Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Junior A Football Championship – Round 5
Cappawhite: 2-8(14)
Solohead 1-10(13)
Francis Coughlan at Cappawhite.
Two goals form Gearoid Lennon helped Cappawhite edge out neighbours Solohead in the Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Junior A Football Championship at a rain soaked Cappawhite on Friday evening. Cappawhite last years West Junior B Football champions entered the game needing just a draw to guarantee a semi-final spot while last years finalists Solohead needed two wins from their remaining two games to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages. Anything less and Solohead were out.
The rain started to come down just before throw in and this continued for most of the game leading to greasy underfoot conditions. Eoin Riordan pointed a free to give Solohead the lead in the opening minute. It was short lived as two minutes later Gearoid Lennon crashed to the Solohead net at the village end. Eoghan Ryan followed with pointed free and Cappawhite looked to be heading in the right direction. Solohead though with their participation in the remainder of the competition on the line refused to give in. Aaron Ryan who looked lively pointed while they also missed a few chances. Then a move started by Stephen Dee ended up with Dee finishing to the back of the Cappawhite net. By the end of the first quarter Solohead led 1-2 to 1-1. They possibly could have had another goal or two as the half progressed but failed to take the chances that presented themselves.
Eoin Riordan extended that lead early in the second quarter. Cappawhite came more back into the game with Jack Armshaw bursting up from wing back to point and then Michael P Buckley levelled. Eoghan Riordan and James Dee pushed Solohead two up but these were cancelled out by Eoghan Ryan and Dara McCarty. Solohead had chances before the break but failed to capitalise on them. The sides went to the dressing rooms at the break level 1-5 each.
Two Eoghan Ryan pointed frees in the first six minutes of the second half pushed Cappawhite two clear. It was the ninth minute before Eoin Riordan pointed for Solohead from a free and he did the same two minutes later to tie the game. Solohead now enjoyed a period of dominance and points from Eoin Riordan, Aaron Ryan and Christopher Kirby put Solohead three up heading into the final ten minutes. Cappawhite lost Noel Ryan to a black card and then Philip Gantley to a second yellow. Despite this Cappawhite were level with nine to play when a sweeping move down field resulted in Gearoid Lennon getting in on goal and he made no mistake shooting past Colin Hanley. Both sides now try to work a winner with defences well on top while conditions certainly didn’t help free flowing football. David Buckley on as a second half substitute kicked the final score of the game with just over three to play and it proved the decisive score as Cappawhite held out.
Cappawhite will now play Arravale Rovers in the semi-final while defending champions Sean Treacys will face Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams.
Teams & Scorers:
Cappawhite: Aidan Mair, Fraser Allen, Ben White, Noel Ryan, Jack Armshaw, Philip Gantley, Mikey O’Brien, Michael P Buckley, Colm O’Dwyer, Dara McCarthy, Eoghan Ryan, Sean Cleary, Gearoid Lennon, Michael O’Neill, Neil Clancy.
Subs Used: Conor Martin, Sam Carmody, Brendan Murphy, David Buckley.
Cappawhite: Gearoid Lennon (2-0), Eoghan Ryan (0-4f), Jack Armshaw (0-1), Michael P Buckley (0-1), Dara McCarthy (0-1), David Buckley (0-1)
Solohead: Colin Hanley, Colin Allen, Michael O’Connor, Christopher O’Connor, Denis O’Shea, Brian Gavin, Tommy O’Mahoney, James Dee, Stephen Dee, Christopher Kirby, Paul Ryan, Jack Redican, Aaron Ryan, Eoin Riordan, Declan Riordan.
Subs Used: Jason Sutton, Noel Kennedy, Aidan Riordan.
Solohead: Eoin Riordan (0-6f)), Stephen Dee (1-0), Aaron Ryan (0-2), James Dee 0-1), Christopher Kirby (0-1)
Referee: Richie O’Connor (Arravale Rovers)
Dara McCarthy under pressure by Solohead’s Denis O’ Shea. (Photo by Francis Coughlan).
