2024 Munster Junior B Hurling Semi-Final

Cappawhite 1-15 (18)
Buttevant 2-09 (15)

By Michael McCarthy

Cappawhite will hope to become the seventh Munster Junior B series champions from Tipperary when they line out on February 8th following a hard-fought, somewhat tetchy, win over Cork champions Buttevant on Saturday.

The poor weather during the warm-ups played it’s part as the rain stayed away in the main. The game’s first score came after just seconds as Cappawhite midfielder Paddy Julian was adjudged to have been overzealous on the throw-in, receiving a yellow for his troubles. Buttevant danger man Mark Lenehan stepped out from full forward and landed his first score of the game.

Anthony Barry would return the favour a minute later with a placed ball of his own following a foul on team Captain Tommy Coughlan. Both teams were struggling to get to grips with the greasy ball which led to lots of rucks and plenty of frees. Lenehan would restore the Cork side’s lead with a second free after he was fouled rounding his marker, Cathal McCarthy.

Cappawhite withdrew a player out to the middle and left the two danger men of Anthony and Pakie Barry inside, Pakie levelled things on seven minutes and Anthony gave the men from West Tipperary the lead on nine minutes and they would never be led again. Michael O’Neill would make the lead two points following an excellent run through the middle from Neil Clancy who was brilliantly hooked when the goal looked on, Cappawhite recycled the sliotar and O’Neill duly pointed.

Barry would point another free before slack marking in the Cappawhite defence saw Aaron Horgan, all on his own in front of goal, take possession of Aaron Trimm’s delivery and finish with ease on twelve minutes.

Pakie Barry restored Cappawhite’s lead and Mark Lenehan responded with a fine score from play but this would turn out to be the Cork side’s last score of the half as the wind picked up. Pakie Barry again edged Cappawhite in front, he took a point when a goal looked on.

The long delivery into the full forward line was causing consternation inside and when Anthony Barry ran onto Ross Dunne’s long clearance he made no mistake and Cappawhite led by four. The remainder of the half would be all Cappawhite and while scores from play were hard to come by Anthony Barry helped himself to three more frees and Tommy Coughlan scored a point from play to see the Tipp side lead 1-11 to 1-3 at the break.

Buttevant would have the aid of the wind for the second half but it was Cappawhite who were off the mark in this period with another pointed Barry free. Mark Lenehan, while well marshalled by Cathal McCarthy, got his second from play on four minutes before Pakie Barry extended the lead to nine five minutes later.

Paddy Julian was having a huge effect on the play and showed all his guile winning dirty ball and showing real leadership.

Buttevant were thrown a lifeline on forty minutes when a long clearance out of defence fell to centre-forward Aaron Trimm, he evaded a couple of tackles and dispatched a well-placed shot off his left for a major.

It sparked the cork side into life and they would dominate the next ten minutes, two Mark Lenehan frees and a point from play from Chris O’Toole reduced the deficit to three with 13 minutes left on the clock. Cappawhite made substitutions to stem the tide. Tensions were starting to rise around the ground as both teams struggled to get a foothold.

Anthony Barry restored the four-point lead scoring a placed ball having been fouled himself and he would repeat the feat in 55 minutes to settle Cappawhite. Buttevant threw everything at them in the last few minutes, Shane O’Callaghan reduced the lead to four but the Cork side just couldn’t find a way through a resolute Cappawhite defence.

Mark Lenehan would score a free deep into injury time to leave it a one-score game but the final whistle came with Cappawhite three to the good.

Mark Lenehan would finish with seven points to his name but was well marked by Cappawhite full-back Cathal McCarthy. His brother Kevin Lenehan at six and full-back Niall O’Riordan tried their hardest with Aaron Horgan and Aaron Trimm always a danger but the Cork champions will be disappointed with the performance. Ill-discipline, especially in the first half would be their undoing and Anthony Barry was in no mood to let them off.

For the victors Darragh Barry was assured between the sticks and couldn’t be faulted for either goal while the aforementioned Cathal McCarthy, Ciarán Ryan and Ross Dunne held the defence together, Neil Clancy and the ageless Paddy Julian won the midfield battle while Eoghan Ryan and the twin towers of Anthony and Pakie Barry inside were most impressive.

Cappawhite will play the winners of Limerick champions, Kildimo Pallaskenry and Tulla of Clare in the Munster Junior B Series Final.

Cappawhite: Darragh Barry; Noel Ryan, Cathal McCarthy, Ross Dunne; Michael P Buckley, Ciarán Ryan, Cian O’Carroll; Neil Clancy, Paddy Julian; Eoghan Ryan, Michael O’Neill (0-1), Fionn Brady; Pakie Barry (0-4), Anthony Barry (1-9, 0-9f), Tommy Coughlan (0-1).

Subs used: Ciarán Doody; Ger Ryan (P); Sean Cleary; Brian G Buckley.

Buttevant: Brian O’Shaughnessy; Colm Kennedy, Niall O’Riordan, Denis O’Sullivan; Chris O’Toole (0-1), Kevin Lenehan, John O’Neill; Jamie O’Brien, Seamus Madigan; David Keane, Aaron Trimm (1-0), Kevin Crowley; Aaron Horgan (1-0), Mark Lenehan (0-7, 0-5f), Donal Ryan.

Subs used: Shane O’Callaghan (0-1); Anthony O’Neill; Edmund O’Donoghue.

Referee: John O’Halloran (Limerick).

Clubber TV Man of the Match: Paddy Julian