Reigning champions Solohead are back in the final at the expense of Cashel

By Francis Coughlan at Annacarty

Solohead are sixty minutes away from the retention of their Tipperary Co-Op West Junior B Hurling championship title following victory over Cashel King Cormacs in their semi-final meeting on Saturday afternoon last in Annacarty.

The game was played in extremely hot conditions with water breaks wisely used for the safety of players.

When the sides had met in the opening round of the competition it was Cashel who came away with a slender victory. Most then expected this to be a close encounter.

Few in the crowd would have envisaged such a one sided game after seeing the first ten minutes in which Cashel won the physical stakes while the defending champions struggled for cohesion as they struggled to find the target from both play and placed balls with six wides in the first eleven minutes.

During this time and right through when Solohead eventually found their grove, players like the Dee brothers led the way it was centre back Brendan Collins who was the man who drove his team on with some excellent fielding and leadership.

Solohead eventually took twenty six chances on offer to them but annexed a staggering twenty three wides. Goals late in the first half from Eoin Riordan and Stephen Dee would give Solohead breathing space at the break and they cemented that position in the second half.

Willie Fitzelle had Cashel King Cormacs two points up inside the first three minutes. Solohead while eventually drawing level with points from the Dee brothers were struggling in front of the posts.

In the ninth minute Dylan O’Grady pointed Cashel back in front but it was the last time they would lead. James Dee levelled shortly after and by the start of the second quarter Dee had Solohead four three ahead.

Dylan O’Grady levelled from a free but three in a row from Dee including one from a free saw Solohead open a small lead. 

Solohead were now more in the game and while Collins dictated at the back, Denis O’Shea the two Dee brothers and Anthony Owens were having a big say.

This game would ultimately be won in the final four minutes before the break.

Eoin Riordan collected a breaking ball out by the stand side after an aerial battle between Paul Ryan and Adam Skeffington, turned for goal before passing to Anthony Owens who’s effort didn’t go over the line but Eoin Riordan kept up his run sliding in to kick the sliotar to the net.

The second goal saw Stephen Dee gain possession out by the dressing room side about fifty yards from goal beat his man and with open country in front soloed before striking low past the goalies far side into the net.

Cashel were not without their chances for goal and two late in the first half were thwarted by the Solohead defence. Anthony Owens could have had a third just before the break gaining possession with his back to goal but his effort with the goal keeper advancing went just over the bar.

Solohead went in ahead at the break 2-12 to 0-8. Owens made that effort right at the start of the second half with a bullet past the Cashel keeper and thereafter Solohead never looked back.

They tagged on points from Owens, Eoin Riordan, James Dee and Paul Ryan at the three quarter mark with Solohead tagging on points against now fourteen-man Cashel. Eoin Murray, a second half substitute, got a touch on a Tommy O’Mahoney effort that fell short for goal number four. 

Solohead now advance to back to back Junior B Hurling finals for the first time in their history.

Scorers and Teams:
Solohead: James Dee (0-11, (0-6f)), Eoin Riordan (1-3), Stephen Dee (1-2), Anthony Owens (1-2), Eoin Murray (1-0), Tommy O’Mahony (0-1), Jack Redican (0-1f), Paul Ryan (0-1), Christopher O’Connor (0-1)

Cashel King Cormacs: Willie Fitzelle (0-4, (0-2f)), Dylan O’Grady (0-3f), Dylan Fitzelle (0-1), Eoin Laffan (0-1), Jamie O’Keeffe (0-1)

Solohead: Philip O’Doherty, Brian Gavin, Michael O’Connor, Noel Kennedy, Jack Redican, Brendan Collins, Denis O’Shea, James Dee, Tommy O’Mahony, Christopher O’Connor, Stephen Dee, Paul Ryan, Eoin Riordan, Anthony Owens, Tristan Stokes
Subs Used: Declan Riordan, Colin Allen, Eoin Murray, Damien Ryan, Christopher Kirby

Cashel King Cormacs: Robert White, Michael Morrissey, Conor Devitt, Jack Brown, Adam Skeffington, Michael Killian O’Dwyer, Jamie O’Keeffe, Cian McGrath, Aaron Moloney, Willie Fitzelle, Dylan O’Grady, Ross Minogue, Eoin Laffan, Dylan Fitzelle, Mikey McDermott
Subs Used: Daniel Bowes, Cian Moloney, Dylan Byrne, Stephen Gleeson

Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly)