Kilkenny GAA: Brave Threecastles narrowly fall short in All-Ireland Semi-Final

Threecastles’ All-Ireland quest ended at the semi-final stage on Saturday.

A strong Cappawhite (Tipperary) start saw them seven points ahead before the Kilkenny champions had registered a score, the task proving too great for Threecastles to pull back despite a valiant effort which brought them to within a whisker of an All-Ireland Final in what has been a memorable run.

Two years ago marked a turning point for the club winning the Junior C County Final, only bettered by a nailbiting 2024 decider, when they edged out near neighbours St Lachtain’s.

So, it was with great hope they entered the Leinster and All-Ireland Junior B series. After comprehensively bypassing Clough Ballacolla in a provincial semi-final, the county champions were crowned Leinster champions with a 1-14 to 0-14 win over Askmore Kilrush. Unfortunately though, reaching the All-Ireland summit just alluded them.

After a blistering Cappawhite start which saw Anthony and Pakky Barry netted goals giving them a dream start inside seven minutes, Threecastles stopped the bleeding with points from Jack Cleere and Tommy Rafter to leave the scoreline at 2-2 to 0-2 after 13 minutes.

Slowly but surely, the Kilkenny side began to find their feet and were rewarded for their efforts with a golden ten minute patch of four scores without reply.

A hat-trick from Eamon Hennessy (0-3, 0-2 f) and an Eoin Dalton point meant the gap was down to 2-3 to 0-6 after 25 minutes, a Conor Doody white flag the Tipperary club’s only response.

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The gap remained three by the call of half-time with two points apiece leaving the status quo at 2-5 to 0-8 at half-time.
Unfortunately, the dominant second half the Threecastles faithful hopeful prayed for in the second half never arrived, with Cappawhite keeping the Kilkenny outfit at arm’s length.

The teams traded scorers in the opening 10 minutes of the half as Cian Franey opened his account and Jack Cleere hit a missile between the posts from inside his own half to keep Threecastles in touch at 2-8 to 0-9.

Cleere and Eamon Hennessy kept their fine form going in the second half with Jack Cleere (0-2) and Hennessy bagging three points in a row midway through the second half and suddenly the comeback was on (2-8 to 0-13).

However, Threecastles would be limited to two points in the closing quarter which would be their ultimate downfall. Two late frees dropped into promising areas did create late drama but Cappawhite saw out the game effectively.

TEAMS & SCORERS

Threecastles - Eamon Hennessy (0-7, 0-4f); Jack Cleere (0-5,0-3 f); Tommy Rafter, Eoin Dalton, Cian Franey (0-1 each).

Cappawhite - Anthony Barry (1-4, 0-3f); Pakie Barry (1-0); Michael O’Neill, Eoghan Ryan (0-2 each); Cian O’Carroll, Paddy Julien (0-1 each).

Threecastles - Conrad Cooper; Joe Lacey, Frankie Keoghan, David Cleere; Joey Dalton, Jack Cleere, John Manogue; Darragh Walsh, Cian Russell; Mark Cleere, Cian Franey, Tommy Rafter; Eoin Dalton, Jack Boland, Eamon Hennessy.

Cappawhite - Darragh Barry; Ben White, Cathal McCarthy, Ross Dunne; Ciaran Doody, Ciaran Ryan, Cian O’Carroll; Paddy Julien, Neil Clancy; Fionn Brady, Michael O’Neill, Eoghan Ryan; Pakie Barry, Anthony Barry, Tommy Coughlan.
Referee - Ciaran Murphy

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