Arravale Rovers make in back-to-back U17A West titles after defeat of Golden Kilfeacle

West U17A Football Championship Final

Arravale Rovers 0-9

Golden Kilfeacle 0-6

By Michael McCarthy

The Tipp Town side were made to work very hard for it by a dogged and well-coached Golden Kilfeacle side.

It was the team in green who started brightest and straight from the throw-in they broke forward and Charlie Hall blasted over when maybe a goal was on. Golden kept the pressure on and had two wides from play before Charlie Hall doubled the lead from a placed ball. 

Arravale Rovers captain Ciarán Kelly reduced the deficit with a well-taken point from play before impressive Golden centre-back Ning Brennan broke forward and restored the two points lead. 

Kelly reduced the lead with a well-taken placed ball as Arravale came more into the game with David Ryan starting to influence from centre back. Jamie Moloney got a fourth for Golden. The best score of the game on 17 minutes, a well-worked move saw Jaye Cilvanas gather possession on the roadside and his right-footed shot went sailing over the bar.

Cilvanas was drifting out the field from his full forward berth and causing all sorts of trouble for Golden. Kelly would add two more frees before the break for a one-point lead for the Tipp town side. 

The lead could've been substantially more as wayward shooting, four wides in the final five minutes, and a good save from Golden goalie Eoin Ryan kept it at the minimum. 

The Rovers now had the aid of the breeze and wing forward Denis Cremins was starting to see a lot more ball. He kicked two good points in the opening ten minutes but shooting continued to be an issue with four more wides to their name. 

Golden were reduced to 14 men but this seemed to kick start a comeback as Evan Ryan scored a much-needed point and this was quickly followed by a second Ning Brennan score to reduce the deficit to one. 

The next 15 minutes yielded no score as Arravale desperately tried to shake their opponents but shooting was letting them down time and time again. Kelly eventually put two between the sides on thirty minutes but Golden needed a goal and had a half chance late in the game which an Arravale defender managed to pick off the ground and clear his lines. 

Stephen Ryan scored a beauty deep into injury time for a three-point lead and well deserved but hard-fought win for Arravale Rovers. 

Jaye Cilvanas was the best on show for Arravale Rovers with Ciarán Kelly and David Ryan having their moments. Harry Fogarty, Ning Brennan & Charlie Hall tried their hardest for Golden Kilfeacle. 

Arravale Rovers: Sean Kinnane; Mark Ryan, Jack O'Keefe, Luke Webster; Reece Roche, David Ryan, Patrick Beary; Adam Ryan, Darragh Bresnan; Denis Cremins (0-2), Ciarán Kelly (0-5, 0-3f), Stephen Ryan (0-1); Donnacha Quigley, Jaye Cilvanas (0-1), Cian O'Connell. 

Subs used: John Beary; Davy Hogan; Eoin Ryan. 

Golden Kilfeacle: Eoin Ryan; Iobhar Ryan, Daniel O'Dwyer, Nicholas O'Toole; Conor Marnane, Ning Brennan (0-2), Harry Fogarty; Cian Lonergan, James Finn; Cian Ryan, Charlie Hall (0-2, 0-1f), Evan Ryan (0-1); Eoghan White, Jamie Moloney (0-1), Cillian Byrne. 

Subs used: Sean White; Jack Donnelly; Rian Moloney. 

Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly)