Fast start key to sending Golden Kilfeacle into the Intermediate final at Cappawhite's expense

FBD Insurance Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final

Golden Kilfeakle 3-22 

Cappawhite 2-20

By John O’Shea 

Golden Kilfeacle advanced to their second FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Final in three years when they overcame the challenge of Cappawhite at Leahy Park, Cashel, on Saturday afternoon.

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This was a rematch of the West Final, which Cappawhite had won with a late comeback at Dundrum in July, but on this occasion, there were no repeat heroics from the West champions.

Two goals inside the opening quarter were the foundation for this victory, as Golden Kilfeacle set out their stall with an opening score from Seanie O’Halloran after just nine seconds. 

The opening major came in the sixth minute, and when the second arrived, coming up to the end of the quarter, it gave them a seven-point cushion. Cappawhite were lacklustre during those opening 15 minutes and only created one goal chance, Dara McCarthy’s blistering shot skimming the crossbar.

With Sam Hall and Seanie O’Halloran giving a masterclass, Golden were always in control during the remainder of the half, although Cappawhite raised their game considerably, particularly in the ten minutes coming up to the break, where they outscored their opponents by 0-5 to 0-3.

After the restart, Golden started the sharper and hit four of the opening five points before Cappawhite got in for a green flag after nine minutes. A second major on the three-quarter mark cut the deficit to two, and a serious comeback from the men in white looked on the cards. 

However, with nine minutes of normal time remaining, Ben Currivan hit goal number three, and that really put paid to the Cappa resurgence. Golden used their bench in those final minutes, with substitutes Andy Byrnes and Jack Lonergan coming on to play a vital part.

Cappawhite finished the game with fourteen players when Willie Barry was red-carded in added time, but the sending-off had no bearing on the outcome, as Golden march on to the final where they will play neighbours and fellow West men Knockavilla Doneskeagh Kickhams.

Golden Kilfeacle won the toss and defended the dressing-room end for the opening half. They also had the benefit of a slight wind during those 30 minutes. 

The game started at a blistering pace, and from the throw-in, Seanie O’Halloran won possession before racing through the Cappa defence to fire over the opening score after just nine seconds. 

From the puck-out, Dara McCarthy won possession and brought the sides level. O’Halloran again found the range before Willie Barry tied the game for the second time on four minutes.

Coming up towards the sixth minute, a floated sideline cut from under the stand by Jack Leamy was blocked down by Josh Keane for Padraig Dalton to fire to the Cappa net, beating Anthony Barry from close in. 

This was the start that Golden wanted as they sought to overturn the West Final result from earlier in the season. Jack Leamy got his opening score to put four between the sides, but Willie Barry and Dara McCarthy replied in duplicate. 

McCarthy’s shot could well have been under the crossbar, in what was Cappa’s only real goal-scoring opportunity during the opening half.

Jack Leamy began to exert his influence on the game as he moved into the inside line of attack, in a switch with Sam Hall. 

He converted two placed balls having drawn the frees himself, and then got in for a second major when he broke down a high ball between two defenders before turning inside to beat Barry with a low shot. This gave Golden a seven-point advantage.

Sam Hall, now out in the open spaces, came more into the game and hit two wonder points either side of a Willie Barry converted free, the second one coming directly after winning the puck-out. 

Willie Barry pulled one back, but Hall won a free when he was tugged back while making a run for possession, the first of two such frees awarded to Golden. Leamy tacked on the point before Brendan Murphy and Ben Currivan traded minors inside the final ten minutes before the break.

Cappawhite had upped their game, and this was beginning to reflect in their scoring. Willie Barry hit two in quick succession, one from open play, with Sam Carmody also finding the range from the stand side. Sam Hall got in for his third, while Jack Leamy hit his fifth minor from inside his own 65. Dara McCarthy closed out the half with his third in added time, as Golden led at the break, 2-11 to 0-11.

Similar to the opening throw-in, Golden won the restart, with Seanie O’Halloran linking up with Gavin Dalton, who in turn set up Eoin Marnane to find the range after fifteen seconds. Conor Martin got in for his opening score before Padraig Dalton set up Leamy to cancel out. 

Leamy capitalised when tapping over a free from in front of goal after Dalton’s attempted run was thwarted. Leamy and Conor Martin exchanged minors before David Buckley goaled from close in after latching on to a crossed ball from Martin.

Cappawhite had a big let-off when a goal-bound shot by Leamy was cleared off the line by Ben White as the game picked up in pace. The men in white were back in the game when Dara McCarthy goaled after fielding a long ball from outfield from Willie Barry. 

With two points between the sides and 15 minutes left to play, another comeback from Cappawhite was anticipated. Seanie O’Halloran and Barry were on target before Jack Bergin, with his first touch after being introduced, eased the lead out to three. Golden doubled their advantage with nine minutes of normal time remaining when Josh Keane found Ben Currivan, and his low shot to the corner gave Anthony Barry no chance. 

Jack Leamy added another point from a placed ball before Cappa hit three on the bounce, from Colm O’Dwyer, Willie Barry from a 65, and David Buckley. Golden hit back with Jack Leamy putting over his tenth point from a placed ball before man of the match Sam Hall stretched the lead out to six on 60 minutes.

Following Willie Barry’s dismissal, Dara McCarthy closed out the scoring from a placed ball before referee Conor Doyle sounded the long whistle, as Golden Kilfeacle march on to a final for the second time in three years.

Scorers: Golden Kilfeacle: Jack Leamy (1-10, 0-8f), Sam Hall 0-5, Ben Currivan 1-1, Seanie O’Halloran 0-3, Padraig Dalton 1-0, Eoin Marnane, Andy Byrnes, Jack Bergin all 0-1 each.

Cappawhite: Willie Barry (0-8, 0-6f, 0-1 65), Dara McCarthy (1-4, 0-1f), David Buckley 1-2, Conor Martin 0-3, Colm O’Dwyer, Sam Carmody, Brendan Murphy all 0-1 each..

Golden Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan; Aidan O’Connell, Shane O’Connell, Ciaran Byrne; Eoin Marnane, Niall Heffernan, Cian O’Connell; Ben Currivan, Seanie O’Halloran; Eanna Ormond, Jack Leamy, Josh Keane; Padraig Dalton, Sam Hall, Gavin Dalton.

Subs used: Jack Bergin for Gavin Dalton (47); Andy Byrnes for Padraig Dalton (54); Jack Lonergan for Seanie O’Halloran (59); Aidan Tuohy for Aidan O’Connell (60, temp sub).

Cappawhite: Anthony Barry; Kevin Stapleton, Sean Ryan (W), Philip Gantley; Ben White, Gearóid Ryan (B), Tom Treacy; Ciarán Doody, Brendan Murphy; Sam Carmody, David Buckley, Gearóid Lennon; Conor Martin, Dara McCarthy, Willie Barry.

Subs used: Daire Duggan for Gearóid Lennon (40); Colm O’Dwyer for Ciarán Doody (45).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Silvermines)

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