Tipperary hurler leads club to U19 divisional title in narrow victory on Wednesday

Joe Hayes Cleanline Farm Services West U19A Hurling Championship Final

Cashel King Cormacs: 1-24

Arravale Rovers: 1-20

By Francis Coughlan

An Oisin O’Donoghue inspired Cashel King Cormacs claimed a third success, Joe Hayes Cleanline Farm Services West U19A Hurling Championship title when they got the better of Arravale Rovers in Golden on Wednesday evening.

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Having had a slow start, Arravale Rovers had settled well to their task with David O’Brien’s goal five minutes before the interval helping them to a one-point lead at the break. 

However, Eimhin Ryan’s goal eleven minutes into the second half pushed Cashel one ahead, and from there they always looked that bit more comfortable bringing the lead out to four or five points at stages as the half progressed while also limiting Arravale the space for their forwards.

Oisin O’Donoghue, named at centre back, went to centre forward, with David Ryan given the task of marking Cashel's talisman. Cashel playing into the Mantel Hill end settled into the game quicker with early points from Denis O’Callaghan and Eimhin Ryan in the first two minutes. 

Sean O’Mahoney, who was very influential for Arravale, opened his account in the third minute with a pointed free. Arravale is playing with the advantage of the breeze in the first 30. 

O’Donoghue, who would cover a lot of ground over the 60 minutes, opened his account with a pointed free. Arravale gradually got to the pitch of the game, and by the 12th minute, two Donnacha Quigley points had edged Arravale in front. 

Both sides would now contest furiously, with plenty of turnovers forced. The game went tit for tat as the second quarter loomed. Callum Byrnes and Oisin O’Donoghue edged Cashel ahead only for Arravale to hit a purple patch with three in a row. 

Sean O’Mahoney got two of these, including a lovely sideline from the uncovered side of the field. The lead continued to sway between one or two points. With five minutes to go in the half, Sean O’Mahoney stretched it back out to two in response to another Oisin O’Donoghue pointed free.

Four minutes before the interval, Arravale got a huge boost for their biggest lead in the game. David Ryan made a powerful run through the Cashel defence before making a pass to Ciaran Kelly. 

The pass looked to have been too far ahead of Kelly heading out over the endline, but he managed to flick it across the endline into the square where David O’Brien guided it to the net. 

Cashel’s response was crucial and they had the goal wiped out in three minutes as man of the match O’Donoghue fired over from play either side of two placed balls. Ciaran Kelly and O’Donoghue swapped points to leave just the minimum between the sides at the break, 1-10 to 0-12.

Arravale started the second half strongly and by the fourth minute had pushed the lead back out to a goal. Donnacha Quigley, along with Sean O’Mahoney, hit two pointed frees in response to one for Tudor Mereacre. 

That goal remained between the sides until the 11th minute as the teams traded scores. Cashel then got the crucial score of the game, which changed the momentum of the contest. Oisin O’Donoghue did all the work before setting Eimhin Ryan free, and he sent his effort past the advancing Ben Dudley. 

Minutes earlier, Oisin O’Donoghue had gone for goal from a close-range free at an angle, but his effort had been blocked. Cashel now pushed on, and by the three-quarter mark, they were finding their scores that bit easier and, in the process, opened up a three-point advantage. 

Sean O’Mahoney got in for a point, but by now Arravale were not finding the same space as Cashel got numbers back. By the time Callum Butler Buckley opened his account, Cashel had now opened up a five-point lead. Crucially, Arravale missed two frees in this period. Arravale did rally somewhat in the final ten minutes, bringing the deficit down to two, mostly depending on Sean O’Mahoney frees. 

Shane Quigley’s point was their first from play in 20 minutes. Jaye Cilvinas did get in on goal late on but saw his effort blocked. Three down in injury time, Arravale were forced to go for goal, but the effort around the house failed to get a touch and went wide. The puckout resulted in Brian O’Donoghue sealing the win.

Following the game, West Board Vice Chairman Michael McCarthy presented the Liam O’Duibhir Cup to Cashel King Cormacs captain Oisin O’Donoghue. Cashel King Cormacs will now face Holycross Ballycahill in the county semi-final.

Scorers: Cashel King Cormacs: Oisin O’Donoghue (0-13, 0-10f), Eimhin Ryan 1-2, Callum Byrnes 0-3, Callum Butler Buckley 0-2, Denis O’Callaghan, Tudor Mereacre, Colin Maher, Brian O’Donoghue all 0-1 each.

Arravale Rovers: Sean O’Mahoney (0-10, 0-9f), Donnacha Quigley, Ciaran Kelly 0-3 each, David O’Brien 1-0, Shane Quigley 0-2, Adam Ryan 0-1, Ben Dudley 0-1f.

Cashel King Cormacs: Eoghan Dunne; Kyle Cully, Cormac McInerney, Aidan Skeffington; Tommy O’Connor, Oisin O’Donoghue, Colin Maher; Colm Ryan, Callum Butler Buckley;Tudor Mereacre, Brian O'Donoghue, Denis O’Callaghan; Eimhin Ryan, Callum Byrnes, MJ Anglim.

Subs used: Evan Ryan for MJ Anglim; Nicholas Walsg for Tudor Mereacre.

Arravale Rovers: Ben Dudley; Alex Webster, Robert O’Brien, Conor Kelly; Brendan Delaney, David Ryan, Jaye Cilvinas; Sean O’Mahoney, David O’Brien; Evan Ryan, Adam Ryan, Darragh Bresnan; Donnacha Quigley, Ciaran Kelly, Shane Quigley.

Subs used: Michael Bowes for Evan Ryan.

Referee: Anthony Owens (Solohead)

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