O’Dwyer Steel West U21A Hurling Championship Group 1 – Round 2
Cappawhite Gaels 2-15
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams 0-13
Francis Coughlan at Cappawhite
Cappawhite Gaels opened their O’Dwyer Steel West U21A Hurling Championship campaign with an eight-point victory over Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams in a bitterly cold Cappawhite on Sunday morning.
Goals in either half by Gearoid Lennon and Stephen Dee ultimately proved the difference between the sides at Richie O’Connor’s full-time whistle.
Kickhams went into the game following victory over Arravale Rovers in round 1 where goals had been key but today goals were their undoing. A win would have guaranteed them a place in the final while a draw would also have kept them in contention.
Cappawhite Gaels had to hit the ground running as defeat would have seen them bow out at the first hurdle. The result today puts Cappawhite Gaels firmly in control of their own destiny ahead of their final game against Arravale Rovers. The Cappawhite Gaels men with a score difference of +8 while Kickhams are -1 and Arravale Rovers -7.
A draw will be sufficient for Cappawhite Gaels to advance to a final meeting with Cashel King Cormacs. Arravale Rovers will have to win by eight points to take a spot in the final while Kickhams following today’s result can no longer qualify.
Conor Horgan playing as a third midfielder got Kickhams off the mark with a pointed free in the third minute. Ryan Renehan levelled proceedings from a placed ball at the other end. Cappawhite Gaels who had the advantage of the breeze were getting more of the chances but struggling to get the scoreboard moving.
Gearoid Lennon eventually put space between the sides with 1-1 in the space of a minute. The goal coming when a high ball broke to the unmarked Lennon and he made no mistake finding the net. Scores were still slow to come by with Mikey Carmody stretching the Gaels lead to five by the thirteenth minute.
By the end of the first quarter Kickhams eventually broke a twelve-minute scoring drought when Reuben Bourke now operating in the forwards got what would be their only point from play in the half.
The remainder of the half saw Cappawhite Gaels push on with Dara McCarthy finding the range from play and placed balls. Ryan Renehan was controlling centre back with Stephen Dee coming far more into the game, opening his account. Conor Horgan keeping Kickhams someway in touch from place balls. Cappawhite Gaels ahead at the break, 1-9 to 0-4.
A seven-point deficit wasn’t an insurmountable one especially in the conditions. Kickhams moved Stephen Browne to centre forward with Conor Farrell going in the opposite direction. It was a move that would pay dividends for Kickhams but not before Stephen Dee rattled the Kickhams net.
The second half had barely resumed when Dee won possession between the twenty-one and forty-five and with space in front of him, he cut in for goal making no mistake. It was another blow to Kickhams but to their credit they didn’t wilt. By the eight minute of the half, they had cut the deficit in half.
Stephen Browne (2) and three Conor Horgan points from placed balls. Another Browne point by the thirteenth minute had the gap at a manageable four. Cappawhite now had to dig deep and in an important two-minute spell they hit three points, their first score since Stephen Dee’s goal. Dara McCarthy with two more from place balls and Mikey Carmody who was a pivotal figure for the Gaels.
It swung the momentum towards the eventual winners especially with Kickhams having held a lot possession in the Cappawhite Gaels half. Conor Horgan and Adam Daly responded but importantly for Cappawhite Gaels they replied with two more through Carmody and McCarthy.
Jamie Duncan who worked tirelessly throughout did manage to work his way in on goal just before the end but his shot was well saved Neill Clancy. The Cappawhite full back line as a unit was solid throughout.
Teams and Scorers:
Cappawhite Gaels: Neill Clancy, James Quinlan, Ben White, Cian O Carroll, Pakie Barry, Ryan Renehan, Philip Gantley, Ciaran Doody, Sam Carmody, Gearoid Ryan B, Mikey Carmody, Stephen Dee, Gearoid Lennon, Dara McCarthy, Daire Duggan.
Subs Used: Anthony Barry
Dara McCarthy (0-7, 0-6f)), Gearoid Lennon (1-2), Stephen Dee (1-1), Mikey Carmody (0-3), Ryan Renehan (0-2f)
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams: Jack Breen, Conor Farrell, Ben Loughman, Reuben Bourke, Eddie Daly, Stephen Browne, Diarmuid Kinane, Joe Fitzgerald, Jamie Duncan, Jack Ryan, Conor Farrell, Adam Daly, Declan Ryan, Ben Ryan, Conor Horgan.
Subs Used: Cormac Carr, Michael Gleeson, Reuben Bourke.
Conor Horgan (0-8f), Stephen Browne (0-3), Reuben Bourke (0-1) Adam Daly (0-1).
Referee: Richard O’Connor (Arravale Rovers)
Neil Clancy launches the sliotar up the field. (Photo by Vincent Flynn Photography).
