Tipperary Credit Union West Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi Final
Cappawhite 1.20(23)
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams 1.18(21)
John O’Shea at Annacarty
Cappawhite, the holders, are safely through to the final of the Tipperary Credit Union West Intermediate Hurling, following their two point victory over Knockavilla Doneskeagh Kickhams at Annacarty on Wednesday evening.
They appeared to be in danger of surrendering their title as the trailed by seven at the break, but a second half comeback, led by Willie Barry got them over the line. Barry was the difference at the end, hitting seven second half minors, which included five from open play.
This was a hard earned victory over a Kickhams side who took the game to Cappa from the start with a series of good scores during the first quarter. The opening goal came after just seven minutes when Cormac Carr cut in along the end line before dispatching to Elliott Thompson, who blasted past Jerry O’Neill. The black and amber side had won the toss and elected to avail of the strong wind that was blowing towards the road end. They went in to a 1.2 to 0.0 by the seventh minute and were good value for this lead. Cappa steadied and came back into the game, but were off the pace, looked dull and listless, with their first touch letting them down on occasions. Kickhams, on the other hand, were full of energy, first to the ball and took their scores well. They had a good second quarter, with Ben Loughman, Shane Buckley and Aidan Duggan prominent in defence while Davy Butler was unerring from placed balls. Cappa were finding scores hard to come-by, but Tom Treacy, David Buckley and Dara McCarthy kept them in the game. Kickhams had gone into a seven point after twenty five minutes and retained it until the half time break.
Cappawhite were quickly out of the blocks after the break and Willie Barry signalled his second half intent when he fired over after just forty seconds. Barry would go on to be the Cappawhite match winner, after having a relatively quiet opening period. Dara McCarthy also upped his game and his link play with Barry and particularly with Colm O’Dwyer, when he played a one two led to the goal after forty-seven minutes. They hit a purple patch in a ten-minute spell between the forty third and fifty third minutes, which yielded one goal and eight points without reply. This proved to be the period that eventually got them over the line and a place in next week’s final.
From the throw-in, Kickhams were quickly up to the pace of the game as they attacked the road goal, availing of the breeze for the opening half. Eoin Horgan put over a long range free after two minutes and Shane Buckley doubled their advantage three minutes later. The Kickhams defence were on top and snuffed out any Cappa attack, with Ben Loughman and Aidan Duggan in fine form. From an Eoin Horgan restart, they attacked down the dressing room side and Cormac Carr, after gaining possession, cut in along the end line before setting up Elliott Thompson who beat Jerry O’Neill from close in, to give them a five point advantage. Dara McCarthy opened the Cappa account from a placed ball after eight minutes, but Paudie Slattery restored parity. David Buckley hit two points, either side of a Davy Butler free and a Willie Barry point from open play reduced the deficit to three. Stephen Browne put over a side line cut on the quarter hour mark extending the Kickhams lead out to four, a lead thoroughly deserved. Davy Butler converted two minors before Walter O’Carroll had to temporarily leave the field, and was replaced by Ben Ryan for a five minute period. Cappa attacked down the stand side following a free from Ryan Renehan, and were rewarded with a David Buckley point after being set up by Willie Barry. Points from Lorcan Carr and Adam Daly pushed the advantage out to seven before Tom Treacy split the posts from the open side. Davy Butler, from a placed ball, and Adam Daly from open play put eight between the sides as half time approached, but a late free from Dara McCarthy reduced the deficit to seven as Donie Horan signalled the half time break with the scores Kickhams 1.11, Cappawhite 0.7.
The champions needed a good start to the second half if they were to advance to the final and Willie Barry set them on the road after just forty seconds with a point from a placed ball from the midfield area. Scores were coming hard and fast as Kickhams hit back with a brace, Davy Butler from a free and Ben Ryan from open play, either side of a Willie Barry gem. Barry was coming more into the game and was having a huge influence on proceedings, covering acres of ground and setting up scores. Daire Duggan, McCarthy from a close in free and Barry brought the sides within three of each other, with thirty-eight minutes gone. Again, Kickhams hit back with two Elliott Thompson minors inside a minute, but this was to be their last score until four minutes from time.
As the game headed into the final quarter, Tom Treacy started the Cappa comeback with his second point of the evening, before making way for Tommy Costello. Willie Barry hit his fifth before Colm O’Dwyer and Dara McCarthy played a one two to find the Kickhams net. McCarthy tied the game for the first and only time with his fourth minor. It was all Cappawhite now as Colm O’Dwyer sent over to get their heads in front. O’Dwyer then set up Willie Barry for a long-range effort from midfield, the first of his three points in a two-minute spell. Sam Carmody stretched the lead to five with seven-minute minutes of normal time remaining.
Kickhams were not finished yet as the staged a come-back. Davy Butler converted a free and Ben Ryan put three between the sides as the game entered added time. They bombarded the Cappa defence and Eoin Horgan had two twenty meter frees saved, the second at the expense of a 65. The 65 was their final chance to bring the game to extra time, but the floated effort just skimmed the crossbar and with it Kickhams ended a gallant comeback.
Cappawhite advance to the final having been seven in arrears at the break, but their ten minutes of total dominance during that second period combined with their added time defensive heroics, got them over the line.
Scorers:
Cappawhite: Willie Barry (0.8, 2 frees), Dara McCarthy (0.4, 3 frees), Colm O’Dwyer (1.1), David Buckley (0.3), Tom Treacy (0.2), Daire Duggan (0.1), Sam Carmody (0.1)
Knockavilla Doneskeagh Kickhams: Davy Butler (0.6 frees), Elliott Thompson (1.2), Eoin Horgan (0.2 frees), Adam Daly (0.2), Ben Ryan (0.2), Shane Buckley (0.1), Paudie Slattery (0.1), Stephen Browne (0.1), Lorcan Carr (0.1)
Teams:
Cappawhite: Jerry O’Neill, Mikey O’Brien, Sean Ryan (W), Philip Gantley, Kevin Stapleton, Ryan Renehan, Brendan Murphy, Rian Doody, Tom Treacy, Colm O’Dwyer, David Buckley (Captain), Mikey English, Daire Duggan, Dara McCarthy, Willie Barry
Subs used; Sam Carmody for Mikey English (46), Tommy Costello for Tom Treacy (46), Conor Gantley for Daire Duggan (54)
Knockavilla Doneskeagh Kickhams: Eoin Horgan, Eddie Daly, Ben Loughman, Aidan Duggan, Conor Farrell (Doneskeagh), Shane Buckley, Lorcan Carr, Jamie Duncan (Captain), Paudie Slattery, Walter O’Carroll, Adam Daly, Elliott Thompson, Davy Butler, Stephen Browne, Cormac Carr
Subs used; Ben Ryan for Stephen Browne (HT), Barry McCarthy for Aidan Duggan (40), Paudie O’Carroll for Walter O’Carroll (58)
Referee: Donie Horan (Eire Og Annacarty Donohill)
David Buckley, Donie Horan & Jamie Duncan (Photo: Francis Coughlan)
