Francis Coughlan at Sean Treacy Park
Defending champions Clonoulty/Rossmore booked their place in the 2024 O’Dwyer Steel West U21A Hurling Championship Final following a strong second half performance which helped them see off the challenge of a determined Arravale Rovers in Sean Treacy Park on Sunday afternoon.
This was a tough physical battle throughout with neither side willing to give an inch as Arravale Rovers looked for a win which would put them in contention to top the group while Clonoulty/Rossmore unbeaten in their two games to date required just a draw to advance.
This had all the feeling of knockout hurling and with Arravale Rovers requiring a win they took the game to their opponents from the off.
Arravale Rovers playing into the dressing room end with the advantage of a slight breeze were four points to one ahead by the tenth minute and probably should have been more. Orrin Jones and Sean O’Mahony were dictating terms in attack while David Ryan was getting on a lot of ball.
Jones hit three of those with Sean O’Mahony adding the other from a sixty-five. Arravale could have raised a green flag here when David Ryan set up the on running Orrin Jones and closing in on goal, he offloaded to Evan Ryan but his effort wasn’t strong and O’Dwyer saved.
Seamus Kennedy had opened the defending champions account in the fourth minute and it would be the eleventh before Stephen Ferncombe doubled that from a placed ball.
Ferncombe would go on to have a big say in this game both in terms of scoring and working rate. Clonoulty/Rossmore came more into the game and twice threatened goal as the first quarter ended with one going across the face of goal and wide.
With Orrin Jones causing problems this saw Danny Slattery moved to mark him but it would now see Adam Ryan move about more and come far more into the game with his high fielding and ball running abilities.
Arravale would continue to hold the advantage with Jones and O’Mahony on target while at the other end Finbarr Ryan opened his account with a great effort while Ferncombe continued with his accuracy from placed balls. Doyle and Ferncombe reduced the gap to a single point with six to play.
The turning point of the half quickly arrived when Adam Ryan won another high ball took it on before setting up Eoin Doocey for the games first green flag. Jason O’Dwyer was called into action again before the break to deny both Daniel and Evan Ryan in a double save. Arravale led 1-10 to 0-9 at the break.
With the sides trading early points on the resumption the games second goal quickly arrived in as early as the second minute when Alex Carroll powered on from a breaking ball to send his effort to the net.
The sides traded scores as the game continued in the same physical nature.
Points from Eoghan Lonergan and Sean O’Mahony put Arravale Rovers two up by the thirteen minute and looking good however they failed to score for the remainder.
Clonoulty/Rossmore would go on to hit eight points without reply in the last quarter. They upped their work rate all over the field with Robert Doyle dropping back and winning ball while Danny Slattery, Jamie Davern and Alex Carroll would make a big impression.
Doyle, Ferncombe and Carroll all adding the vital scores while Seamus Kennedy was denied a goal by Ben Dudley in the twenty first minute.
Arravale as the gap was widening now felt they had to go for goals and dropped a number of efforts in short however the Clonoulty/Rossmore defence under huge pressure stood solid.
Clonoulty/Rossmore will now meet Eire Og/Sean Treacys in the West Final.
Scorers and Teams:
Clonoulty Rossmore: Stephen Ferncombe (0-11, (0-10f)), Alex Carroll (1-3), Robert Doyle (0-3), Finbarr Ryan (0-2), Seamus Kennedy (0-1)
Arravale Rovers: Sean O’Mahony (0-8,(0-5f)), Orrin Jones (0-5), Eoin Doocey (1-0), Eoghan Lonergan (0-1)
Clonoulty Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer, Richard Ferncombe, Keelan Ryan, Mike Ryan (Lanty), Jack Kennedy, Danny Slattery, Jamie Davern, Cormac Quirke, Paddy Kennedy, Finbarr Ryan, Stephen Ferncombe, Frank O’Dwyer, Seamus Kennedy, Robert Doyle, Alex Carroll
Subs Used: Shane Davern, Kaelem Maher
Arravale Rovers: Ben Dudley, Peter Ryan, Micheal Lowry, Alex Webster, David Ryan, John Paul Lohan, Raymond Kelly, Eoin Doocey, Shane Maher, Sean O’Mahony, Adam Ryan, Evan Ryan, Daniel Ryan, Eoghan Lonergan, Orrin Jones
Subs Used: Ciaran Kelly, Shane Quigley
Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly)
