Tipperary Credit Union West Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
Golden/Kilfeacle 1-29(32)
Cappawhite 0-16(16)
Francis Coughlan at Annacarty
Golden/Kilfeacle are Tipperary Credit Union West Intermediate Hurling champions for a sixth time and first since 2019 following victory over Cappawhite in Annacarty on Friday evening. Cappawhite, the holders were aiming to become the first team since Galtee Rovers in 2010 to retain the competition, however that bid came unstuck against a more determined Golden/Kilfeacle side who were full of energy from the off.
Most would have expected this as too close to call. It had that feeling when Seanie O’Halloran pointed after thirty seconds into car park end goals but almost immediately David Buckley had Cappawhite level. It would be the one and only time in the game that the teams were level. Both sides operated two-man full forward lines with Willie Barry withdrawn further out the field while and Jack Leamy rotated in and out. It was Golden/Kilfeacle’s energy and movement that really came to the fore at this early stage. Jack Leamy pointed twice within a few minutes. In between Daire Duggan did have a goal chance after getting the better of Daithi Bargary on the stand side however his effort after cutting in went wide of Jack Currivan’s goal. Duggan did cut the gap with a well taken point soon after. The eventual winners for the duration of the sixty odd minutes would nearly always seem to have a man over whether in defence or attack such was their energy on the night.
The game’s only goal arrived in the sixth minute. Niall Heffernan’s long delivery was caught by Jack Leamy who immediately put through the inrushing Seanie O’Halloran who in turn found Jack Bergin almost unmarked close to goal and he made no mistake to beat Jerry O’Neill. Over the course of the half Golden/Kilfeacle could have had another goal if not two. Ben Currivan who started his run in the middle of the field was on an advantage was fouled a second time and did have the sliotar in the net however the whistle had been blown. Jack Bergin forced Jerry O’Neill into a save from a tight angle while Eanna Ormond saw his effort from close range just go over the bar. Leamy followed up with a monstrous effort from a placed ball from his own forty-five. Ben Currivan who had a huge influence on the attack got in on the scoreboard and by the twelfth minute when Leamy pointed again they led 1-8 to 0-3. Cappawhite did come more into the game outscoring Cappawhite three points to one coming to the end of the first quarter. Sam Carmody and Wille Barry pointing. That six-point difference would remain as Jack Leamy and Daire McCarthy traded scores over the next few minutes. Cappawhite would fail to score for the remainder of the half but the last eight minutes would see Golden/Kilfeacle add another five points that would give them a commanding eleven point half time advantage. Leamy would add three of these.
Cappawhite had gone in eight behind against Kickhams in the semi-final and turned things around. They needed a lightening start though to get them back in the game but it didn’t materialise. They struggled to find space the Golden/Kilfeacle sextet well on top with players like Seanie O’Halloran and Jack Dalton dropping back to add cover. The early stages of the half were even as the sides traded points. However, in a three-minute spell Golden/Kilfeacle pushed the gap out to fifteen points. Cian Ryan P, the very dangerous Sam Hall and the hard working Padraig Dalton all got in on the act. The game was heading very quickly towards an inevitable conclusion. Dara McCarthy added pointed frees however Golden/Kilfeacle always had a reply. Going into the final quarter Sam Hall had restored the fifteen-point lead. Leamy and Dara McCarthy traded a number of points as Golden/Kilfeacle ran out comfortable winners, 1-29 to 0-16.
Golden/Kilfeacle’s early start was key to this win. They led 1-8 to 0-3 after twelve minutes. While Cappawhite tried to gain a foothold during the midway stage first half Golden/Kilfeacle really shut the door and the five unanswered points before half time ultimately put Golden/Kilfeacle in an unassailable position. The movement and distribution of their forwards like Ben Currivan, Jack Leamy and Sam Hall caused serious problems for the Cappawhite defence. That was only three of the forwards and the work rate of the other three was just as important to the overall score tally. Eanna Ormond, Padraig Dalton and Jack Bergin worked tirelessly with the latter adding the only major of the game. All starting six forwards with the oldest only twenty-one were on the scoreboard with 1-15 from play between them. The previous Saturday they had hit 1-22 but also amassed seventeen wides. They rectified that somewhat halving their wide tally. The midfield partnership of Seanie O’Halloran and Jack Dalton was vital to the overall win. Both covered an amount of ground setting up numerous scores. Their defence was tight and limited Cappawhite to just eight points from play over the hour while also supplied the ammunition for the attack. They were constantly getting hooks and blocks in winning numerous turnovers and their cover limited any real chance on Jack Currivan’s goal. Shane O’Connell was solid at full back along with Daithi Bargary and Aidan O’Connell as was Niall Heffernan at centre back. Eoin Marnane had a very strong shift at wing back while pushing forward on a number of occasions as did Cian Ryan P on the opposite wing.
Cappawhite tried hard but could never get to the same pitch of the game as Golden/Kilfeacle. Daire Duggan, David Buckley and Dara McCarthy as did Rian Doody and Brendan Murphy worked tirelessly.
Following the game Niall Hefferan accepted the John Farrell Cup from West Board Chairman Tommy Hayes with Brenda Ryan representing Tipperary Credit Union.
Scorers:
Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Leamy (0-15, (0-9f)), Sam Hall (0-4), Jack Bergin (1-0), Ben Currivan (0-3), Seanie O’Halloran (0-2), Eoin Marnane (0-2), Eanna Ormond (0-1), Ciaran Ryan P (0-1), Padraig Dalton (0-1)
Cappawhite: Dara McCarthy (0-8f), Willie Barry (0-3, (0-1f)), Sam Carmody (0-2), David Buckley (0-1), Daire Duggan (0-1), Kevin Stapleton (0-1)
Teams:
Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan, Aidan O’Connell, Shane O’Connell, Daithi Bargary, Eoin Marnane, Niall Heffernan, Cian Ryan (P), Seanie O’Halloran, Jack Dalton, Padraig Dalton, Ben Currivan, Eanna Ormond, Jack Bergin, Jack Leamy, Sam Hall
Subs used; Gavin Dalton for Eoin Marnane (blood), Tom Byrnes for Jack Bergin, Aaron Colohan for Padraig Dalton (51), Gavin Dalton for Daithi Bargary
Cappawhite: Jerry O’Neill, Mikey O’Brien, Sean Ryan (W), Philip Gantley, Tommy Costello, Ryan Renehan, Brendan Murphy, Rian Doody, Kevin Stapleton, Sam Carmody, David Buckley (Captain), Mikey English, Daire Duggan, Dara McCarthy, Willie Barry
Subs used; Conor Gantley for Mikey English
Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow)
