Despair for Arravale but Grangemockler fight on in Tipperary senior football championship

Grangemockler/Ballyneale 3-14 Arravale Rovers 1-5

Grangemockler/Ballyneale will have another opportunity to confirm their Senior football status for next year with this victory at a windswept Ned Hall Park in Clonmel, but defeat means that Arravale Rovers will play Intermediate football in the 2026 championship.

Arravale Rovers started brightly, kicking the opening three scores of the game through Ciaran Kelly, one free and one from play; and Orrin Jones, while playing with a strong breeze in the first half.

Grangemockler/Ballyneale fought back when a mazy run by the excellent Paidi O’Shea raised the first green flag of the afternoon on 15 minutes.

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The men from Tipp Town responded immediately through Niall Sharpe, who rifled over a point from a Grangemockler error to retain the advantage.

That, however, was to be the men in black and amber’s only score until the 46th minute.

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Sean O’Meara levelled the scores, swinging a point over off the right hand side with 22 minutes on the clock. There was no looking back for Grangemockler/Ballyneale after this.

A Paidi O’Shea free and a Mark O’Meara penalty, which was coolly slotted to the right of Rovers goalkeeper Eoin Ryan, meant the advantage was in Grangemockler/Ballyneale’s favour, as they led by 2-2 to 0-4 heading into the break.

Pressure was mounting on Arravale early in the second half, with a black card for John Paul Lohan almost straight after the break adding to their woes.

Mark O’Meara, Brian Walsh and Sean O’Meara added points from play, with pace now injected into Grangemockler’s attacks.
Alex Millea capitalised on a fantastic team move on 38 minutes when calmly placing the ball low to the keeper’s right, making the most of the one-man advantage, as Grangemockler found the net again.

Paidi O’Shea raised another white flag, which made it 1-4 scored during that ten-minute period. Arravale slotted over a free from Ciaran Kelly to try and mount a fightback.

However, Grangemockler’s David Power made his way from the goal on 46 minutes and found his range from outside the arc when he raised an orange flag, before pulling off a point blank save shortly afterwards, keeping the men in white and green in the driving seat as they led by 3-8 to 0-5 coming into the closing stages.

A black card for Orrin Jones, which was shortly upgraded to red, on 49 minutes added to Arravale woes.

Paidi O’Shea resumed free-taking duties when he added a point from a free and one from play before Adam Ryan charged through the sea of white and green to rattle the net for Arravale. But it wasn’t to be enough.

Paidi O’Shea added three more points from frees in the closing stages while Brian Walsh kicked his second score from play.
Arravale finished the game with 13 players, as John Paul Lohan was dismissed for a second yellow card with only minutes remaining.

The game was capped off by Paidi O’Shea, who was man of the match, as he kicked a terrific two-point free to ensure Grangemockler/Ballyneale give themselves another chance when they face the winners of Cahir or Killenaule in the relegation final.

It was a disappointing afternoon for Arravale, who will play Intermediate football next year.

Grangemockler/Ballyneale: D. Power (0-2 free), J. Daly, C. Hahessy, D. Lambe, S. O'Meara (0-2), L. Kennedy, T. Regan, B. Walsh (0-2), B. Comerford, M. McFadden, S. Daly (captain), P. O’Shea (1-7, 5 frees), A. Millea (1-0), M. O’Meara, J. O’Meara.

Subs: M.Meaney (temporary sub for M.O’ Meara, 2 minutes); M. Meagher (23 mins for L. Kennedy); M. Meaney (50 mins for Mark O’Meara); D. Shelly (52 mins for Manus McFadden); J. Lyons (53 mins for J. Daly); T. Brett (57 mins for A. Millea).

Arravale Rovers: E. Ryan, T. Lowry, D. Lowry, D. Ryan, M. Lowry, J. Ryan, E. Doocey, A. Ryan (1-0), JP Lohan, E. Lonergan, S. Leahy, N. Sharpe (0-1), C. Kelly (0-3 , 2 frees), O. Jones, D. Leahy (captain).

Subs: S. Maher (2 mins for M. Lowry); M. Moroney (36 mins for E. Lonergan); S. O’Mahoney (40 mins for E. Doocey); A. Webster (55 mins for J. Ryan); B. Delaney (55 mins for D. Lowry).