Late points decide south and west Tipperary senior football clash in Cahir's favour

Cahir 1-12 Arravale Rovers 1-10

Late injury time points from Liam Casey and Conor O’Brien ensured Cahir finished with a flurry and reignited their FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship campaign.

Both sides suffered opening round defeats so this game in Golden on Sunday was a chance for both to try and get back to winning ways.

Arravale looked the better team in the opening half and helped by a Cormac Maher goal and three points from the boot of Mikey O’Dwyer, they held a strong five-point advantage at the interval.

Cahir, however, helped by the breeze and a bullet of a goal from Jake Kiely found their way back to level the tie.
When Mikey O’Dwyer pointed with just over seven minutes to play Arravale looked as if they had weathered the storm.

However, Cahir had other ideas, gradually wearing down their opponents to hit four unanswered points for the remainder of the game.

Cahir failed to find the radar twice in the opening few minutes either side of a Donagh Leahy point to get Arravale up and moving. Cahir eventually found their range in the seventh minute when Jack Buckley pointed from a close range free. Cahir’s only real goal chance came in the ninth minute when Liam Casey put Oisin Maher through but Maher’s effort went wide. It was a let-off for Arravale.

Rovers were beginning to move a lot better with Niall Fitzgerald, Cian Ryan, Micheal Lowry, Matthew Moroney and Niall Sharpe getting on a lot of ball, which they were working through the hands at pace. Cormac Maher and Johnny Lowry followed with points as Arravale opened a two-point advantage. By the end of the first quarter that two-point difference continued to separate the sides after Kevin Grogan and Mikey O’Dwyer traded points.

Cahir kept up the pressure and three minutes into the quarter two more Jack Buckley pointed frees had tied the game. Cahir looked dangerous in attack, with Kevin and Stephen Grogan pushing forward from midfield.

The game changed dramatically in the 22nd minute. A Donagh Leahy sideline was collected by Cian Ryan, who cut in towards goal before finding the unmarked Cormac Maher, who side footed the ball low past Aaron Wall. This seemed to give Arravale a new lease of life and Michael O’Dwyer and Cormac Maher punished Cahir indiscipline. The west side led 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval.

Cahir came far more into the game in the second half, running more at their opponents, with Liam Casey and Sean O’Connor having a major influence on proceedings. Conor O’Brien, who finished the half with a point for the south side, doubled his tally from placed balls while Michael O’Connor had the gap back to three with his first score of the game with seven minutes of the half played.

The sides were level after nine minutes when Jake Kiely rifled his shot to the top left-hand corner of the net, giving Darren Heuston no chance in the Arravale goal, Conor O’Brien supplying the final pass from a move that started in the Cahir full back line.

This goal, however, only seemed to inspire Arravale, with Mikey O’Dwyer eventually getting their first score of the half as the three-quarter mark loomed. Almost immediately Donagh Leahy doubled that advantage. Liam Casey opened his account in reply for Cahir but in the 23rd minute Mikey O’Dwyer added his fifth and had Arravale two up once more. That would be Arravale’s last score of the game.

Conor O’Brien and Kevin Grogan kicked points to tie up proceedings with three and a half minutes to play. Arravale were now trying to hold possession as they looked to find a better shooting zone but were frustrated by the Cahir defence as well as poor shooting. A patient Cahir counter attack saw Liam Casey’s effort sail over the bar from over forty yards with the breeze behind it. It was the first time Cahir led.

Cahir added a final point through Conor O’Brien after Arravale were turned over trying to force an equaliser.

Arravale will face Upperchurch/Drombane in their final game but the latter will top the group regardless of the result, while Arravale Rovers enter the relegation battle. Cahir must beat Killenaule to reach a county quarter-final.

Cahir: Aaron Wall, Ciaran Condon, Ger Hally, Sean Leahy, Jake Kiely (1-0), Eoin Donaghy, Michael O’Connor (0-1), Kevin Grogan (0-2), Stephen Grogan, Oisin Maher, Sean O’Connor, Ger Quinn, Conor O’Brien (0-4, 2 frees), Liam Casey (0-2), Jack Buckley (0-3 frees).

Subs used: Dylan Butler, Eddie Kendrick.

Arravale Rovers: Darren Heuston, Tommy Lowry, Conal Donovan, Raymond Kelly, Cian Ryan, Niall Fitzgerald, Johnny Ryan, Matthew Moroney, Micheal Lowry, Tony Byrnes, Donagh Leahy (0-2), Niall Sharpe, Mikey O’Dwyer (0-5, 2 frees), Cormac Maher (1-2, 0-1 free), Johhny Lowry (0-1).

Subs used: Eoin Doocey, Shane Maher, Caleb Hickey.

Referee: Joe Leahy (Moyne/Templetuohy).