Tipperary club qualifies for All-Ireland hurling final after brilliant semi-final win

Junior B Hurling Series All-Ireland Semi-Final

Cappawhite 2-11 

Threecastles 0-15

By Michael McCarthy

Cappawhite became the ninth Tipperary team to qualify for the Killeedy GAA ran Junior B series All Ireland final on Saturday with a hard-fought but well-deserved victory over Kilkenny and Leinster champions Threecastles. 

In the 20th running of this competition, they will now look to become the sixth champions from the Premier County. 

The game had a lively start with two yellow cards and a goal scored within the first two minutes. Eoghan Ryan found his way into referee Ciarán Murphy's notebook before the ball was thrown in following an altercation with John Minogue of Threecastles. 

It was an eventful opening salvo for Ryan who also had two shots on goal within 90 seconds, both of which sailed wide, before another altercation led to Threecastles centre-back Jack Cleere having his name taken. 

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In between all this Cappawhite talisman Anthony Barry picked up a long delivery rounded his marker and finished expertly to the roof of the net for the opening score. He quickly followed up with a pointed free in four minutes. 

Cappawhite were playing with a stiff breeze and Three Castles were struggling to get out of their own half. Pakie Barry had a wide from play before a delightful piece of play saw Anthony Barry flick a Michael O'Neill delivery into the path of Pakie Barry, while he was hooked brilliantly he kicked the ball to the net and the Tipp side were up seven. 

Neil Clancy had another wide following good work from the impressive Cian O'Carroll as Cappawhite looked to stamp their authority on the game. 

It took just over ten minutes for the Kilkenny side to open their account through a long-range free from Jack Cleere, Tommy Rafter had their second sandwiched between a Barry free and Ciarán Doody point from play for Cappawhite. 

Threecastles were settling into their job now and over the next ten minutes would score four unanswered points through Eoghan Dalton and three from the stick of Eamonn Hennessy. 

The Tipp side lost influential corner forward Pakie Barry to an ankle injury on 22 minutes. O'Carroll had a settling score for Cappawhite before Jack Cleere and Michael O'Neill traded scores as half-time approached. Eamonn Hennessy scored a free in injury time to leave the score line 2-5 to 0-8 in Cappawhite's favour. 

The Kilkenny side took to the field for the second period with renewed vigour but couldn't affect the scoreboard with three wides in the first five minutes. Jack Cleere eventually struck a long-range free but this was answered by a good Eoghan Ryan minor on eight minutes.

The evergreen Paddy Julian stuck a good point from the middle of the field but Cian Freaney hit back almost immediately for the Leinster champions. Darragh Barry was called into action with a sharp save that went out for an unconverted '65 as Threecastles pushed for parity. 

Anthony Barry pointed a free for Cappawhite before a Jack Cleere brace and an Eamonn Fennessy point from play left two in it with eight minutes to play. 

Cappawhite introduced Thomas Costello to the forwards to try and get more of a foothold. Anthony Barry converted two frees to stretch the lead to four but Eamonn Hennessy replied to leave it a one-score game as we entered added time. 

Hennessy added another free and Threecastles pressed for a winner. A late free was lobbed into the goal area but as Cappawhite gathered possession the final whistle sounded. 

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For Threecastles Jack Cleere was outstanding in the half-back line while Eamonn Hennessy and Eoin Dalton were dangerous all through. It has been a whirlwind 24 months for the Kilkenny side winning the Junior 'C' County championship in 2023 and following up with the 'B' version in 2024. 

Cappawhite had a much-improved performance from the Munster final with Ciarán Ryan and Cian O'Carroll to the fore in the half-back line, Neil Clancy had a very good second half while Anthony Barry came up with his now customary goal upfront with Eoghan Ryan, Ciarán Doody, and Michael O'Neill all playing their part. 

The Tipperary champions have set up a repeat of the Munster final that Kildimo Pallaskenry won by the minimum. That game takes place at 2pm on Saturday, March 1. 

Cappawhite: Darragh Barry; Cathal McCarthy, Ben White, Ross Dunne; Fionn Brady, Ciarán Ryan, Cian O'Carroll (0-1); Paddy Julian (0-1), Neil Clancy; Michael O'Neill (0-1), Eoghan Ryan (0-1), Ciarán Doody (0-1); Pakie Barry (1-0), Anthony Barry (1-6, 0-6f), Tommy Coughlan. 

Subs used: Caoimhin Doody for Pakie Barry; Ger Ryan for Tommy Coughlan; Thomas Costello for Michael O'Neill; Brian Buckley for Caoimhin Doody. 

Threecastles: Conrad Cooper; Joe Lacey, Frankie Keoghan, David Cleere; Joey Dalton, Jack Cleere (0-5, 0-4f), John Manogue; Darragh Walsh, Cian Russell; Mark Cleere, Cian Freaney (0-1), Tommy Rafter (0-1); Eoin Dalton (0-1); Jack Boland, Eamonn Hennessy (0-7, 0-5f). 

Subs used: Kyle Maher for Jack Boland; Darren Mullen for Darragh Walsh; Jack Boland for Tommy Rafter. 

Referee: Ciaran Murphy (Cork)