Three goals not enough as Arravale Rovers suffer Munster heartbreak against Ballyduff

Safety Direct Munster Intermediate Hurling Challenge Cup Semi-Final

Arravale Rovers 3-22

Ballyduff 4-24

Waterford champions Ballyduff edged out Tipperary’s representatives Arravale Rovers in the Safety Direct Munster Intermediate Hurling Challenge Cup semi-final played in Lacken Park, Newport, last Sunday.

The game was played in perfect conditions on a brisk autumn day with no breeze and a perfectly dry sod. This was the first semi-final of a novel tournament which gives the county intermediate champions a provincial outlet, now that the Premier Intermediate winners represent the counties in the official Munster Intermediate Championship.

The first half was a great battle between two committed teams who were level on six occasions, with the Déise side edging in front with a point before half-time.

In the first ten minutes, it was point for point, with Arravale Rovers’ scores coming from Orrin Jones (free), John Paul Lohan, Sean O’Mahony and two in a row from Eoghan Lonergan. Ballyduff’s replies came from Bill Keane, Mikey Kearney and two from corner-forward Donnachadh Hickey.

A goal by Ballyduff full-forward Tireoghain Flynn looked to be a decisive score as Ballyduff built up a four-point lead over the next ten minutes, with further points added by the always-threatening Sean Hickey at wing-forward, one each from Jamie Kearney and centre-back Shane Kearney, plus three from Mikey Kearney (two from frees).

Arravale Rovers replied during this period with points from Cormac Maher, Jaye Cilvinas, plus two from Orrin Jones (one free).

The score on 20 minutes stood at 1-10 to 0-9 in favour of the Waterford champions, but four points in a row by Arravale Rovers had the teams level again in the 25th minute, with two from Orrin Jones, who was deadly accurate from frees (two) and one from play, plus a sublime sideline cut from midfielder Sean O’Mahony.

In the 28th minute, Cathal Murphy goaled for Ballyduff, but Arravale Rovers immediately replied with a green flag by Cormac Maher. Orrin Jones added another point, but Ballyduff finished the half with two points from play in added time by Brian Burke and Tireoghain Flynn to give them a one-point half-time lead, 2-12 to 1-14.

The first eight minutes of the second half continued in the same vein, with both teams evenly matched. Orrin Jones pointed two more frees for Arravale Rovers, with Ballyduff replies coming from Tireoghain Flynn (two) and Brian Burke.

The turning point in this game came in the ninth minute with a goal from Ballyduff corner-forward Mikey Kearney, and he added a point from a free to give the Waterford side a two-goal lead.

Over the next ten minutes, they scored seven points to Arravale Rovers’ three, which gave them a ten-point lead going down the final stretch. These seven points were scored by Mikey Kearney (two frees), Sean Hickey (two) and one each from Donnachadh Hickey, Bill Keane and Quentin Joyce.

The Arravale Rovers replies came from Orrin Jones (two) and Jaye Cilvinas.

The game was turned on its head over the next six minutes as Arravale Rovers scored 2-3 to just one point from Ballyduff. The goals came from Cormac Maher and Orrin Jones, with Jones adding a point from play and a free, plus an unusually quiet Johnny Ryan getting his first score of the day.

Ballyduff’s only reply during this chaotic period was a point from substitute Evan Geary.

In the 60th minute, the score stood at 4-23 to 3-22 as Ballyduff clung on to that four-point lead. With the game now in four minutes of added time, Arravale Rovers continued to rain frees and long-range shots into the Ballyduff square in the hope of another green flag.

They received a decisive blow during this vital period when an interaction between Orrin Jones and Clare referee Johnny Healy saw their ace marksman receive a red card.

Ballyduff added another point from a free by Mikey Kearney, which saw them breathe a sigh of relief at the final whistle as they held out for a five-point victory.

They will now contest the final against the winners of Limerick champions Knockaderry, and Clare champions The Banner, Ennis, who also won their county intermediate football final.

For a gallant Arravale Rovers side who represented Tipperary with pride, their best players were Brendan Delaney, Orrin Jones and substitute Cormac Maher.

Arravale Rovers: David Ryan; Brendan Delaney, Niall Fitzgerald, Peter Ryan; Eoin Doocey, Shane Leahy, John Paul Lohan (0-1); Johnny Ryan (0-1), Sean O’Mahony (0-1 sl-cut); Donough Leahy, Eoghan Lonergan (0-2), Niall Sharpe; Donnacha Quigley, Orrin Jones (1-13, 0-9f), Jaye Cilvinas (0-2).

Subs used: Cormac Maher (2-2) for D Leahy (inj), Ciaran Kelly, Shane Quigley.

Ballyduff: Conor Sheehan; Brian Burke (0-2), Oran Leamy, Jamie Hannon; Quentin Joyce (0-1), Shane Kearney (0-1), Gavin Kenneally; Shane Hannon, Bill Keane (1-1); Sean Hickey (0-3), Jamie Kearney (0-1), Cathal Murphy (1-1); Mikey Kearney (1-6), Tireoghain Flynn (1-3), Donnachadh Hickey (0-4).

Subs used: Evan Geary (0-1) for D Hickey, Florence Flynn for B Burke, Shane Casey for S Hannon.

Referee: Johnny Leahy (Smith O’Brien’s, Clare)