Arravale Rovers cruise to convincing Under 21 championship win with clinical display

Francis Coughlan at Sean Treacy Park

Arravale Rovers ended Cappawhite Gaels reign as McGrath Oil West U21A Football champions following a comprehensive victory over the defending champions at Sean Treacy Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was a case of role reversal twelve months on from when Cappawhite Gaels enjoyed a comfortable if somewhat unexpected fourteen-point victory over their opponents, at the semi-final stage before going on to defeat Galtee Rovers in the final.

Played in good conditions this game had an air of inevitability about it from an early stage with Arravale Rovers 2-2 to 0-0 ahead after just eight minutes.

Arravale Rovers spent most the half incamped in the Cappawhite half with Orrin Jones, Caleb Hickey, Sean O’Mahony, Eoin Doocey and Micheal Lowry central to Arravale’s dominance.

David Ryan had the first goal following a patient move which saw Caleb Hickey kick the final pass. Alex Webster had an opportunistic second goal after goalkeeper Michael Carmody dropped the ball with Webster pouncing.

Cappawhite Gaels had a brief respite moments later when Conor Martin found the net after Marcus Kinane failed to keep out his effort. Kinane denied another effort with a fine save minutes later. Back at the hospital end just before the end of the quarter and Orrin Jones was central to the move which saw Caleb Hickey’s effort rebound off the crossbar where Jones palmed to the net.

Hickey and Jones added further points with the lively Eoin Doocey, Micheal Lowry and Sean O’Mahoney opening their accounts. Stephen Dee pointed a late free but Arravale were in control at the break, 3-8 to 1-1.

Cappawhite Gaels did come more into the game in the second half and two early Conor Martin points reduced the deficit somewhat however the damage had been done in the opening half.

Arravale had the luxury of being able to use their bench which certainly didn’t diminish their performance keeping the scoreboard moving.

Substitute Ciaran Kelly added three second half points while Caleb Hickey would finish with five points to his name. Micheal Lowry continued to push forward adding to his tally while they forced Michael Carmody into two good saves.

Conor Martin was the main scoring threat from Cappawhite Gaels who finished with 1-5 to his name.

Arravale Rovers now meet Golden/Kilfeacle in the semi-final.

Scorers and Teams:

Arravale Rovers: Orrin Jones (1-3, (0-2f)), Caleb Hickey (0-5, (0-1f)), David Ryan (1-0), Alex Webster (1-0), Micheal Lowry (0-3), Ciaran Kelly (0-3), Sean O’Mahoney (0-2), Eoin Doocey (0-1)

Cappawhite Gaels: Conor Martin (1-5, (0-2f)), Stephen Dee (0-2, (0-1f))

Arravale Rovers: Marcus Kinane, Peter Ryan, Shane Maher, Evan Carrie, Raymond Kelly, Micheal Lowry, David Ryan, Evan Ryan, Eoin Doocey, Sean O’Mahony, Orrin Jones, Eoghan Lonergan, Caleb Hickey, Evan Hawkins, Alex Webster
Subs Used: Michael Bowes, John Paul Lohan, Daniel Ryan, Shane Quigley, Ciaran Kelly, Tom O’Donnell

Cappawhite Gaels: Mikey Carmody, Sean Hayes, Cian O’Carroll, Michael English, Daire Duggan, Stephen Dee, Sean Cleary, Neil Clancy, Tommy Costello, Conor Martin, Sam Carmody, Darragh O’Hora, Conor Gantley, Tristan Stokes, Brian G Buckley
Sub used: Joshua O’Dwyer

Referee: Donnacha Horan (Eire Og)