Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Junior B Hurling League Semi Final
Cappawhite 0.15 (15)
Eire Og Annacarty Donohill 0.14 (14)
John O’Shea at Annacarty.
Cappawhite are through to the Final of the Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Junior B Hurling League, as a result of their one-point victory over the holders, Eire Og, in a close encounter at Annacarty on Tuesday evening last. Two late points in injury time, one from Dara McCarty and a long range free from Michael O’Neill, getting them over the line, when it looked like the holders had weathered the comeback.
The sides were level on four occasions during the opening half but a late rally from the home side had them in front at the break, Eire Og 0.10, Cappawhite 0.7.
The trend continued after the break, with three points still separating the sides with ten minutes remaining. However, for the final seven minutes plus five minutes of added time, Cappa outscored their opponents by five points to one as they staged a match winning comeback. They now meet Kickhams in the Final.
Cappawhite were first out of the traps and had two points on the scoreboard, from James Quinlan and Mikey Carmody early on. Eire Og hit the next three points, with two Daniel Kelly converted frees either side of Dan Hogan’s effort from open play. James Quinlan levelled proceedings for the second time with a well taken score from midfield after ten minutes.
With both full back lines on top, goals were hard to come by, and this led to scores being taken from outfield. Both sides were guilty of wayward shooting and the sides were level at 0.6 with ten minutes remaining to the break.
Eire Og upped their performance in the final seven minutes and outscored Cappa by four points to one, Daniel Kelly hitting three, two frees and one from play. Mikey O’Brien hit a huge score from midfield and James Quinlan hit his fourth of the half for the visitors. Half time score, Eire Og 0.10, Cappawhite 0.7.
After the break Eire Og extended their lead with two points from Daniel Kelly and Jordan Hayes to go five up. Cappawhite settled and Michael O’Neill put over from sixty meters. Dara McCarthy hit two more, one from a free to cut the deficit to two by the thirteenth minute. A downpour at this stage made conditions underfoot slippery, resulting in unforced mistakes, but the excitement continued.
With the clock heading towards twenty-nine minutes Eire Og held on to a two point lead following a Daniel Kelly free. Jerry O’Neill pulled one back for Cappa before Dara McCarthy tied the game with a superb score.
With the clock heading towards three and a half minutes of added time, Michael O’Neill landed a huge free from out on the sideline in front of the dressing rooms to ease Cappa back in front. Eire had one final chance to bring the game to extra time but a seventy-meter free just landed short and Cappa were through to the final for the second year in a row.
Teams and Scorers:
Cappawhite: Neil Clancy, Ross Dunne, Tom Costello, Cian O’Carroll, Davy Stapleton, Michael O’Neill (0.3, 2 frees), John McGrath, James Quinlan (0.4, 2 frees), Ben White, Tommy Coughlan, Mikey Carmody (0.2), Fionn Brady, Sam Carmody (0.1), Dara McCarthy (0.4, 2 frees), James Bradshaw
Sub: Jerry O’Neill (0.1)
Eire Og Annacarty Donohill; Jamie O’Dwyer, Darragh O’Brien, Cathal Coughlan, Ciaran Loughman, Paul Downey, Michael Bradshaw, Conor Devlin, Richard O’Doherty, Daniel Kelly (0.8, 7 frees), Pat Aherne, Mikey O’Brien (0.1), Dan Hogan (0.2), Jordan Hayes (0.3), Willie O’Neill, Jack Kingston.
Subs used; Michael Buckley, David Breen
Referee: Seanie O’Halloran (Golden/Kilfeacle)
Michael O’ Neill, Seanie O’ Halloran & Richard O’ Doherty
