Francis Coughlan at Annacarty
Eire Og Annacarty Donohill are through to a first Tipperary Co-Op West Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final since 2021 following a three-point victory over Clonoulty/Rossmore in Annacarty on Sunday afternoon.
The sides were meeting in the knockout stages of the competition for the first time since their 2021 West final meeting which went the way of Clonoulty/Rossmore.
It was the proverbial game of two halves in which Eire Og dominated the majority of the first half apart from a brief period at start of the half which Clonoulty/Rossmore took an early lead.
The difference in that half was four goals including two from Cian Mooney and one each from Ronan O’Brien and Diarmuid Ryan to give Eire Og a commanding ten-point advantage at the break.
The second half was dominated by Clonoulty/Rossmore for the majority who completely took the game to Eire Og with Cathal Ryan Raymond punishing indiscipline from place balls.
Ryan’s goal with ten to play gave Clonoulty/Rossmore a two-point advantage such was Clonoulty/Rossmore’s dominance that Eire Og failed to score until the twenty third minute of the half. The decisive score though came three minutes from the end of normal time when Diarmuid Ryan capitalised on a mistake for Eire Og’s fifth goal and ultimately the winning score.
Clonoulty/Rossmore built up an early four lead including three points from Cathal Ryan Raymond and their first from play from Paul Hayes. Eire Og slowly began to find their way led by Cathal Coughlan and Jeremy Furlong.
Ronan O’Brien pointed two frees and then Cian Mooney had their first from play. By the thirteen minute the sides were level with Michael Hanley on target. With ten left in the half the sides were level at five points apiece. Clonoulty/Rossmore could have been further ahead when Clonoulty/Rossmore were awarded a penalty in the nineteenth minute after Stephen Kearney was pulled however Jamie O’Dwyer was equal to Cathal Ryan Raymond’s effort.
The flood gates opened after this with Eire Og adding 4-1 in the final few minutes. The first goal arrived in the twentieth minute when Jeremy Furlong miss hit a pass however Ronan O’Brien recover possession before setting up Diarmuid Ryan for the first major. Ryan turned provider for the second when winning possession, he turned right then left before picking out Cian Mooney who made no mistake.
The third goal came from the penalty spot after Diarmuid Ryan was brought down and despite Adam Carroll getting a touch, Ronan O’Brien’s effort hit the net. Ronan O’Brien and Diarmuid Ryan were combining well and this combination saw them set up an unmarked Mooney to bat home goal number four. Eire Og led 4-6 to 0-8 at the break though some of the goals were definitely preventable.
Clonoulty/Rossmore made a few positional switches at half time including swapping James Ryan W and Danny O’Keeffe. That coupled with a renewed vigour they began reducing the deficit. Along with these two Tadgh Ryan, Paddy Hennessy and Paul Hayes took the game to their opponents.
Cathal Ryan Raymond continued his accuracy from placed balls while Keelan Ryan pointed from play to cut the deficit to five after thirteen minutes. Their defence was well on top and they fought hard to overturn possession. By the eighteenth minute Ryan accuracy continued from placed balls and one each from Danny O’Keeffe and Martin Ryan Ned had the deficit to the minimum.
It got better for Clonoulty/Rossmore two minutes later when Dylan Ryan’s long range free broke around the square with Cathal Ryan Raymond quickest to gather for a well taken goal. Eire Og had been thwarted up to know in their attempt to regain a foothold however substitute Pat Aherne ended their drought before Ronan O’Brien levelled proceedings.
Extra time was now a strong possibility however the game turned in Eire Og’s favour when goalkeeper Adam Carroll dropped and effort from Pat Aherne and Diarmuid Ryan eventually kicked over the line. Both sides traded pointed but Clonoulty/Rossmore couldn’t find an equalising score.
Eire Og will now face Rosegreen in the semi-final.
Scorers and Teams:
Eire Og: Ronan O’Brien (1-5, (1-0p, (0-4f))), Cian Mooney (2-1), Diarmuid Ryan (2-0), Michael Hanley (0-1), David Breen (0-1), Pat Aherne (0-1)
Clonoulty/Rossmore: Cathal Ryan R (1-13, (0-13f)), Keelan Ryan (0-2), Paul Hayes (0-1), Danny O’Keeffe (0-1), Martin Ryan Ned (0-1)
Eire Og: Jamie O’Dwyer, Adam O’Dwyer, Cathal Coughlan, Colin Heffernan, Michael Hanley, Liam Og O’Dwyer, Dan Hogan, Jeremey Furlong, Thomas Quinn, Liam Crosse, Richard O’Doherty, Cian Mooney, David Breen, Ronan O’Brien, Diarmuid Ryan
Subs Used: Michael Buckley, Willie O’Neill, Pat Aherne, Philip McGrath
Clonoulty/Rossmore: Adam Carroll, Michael Ryan Lanty, Adam Fryday, Donnacha Carroll, Danny O’Keeffe, Dylan Kennedy, Tadgh Ryan, Keelan Ryan, James Ryan W, Paddy Hennessy, Martin Ryan Ned, Paul Hayes, Cathal Ryan Raymond, Fintan Kearney, Stephen Kearney
Subs Used: Finbar Ryan, Davy White, Richard Ferncombe
Referee: Richie O’Connor (Arravale Rovers)
