O’Dwyer Steel West U21A Hurling Championship Final
Cashel King Cormacs 3-12(21)
Cappawhite Gaels: 1-15(18)
Francis Coughlan at Dundrum
Cashel King Cormacs bridged a thirty-year gap to claim a first O’Dwyer Steel West U21A Hurling Championship title since 1992 when they defeated Cappawhite Gaels in a wet Dundrum on St. Stephen’s Day afternoon. On the 29th July 1992 Cashel King Cormacs defeated Arravale Rovers, 1-15 to 2-6 to complete a three in a row of West Tipperary U21A Hurling Championship titles. Back then Joe O’Leary was the winning captain who accepted the Tony Brennan Cup from West Board Chairman at the time Paul O’Neill. It would be hard to fathom that Cashel would not play in an U21A Final again until 2006 and more so not claim honours in the grade for three decades. In the intermittent time from 2006 Cashel King Cormacs had played in eight further finals but failed to reach the summit.
On a day traditional known for following the wren both teams set out to follow the path of lifting the Tony Brennan Cup. Cappawhite Gaels set the early pace but despite playing with the advantage of the wind they could never open up daylight between them and their opponents. Cappawhite Gaels got huge boost in the fourth minute when Gearoid Lennon goaled. That lead was wiped out seven minutes later when Cashel’s Jack McGrath raised the first of their green flags. For the most of the reminder of the half the difference was minimal with both sides pulling ahead by a point only for the other to equalise. Four minutes to go to the break and Cashel got another huge boost when the hard-working Cathal Quinn whipped in goal number two. It would be Cappawhite though who would lead at the break reeling off three without reply to lead at half time by the minimum.
A tighter Cashel defence emerged in the second half and when David McGrath goaled in the seventh minute Cashel would never be headed again. Dara McCarthy did bring the sides level with another pointed free by the three-quarter mark but Cappawhite were now struggled to find scores from play and importantly space. By that three-quarter mark both sides had been reduced to fourteen men. Cashel though seem to make more use of the space at this stage and found their range from long distance to outscore their opponents 0-5 to 0-3 in the time remaining. One of the most important statistics in this final quarter was that all Cashel’s scores came from play while Cappawhite were reliant on placed balls to keep in touch. Over all Cashel King Cormacs ability to score from play was a huge factor in their success with 3-7 compared to 1-5 from Cappawhite Gaels.
A heavy shower marred the opening of this game and made underfoot conditions tough. Indeed the rain would make more than one appearance throughout this encounter. David McGrath had Cashel King Cormacs off the mark with a point from play in the opening minute. Two minutes later Gearoid Lennon pounced when Cashel goalie Aaron Browne failed to fully gather possession and he finished to the net for the games opening goal. The breeze too would play a factor and a Devon Ryan free was taken by the wind when it entered the twenty yard area of the railway end side of the field where the stand finishes. The sides traded scores for a period with the goal being the difference. Dara McCarthy and Devon Ryan traded frees while Gearoid Lennon added a point to his goal. Cappawhite were finding space in the Cashel defence and Lennon was a big threat. In the eleventh minute Cashel King Cormacs were level when the hard-working Cathal Quinn worked his way in along the end line before Jack McGrath supplied the finish for goal number one. Cashel at this stage had now lost the services of influential forward Dan Moloney and he was replaced by Anthony Walsh who had been named on the original starting team. Dara McCarthy was on free taking duty and he obliged by pointing Cappawhite back into the lead. At the end of the first quarter Cappawhite Gaels led 1-3 to 1-2.
Early in the second quarter Cathal Quinn opened his account and then Devon Ryan pointed Cashel in front for the first time since the opening minute. With seven to play in the half Cappawhite were a point up with points from Dara McCarthy (free) and Stephen Dee. The lead then switched to Cashel. Fearghail O’Donoghue was stopped on the run between the fourteen and twenty-one but held his momentum to lay off to the impressive Cathal Quinn for goal number two. It was short lived. Almost immediately from the puckout Mikey Carmody forced a great save Aaron Browne in the Cashel goal Ryan Renehan pointing the resulting sixty-five. Just before the break Ryan Renehan pointed another long range free and the Gearoid Lennon added to his tally to see Cappawhite Gaels ahead at the break 1-8 to 2-4
Devon Ryan and Dara McCarthy traded pointed frees early on the resumption. Cashel’s defence too had tightened considerably from the first half as the Cappawhite Gaels forwards found less time on the ball. The games big turning point came six minutes into the half. Ronan Connolly named to start at corner forward but played a big role for Cashel from the off sent in a high ball from about forty-five yards out right on the sideline which was won by David McGrath. McGrath then turning to rattle the net for a third time. The goalmouth action continued when Cappawhite Gaels dangerman Gearoid Lennon forced a brilliant save from Cashel goalie Aaron Browne. Devon Ryan stretched the lead out to three but approaching the final quarter Gearoid Ryan B, two Dara McCarthy pointed frees had drawn the game level. Both sides though at this stage had been reduced to fourteen men in two separate incidents which saw Philip Gantley and Oisin Dwan red carded. At the quarter mark Anthony Walsh had Cashel King Cormacs a point up 3-8 to 1-2.
The final quarter saw more space appear with less numbers and possibly tiring legs. Cashel made the better use of this with some fine long-range efforts from Cathal Quinn, David McGrath and Ronan Connolly. Cappawhite were now reliant on free taking to stay in touch and while the game remained close Cashel always looked more likely to take the honours. The game though was never out of reach of Cappawhite Gaels and a twenty-one-yard free at the very end presented one last chance for goal but from their perspective it went wide.
Cashel’s victory was based on a strong defensive unit led by Paraic Brosnan and Conor O’Dwyer while their midfield pairing of Cathal Quinn and Ronan Connolly took control of the sector and laid the platform for the supply to the forwards where Devon Ryan, Jack and David McGrath were always a threat.
The final whistle represented scenes of joy as Cashel King Cormacs finally got their hands back on the Tony Brennan Cup. The Tony Brennan Cup was first presented in 1964 with Cashel King Cormacs the first recipients following victory over Clonoulty/Rossmore in Golden.
The Cup was presented to the Board by the former Tipperary full back as a gesture of thanks for a testimonial fund which was initiated for him when he was hospitalised for a prolonged period with T.B. There were also plenty of links with the team of 1992 with Conor O’Dwyer’s father Sean, Ronan Connolly’s father TJ and Dan Moloney’s father Timmy. Timmy scored the Cashel goal in the 1992 final to name but a few.
Following the game, West Board Chairman Tom Hayes presented the Tony Brennan Cup to Cashel King Cormacs captain Devon Ryan, with Matt Ryan representing the sponsors O’Dwyer Steel.
Teams and Scorers:
Cashel King Cormacs: Aaron Browne, Oisin Dwan, Paraic Brosnan, Kieran O’Dwyer, Donal Ryan, Conor O’Dwyer, Andrew Irwin, Ronan Connolly, Cathal Quinn, Dan Moloney, Devon Ryan, Fearghail O’Donoghue, David McGrath, Jack McGrath JP Anglim
Sub Used: Anthony Walsh
David McGrath (1-2), Cathal Quinn (1-2), Devon Ryan (0-4f), Jack McGrath (1-0), Ronan Connolly (0-2), Anthony Walsh (0-1), JP Anglim (0-1)
Cappawhite Gaels: Neill Clancy, James Quinlan, Mikey O’Brien, 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
Dara McCarthy (0-7, (0-6f)), Gearoid Lennon (1-2), Ryan Renehan (0-4f), Stephen Dee (0-1), Gearoid Ryan B (0-1)
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)
Click below to view match photos:
Match Photos by Sport Action Photography
Gearoid Ryan (B) contests an aerial dual.
