the possibility of penalties loomed large.

However, Eire Og failed to score for the remainder. Three pointed frees from Devon Ryan (2) and Eoghan Connolly pushed Cashel three up. Eire Og were now forced to go for goal and when they were awarded a close range free Darragh Mooney came up. In a game of inches and tit for tat, his effort though deflected off the foot of Johnny Walsh and with that went the final whistle.

Following the game Adrian Cummins accepted the new Johnny Leahy Cup from West Board Chairman Tommy Hayes with Willie Ryan and Andrew O’Neill representing the sponsors Tipperary Co-Op and Seamus Leahy a nephew of the late Johnny Leahy.

Teams and Scorers: Eire Og Annacarty Donohill: Darragh Kelly (1-13, (0-5f)), Donal O’Dwyer (0-4), Aidan Griffin (0-3f), Conor O’Brien (0-3), Seanie Ryan (0-3), Darragh Mooney (0-2f), Tom Fox (0-1Dinny Crosse (0-1)

Cashel King Cormacs: Devon Ryan (0-10, (0-8f)), Oisin O’Donoghue (1-2), David McGrath (1-1), Eoghan Connolly (0-3, (0-1f), Ronan Connolly (0-3), Simon Delaney (1-0), Paddy Fahy (0-2), Cathal Quinn (0-2), Anthony Walsh (0-2), Conn Bonnar (0-1), Ross Bonnar (0-1)

Eire Og Annacarty Donohill: Darragh Mooney, Paul Devlin, David Fox, Mixie Bradshaw, Paudie Bradshaw , Brian Fox, Paul Downey, Seanie Ryan, Tom Fox, Connie Bradshaw, Conor O’Brien, Donal O’Dwyer, Aidan Griffin, Dinny Crosse, Darragh Kelly
Subs Used: Kevin Fox, Jack Kingston, Eoin Bradshaw, Eoin Kennedy.

Cashel King Cormacs: Johnny Walsh, Conn Bonnar, Nathan Ryan, Conor O’Dwyer, James Cummins, Ronan Connolly, Aaron Moloney, Paddy Fahy, Eoghan Connolly, Cathal Quinn, Devon Ryan, Oisin O’Donoghue, David McGrath, Simon Delaney, Ross Bonnar.

Subs used: Anthony Walsh, Adrian Cummins, Simon Delaney

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)