Francis Coughlan at Cappawhite
Arravale Rovers are Cooper Fencing West U19B Hurling Champions for 2024 following a two-point victory over Eire Og/Sean Treacys in Cappawhite on Wednesday evening.
The teams were meeting in the final for the second year in a row with the combination aiming for back-to-back titles. The game followed a similar pattern to that of just over twelve months ago however it was Arravale Rovers who were in control for the most but let Sean Treacys back into the game in the second and fourth quarters to make for somewhat of a nervy finish.
Arravale played into the village end in the opening half and against the elements. Despite threatening to rain at various occasions it managed to stay away for the majority of the game which was played under sunny conditions.
Ciaran Kelly’s quick reactions helped Arravale Rovers into an early lead with a goal and they built on that in the first quarter leading 1-5 to 0-3. Darragh Kelly kept Eire Og in touch from placed balls as they came more into the game in the second quarter drawing level before a Sean O’Mahony point to see Arravale ahead at the break 1-7 to 0-9.
An early Adam Ryan goal on the resumption gave the town side breathing space and along with Sean O’Mahony and the Quigleys contributing on the scoreboard they always looked in control.
That dominance was proved further ten minutes from time when Ben Dudley smashed home a penalty to put them nine up. That seemed to spark the combination into life and two James Butler goals put them back in contention, however they failed to get that equalising or possible winning score.
Darragh Kelly had the defending champions off the mark in the second minute but Sean O’Mahony quickly had Arravale Rovers back on terms from a placed ball.
Arravale Rovers got a huge break in the fourth minute when the Eire Og/Sean Treacys goalie Michael Ryan batted away a free however Ciaran Kelly reacted quickest before striking to the net. Darragh Carr did pull a point back immediately but the town side would now dominate the game.
Led by Jaye Cilvinas, Sean O’Mahony and Adam Ryan they would open up a five-point lead by the beginning of the second quarter. Their full forward line was showing well with Ciaran Kelly coming out the field while the two Quigleys Donnacha and Shane were very lively with the latter chipping in with two points.
Adam Ryan was proving a handful as was the pace of wing back Jaye Cilvinas while Sean O’Mahony was a presence at midfield. Arravale could have had further scores in this period including one or two more goal chances and looked as if they would pull away.
However the second quarter proved quite different with the combination taking a grip on the game. Larry Collins got on top in midfield and was getting on a lot of ball. Darragh Carr too game more into the game as did Colm Kennedy. Darragh Kelly was now covering a lot of ground nearly goal to goal.
Kelly and Carr brought the deficit to a goal before Donnacha Quigley opened his account. Kelly’s accuracy from play and placed balls helped level the tie in injury time. However, a Sean O’Mahony free would give Arravale a slender one-point advantage at the break.
The second half had barely started when Adam Ryan when on another run towards goal and while his initial effort was thwarted Ryan pulled on the sliotar as he was falling for goal number two. The rest of the quarter was dominated by frees with Sean O’Mahony outscoring his counterpart Darragh Kelly three points to two.
The game seemed to have lost a bit of its life at this stage however this would all change in the final ten minutes. When Adam Ryan was brought down heading for goal with ten minutes to play Donal Ryan immediately stretched out the arms for a penalty.
Ben Dudley came down from the goals and smashed it past his opposite number. Game over one might think but no. Darragh Kelly settled the combination with a pointed free and they now seemed to come to life. James Butler goaled in reply and the crowd now started to find their voice again.
Darragh Kelly chipped away with a few points before James Butler sent a rocket of a shot past Ben Dudley’s right-hand side following good work from Lewie Kavanagh. The gap was down to a point with two minutes of normal time on the clock. Sean O’Mahony pushed that out to two as the clock went into the red.
The combination still had a chance and for their final free pushed everyone forward including the goalkeeper while the Arravale forwards retreated likewise.
The free however didn’t reach the required distance to cause problems and this allowed Arravale to break however they were denied a sealing goal but for some last ditch defending. With that went Donal Ryan’s final whistle and a first title in the grade for Arravale Rovers.
Following the game West Board Chairman Tommy Hayes presented the Loughman Cup to winning captain Ronan O’Connor with Con O’Keeffe representing the sponsors Cooper Fencing.
Scorers & Teams:
Arravale Rovers: Sean O’Mahoney (0-7f), Ciaran Kelly (1-0), Shane Quigley (0-3), Adam Ryan (1-0), Ben Dudley (1-0 P), Donnacha Quigley (0-2), Jaye Cilvinas (0-1)
Eire Og/Sean Treacys: Darragh Kelly (0-10, (0-9f)), James Butler (2-1), Darragh Carr (0-3)
Arravale Rovers: Arravale Rovers: Ben Dudley, Michael Bowes, Ronan O’Connor, Odhran O’Dwyer, Alex Webster, David Ryan, Jaye Cilvinas, Brendan Delaney, Sean O’Mahony, David O’Brien, Adam Ryan, Evan Ryan, Donnacha Quigley, Ciaran Kelly, Shane Quigley
Subs Used: Robert O’Brien
Eire Og/Sean Treacys: Michael Ryan, Alex Cummins, Scott Ryan, Tayler Light, Ronan Carr, Colm Kennedy, Max Carroll, Darragh Kelly, Larry Collins, Timmy Costello, Colm Ryan, Darragh Carr, Lewie Kavanagh, James Butler, Liam Crosse
Subs Used: DJ Leopold, Luke Carroll, Adam Kelly
Referee: Donal Ryan (Cappawhite)
