2023 West Junior B Hurling Final
Solohead 3-22 (31)
Cappawhite 3-17 (26)
Francis Coughlan at Bansha.
Solohead are back-to-back Tipperary Co-Op West Junior B Hurling Champions for the first time in the club’s history after getting the better of neighbours Cappawhite in a pulsating contest in Bansha on Saturday afternoon. The rain of the previous two days gave way to a cool but dry day and the field was in excellent condition which helped to give such a contest.
Defending champions Solohead were playing in back-to-back Junior B finals for the first time in their history while Cappawhite playing in a first final since 2017 had never been defeated at this stage of the competition. Rewind just over twelve months ago and the sides met in the semi-final of the competition where Solohead eventually came good in the final quarter when it looked as if Cappawhite were set for victory hitting 2-5 in an eight-minute spell.
In doing so they ended Cappawhite’s perfect record at the semi-final stage and twelve months on in retaining the title they ended another Cappawhite record.
An Anthony Barry goal had helped Cappawhite to a slender one-point half time advantage in what had been a close first half but Cappawhite had probably looked the more dangerous. Solohead’s cause wasn’t helped when corner back Noel Kennedy received a second yellow just two minutes into the second half and now forced to play the remainder with a numerical disadvantage.
This didn’t seem to deter the defending champions and Anthony Owens goal four minutes later gave them a huge boost. Similar to their meeting last year it was the final quarter where Solohead finally made their move. The introduction of Aaron Ryan would ultimately steer Solohead in the direction of victory. Ryan linked up with Anthony Owens and two combined with former hitting 2-3 in his time on the field to clearly put Solohead in charge. While Cappawhite did reply with two late goals they were mere consolation as Ryan had already done the damage.
Solohead built up an early three point to one advantage with James Dee and Jack Redican all on target playing into the village end while James Quinlan hit the opening Cappawhite point. James Dee would put in an incredible shift over the sixty minutes for Solohead.
Jack Armshaw tested Philip Doherty in the Solohead goal early but the Solohead number one was equal to the effort. As the first half went on the Solohead full back line were under pressure with Anthony Barry causing problems along with Neil Clancy and James Quinlan.
This forced the Solohead management into a number of positional switches to try and counteract this. Cappawhite too were a man back and this was causing problems for Solohead. James Quinlan cut the deficit and then Cappawhite got a break when Philip Doherty spilled possession and Anthony Barry capitalised for a goal.
Barry would come close again pulling his shot just wide. By the twelfth minute the Dee brothers and Paul Ryan had cancelled out the goal. The sides traded scores with just a point separating the sides for the most of the second quarter with some great shooting from both sides.
Two James Quinlan frees edge Cappawhite back in front and they would hold that one point advantage at the break with Jack Armshaw giving them a two-point advantage in injury time before James Dee pointed another free. Cappawhite ahead at the break, 1-8 to 0-10.
By the fourth minute of the second half Cappawhite had pulled that lead out to three with Anthony Barry (free) and Ciaran Ryan P both pointing. In the meantime, Solohead were now also reduced to fourteen men. James Dee settled the ship with a pointed free and then Anthony Owens goaled after Paul Ryan turned over possession.
Solohead though while defending well with Brendan Collins and Denis O’Shea to the fore but were struggling to deal with the spare man as Cappawhite on numerous occasions cut out possession. Paddy Julian continued to get on a lot of ball and Cappawhite started to motor that bit better and Neil Clancy hit two superb points.
By the twelfth minute James Quinlan had again push Cappawhite back two in front from a place ball. James Dee continued his accuracy from placed balls to tie the game but again Cappawhite pushed one with Eoghan Ryan opening his account. Solohead now introduced Colin Allen and Aaron Ryan and both would make an impact. Ryan levelled and Philip Doherty now pointed a long range free to put Solohead clear in the seventeenth minute.
Three minutes later Ross Dunne popped up to tie the game once more. It was here the game moved in favour of Solohead. They had failed to fully utilise the long ball in to Anthony Owens up to now but Owens and Ryan began to click. Owens gathered a high ball in and immediately handpassed off to Ryan to raise a green flag.
Two minutes later Ryan fed out an Anthony Owens breaking ball after James Dee went long and the in-form forward had a second goal. The Solohead supporters were now to be heard in a rapturous voice. They started to dominate all over with Jack Redican, James and Stephen Dee hitting some great long-range efforts.
With just over a minute to go of normal time the defending champions were ten points up having outscored Cappawhite 2-5 to 0-1 in an eight-minute spell.
The game wasn’t fully seen out and while they had a substantial lead that was cut to four points in the space of two minutes when Anthony Barry goaled twice from defensive lapses. Aaron Ryan and James Dee though pointed in response to help Solohead see it out and retain their title.
Following the game Tom Hayes West Board Chairman presented the Jamesie O’Donoghue Cup to Solohead captain James Dee with Willie Meagher representing the sponsors Tipperary Co-Op.
Twelve months ago Solohead hit the highest score ever by a winning team in the competition and twelve months on they equalled that record.
That 2022 final also broke the record for the highest scoring final in the grade and twelve months on that record was smashed once more with seven points more scored in total from the previous year. Credit to both teams, of the 57 scores just twelve came from placed balls.
Scorers: Solohead: James Dee (0-10, 0-5f), Aaron Ryan (2-3), Stephen Dee (0-3), Anthony Owens (1-0), Jack Redican (0-2), Paul Ryan (0-1), Christopher O’Connor (0-1), Declan Riordan (0-1), Philip O’Doherty (0-1f).
Cappawhite: Anthony Barry (3-1, 0-1f), James Quinlan (0-8, 0-6f), Neil Clancy (0-3), Tommy Coughlan (0-1), Jack Armshaw (0-1), Ciaran Ryan P (0-1), Eoghan Ryan (0-1), Ross Dunne (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, Tristan Stokes, Anthony Owens, Declan Riordan
Subs used: Colin Allen, Aaron Ryan, Eoin Murray, Damien Ryan, Christopher Kirby.
Cappawhite: Caoimhin Doody, Patrick Horan, Thomas Costello, Fraser Allen, Ross, Ciarán Ryan (P), Michael O’Neill, Paddy Julian, Tommy Coughlan, Jack Armshaw, Eoghan Ryan, Sean Cleary, James Quinlan, Anthony Barry, Neil Clancy
Subs used: Fionn Brady.
Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly)
Click below to view match photos.
Match Photos by Francis Coughlan.
Tommy Coughlan, Paddy Russell & James Dee. (Photo by Francis Coughlan.)
