Late Arravale surge trumps Cappawhite

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Arravale Rovers 3-24

Cappawhite 3-20

Report: John O’Shea at Pairc Ciocaim, Dundrum

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers)

SCORERS - Arravale Rovers: Orrin Jones 0-8 (7 frees); Jaye Cilvinas 2-2; Sean O’Mahony 1-3; Johnny Ryan (1 free), Eoghan Lonergan 0-4 each; Donnacha Quigley 0-2; John Paul Lohan 0-1.

Cappawhite: Dara McCarthy 0-7 (5 frees); Conor Martin 1-4; Darragh O’Hora 2-1; Willie Barry 0-3; Daire Duggan 0-2; Sam Carmody, Colm O’Dwyer, David Buckley 0-1 each.

Arravale Rovers are back in the County Intermediate Hurling Final for the first time since 2009 following their four point win over Cappawhite in the all-West semi-final on Sunday.

This was a game that caught the imagination of a good-size crowd from the throw-in, producing 6 goals and 44 points, with 6-31 coming from play. It’s safe to say that this was one of the best games seen at this grade in the campaign.

The earlier rain had cleared by throw-in time, leaving the underfoot conditions somewhat slippery as Cappawhite attacked the railway end from the start, with Conor Martin opening the scoring inside sixty seconds. Willie Barry doubled their advantage after winning possession from the puck-out, before Orrin Jones was wide of the mark from a placed ball. Conor Martin doubled his own tally in the fifth minute before Jones found the range from a placed ball.

Cappawhite replied with the next two minors, the first from David Buckley from play and Dara McCarthy from a placed ball.

Eoghan Lonergan got in for the first of his four points from play, but again it was Cappa who responded through Daire Duggan and Conor Martin, who put over his third from play in the tenth minute.

Lonergan, who was beginning to come more into the game, found Johnny Ryan, who made no mistake. A run at the Cappa defence by Adam Ryan, who was bearing down on goal was turned over and Willie Barry punished the town side at the other end, with the first of two minors inside sixty seconds. This was Cappawhite’s best period as they pushed on to lead 0-9 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter.

Dara McCarthy added two further minors, either side of a second from Eoghan Lonergan, after been put through by Orrin Jones. McCarthy, from a placed ball and Lonergan traded minors as Cappa kept a five point advantage with ten minutes remaining in the half.

Conor Martin eased Cappa out to a six point advantage, but Arravale hit three of the next four points, one from Sean O’Mahony and two from Orrin Jones, one from a huge free from beyond midfield.

Darragh O’Hora found space to keep four between the sides. Cappa had stretched their lead out to six as the game entered added time but in the last play before the short whistle, Sean O’Mahoney fired a shot across Anthony Barry for the opening goal of the game, having received an over the top hand-pass from Johnny Ryan. Half time score, Cappawhite 0-16, Arravale Rovers 1-10.

This goal before the break seemed to have energised the Arravale side as they hit the ground running on resumption. Orrin Jones cut the deficit to two from a placed ball following a foul on Sean O’Mahoney, after Johnny Ryan had won possession at the throw-in.

Cappa then were off target on two occasions before Eoghan Lonergan hit his fourth point. Johnny Ryan then tied the game for the first time on 34 minutes before Daire Duggan eased Cappawhite back in front.

Arravale hit the front for the first time after 35 minutes when Jaye Cilvinas was first to react to a breaking ball in the Cappa defence, to find the net after a favourable bounce of the ball. Cappawhite were back in front three minutes later when after a huge catch by Dara McCarthy above the defenders, before feeding Conor Martin who goaled from close range. McCarthy eased Cappa out to a two point advantage from a placed ball, but again Arravale drew level by the 41st minute after points from Jaye Cilvinas followed by an Orrin Jones free.

Cilvinas added a second major at the end of the third quarter as the game swung from end to end. Points from John Paul Lohan, Sean O’Mahoney and Orrin Jones had stretched the Arravale lead out to five, with twelve minutes of normal time remaining, but Cappawhite were back with two goals in as many minutes from Darragh O’Hora to regain the lead by the minimum after fifty minutes.

With five minutes of normal time remaining Johnny Ryan landed the equaliser from his own 45 metre line before Paddy O’Donnell pulled off a point blank save at the other end, to keep Cappa at bay.

Johnny Ryan and Jaye Cilvinas with minors eased Arravale back in front before Orrin Jones finished out the game with two converted frees in added time to see the Tipperary Town side home.

TEAMS - Arravale Rovers: Paddy O’Donnell (7); David Ryan (7), Niall Fitzgerald (7), Peter Ryan (7), Eoin Doocey (7), Matthew Moroney (7), John Paul Lohan (Capt 7), Johnny Ryan (9), Sean O’Mahoney (8), Donough Leahy (6), Eoghan Lonergan (8), Orrin Jones (7), Donnacha Quigley (7), Adam Ryan (6), Jaye Cilvinas (8).

Subs: Niall Sharpe (7) for Quigley (42), Conal Donovan (6) for Leahy (45), Ciaran Kelly (NR) for Doocey (59).

Cappawhite: Anthony Barry (6); Jack Ryan (6), Mikey O’Brien (7), Philip Gantley (7); Kevin Stapleton (7), Sam Carmody (6), Gearoid Ryan (7), Brendan Murphy (Capt 7), David Buckley (7), Conor Martin (9), Willie Barry (8), Colm O’Dwyer (6), Dara McCarthy (8), Darragh O’Hora (7), Daire Duggan (7).

Subs: Cathal Martin (6) for O’Dwyer (45), Ryan Renehan (NR) for Duggan (59).

Referee: Ciarán O’Donovan (Burgess).