Sean Treacys surrender their Junior B Hurling League title in west Tipperary

Arravale Rovers 0-15 Sean Treacys 1-8

Sean Treacys surrendered their Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Tipperary Junior B Hurling League title to a Cormac Maher-inspired Arravale Rovers at Annacarty on Tuesday evening last.

In a semi-final played in good dry conditions, on a well-manicured surface, and with a wind blowing towards the road end, this was a game in which Sean Treacys will rue their missed chances, sixteen in total over the course of the game, including eight from placed balls.

Arravale too will have cause for concern with their shooting, as they were off target from placed balls early on, but were the dominant force over the final 25 minutes. They trailed by the minimum at the break, 0-8 to 1-6, but pushed on after the restart, having drawn level for the fourth and final time with a point from Aaron O’Donoghue on thirty-five minutes. 

READ NEXT: Tipperary Olympian Sharlane Mawdsley's father has passed away 

The Treacys defence held up admirably, with Paudie Carey handling well between the posts and Tom Hickey putting in a huge shift. Darragh Carr was their main threat in attack but was positioned too far from goal to have a bigger influence. Paddy Kennedy took his scores well, but overall the attack lacked penetration.

Arravale were a far more balanced outfit and lost the services, through injury, of their full back, Ger O’Dwyer early on. They also lost their captain Paddy Dalton six minutes before the break when he shipped a hard knock. Their attack, led by Cormac Maher, had the ability to take their scores, with Shane Quigley and Eoin Doocey particularly impressive throughout.

SEE MORE: An elder statesman of Tipperary school marking its 125th anniversary

Sean Treacys, aided by the wind, attacked the road end, but it was the town side who got the scoreboard moving when Shane Quigley fired over after sixty seconds. Darragh Carr equalised, but from the resulting puckout Eoin Doocey split the posts.

The only goal of the game came on eight minutes following what was probably the move of the game. Darragh Carr won possession out around midfield, raced through the spine of the defence, and following an interchange with James Deegan blasted a low shot past Ben Dudley to put his side two ahead.

Arravale were back on level terms four minutes later, following two good scores, the first from Tadhg O’Connor, having been set up by Peter Ryan, the second from Cormac Maher, with Paddy Dalton the supplier.

Sean Treacys then upped their game and hit three minors in a six-minute spell. Shane Fahy eased them back in front before a huge Tom Hickey effort found the range from well inside his own half, for what was the score of the game. Paddy Kennedy hit the first of his two minors on twenty minutes, but Arravale hit back to break the momentum. Cormac Maher and Eoin Doocey reduced the deficit to the minimum with five minutes remaining before the break.

The final five minutes of the half were shared equally on the scoreboard, but Sean Treacys will rue some wayward shooting and shot-choices during this period. Paddy Kennedy and Darragh Carr were on target for Treacys, while Cormac Maher finished the half with four minors to his name. The half-time score was Sean Treacys 1-6 Arravale Rovers 0-8.

After the restart Shane Quigley, with his second point, brought the sides level, before substitute Tom O’Dwyer, with his first touch eased Treacys back in front.

Arravale, now aided by the breeze, upped their game and hit five unanswered points in a fifteen-minute spell. Aaron O’Donoghue scored to bring the game level, Shane Leahy pointed from out under the stand and Cormac Maher and Shane Quigley also scored to put them three up.

With eight minutes remaining Cormac Maher registered the first score from a placed ball. Sean Treacys pushed up on the Arravale defence but were unable to get in for the major that was required. They were also off target in those final minutes, but Darragh Carr brought the score to within three points late on.

Cormac Maher closed out the scoring with his seventh point and his second from a placed ball, two minutes into added time. Arravale now meet Clonoulty Rossmore in the final.

Scorers: Arravale Rvs: Cormac Maher (0-7,2f), Shane Quigley (0-3), Eoin Doocey (0-2), Tadhg O’Connor (0-1), Aaron O’Donoghue (0-1), Shane Leahy (0-1).

Sean Treacys: Darragh Carr (1-3), Paddy Kennedy (0-2), Tom Hickey (0-1), Tom O’Dwyer (0-1), Shane Fahy (0-1).

Arravale Rovers: Ben Dudley, Richie Lohan, Ger O’Dwyer, Ronan O’Connor, Shane Leahy, Darren Lowry, Roger O’Connor, Tadhg O’Connor, Peter Ryan, Daniel Ryan, Cormac Maher, Eoin Doocey, Shane Quigley, Paddy Dalton (captain), Jordan Doyle.

Subs: Oisín Hogan for Ger O’Dwyer (inj 5), Aaron O’Donoghue for Paddy Dalton (inj 24), Paddy O’Donnell for Jordan Doyle (55).

Sean Treacys: Paudie Carey, William Egan, Philip Treacy, Conor Nolan, Michael Hayes, Tom Hickey, Ronan Carr, Ian Fahy, Donnacha O’Brien, Shane Fahy, Mattie Feehan (captain), Larry Collins, Paddy Kennedy, Darragh Carr, James Deegan.

Subs: Tom O’Dwyer for Larry Collins (inj HT), Seamus Carey for Ian Fahy (42), Jack Brett for William Egan (42), Cormac Sheehy for James Deegan (47), Jody Ryan (Rogers) for Michael Hayes (50).

Referee: David Grogan (Aherlow).