Tipperary Credit Union West Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Cappawhite 2-14 (20)
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams 0-16 (16)
Francis Coughlan at Sean Treacy Park
Cappawhite booked a third successive Tipperary Credit Union West Intermediate Hurling Championship Final appearance as they gained revenge for their 2020 final defeat to Kickhams in a wet Sean Treacy Park on Saturday afternoon. Just a few short months ago a rampant Kickhams claimed the delayed 2020 title at the same venue in near perfect conditions and were probably better than the final difference of six points would suggest. Conditions on Saturday didn’t allow for a great spectacle of hurling with underfoot conditions slippery and passes going astray. A contest that was always tight with neither side able to gain control saw it decided by two second half goals from a determined Cappawhite side.
Both sides were on the board very quickly with Tom Treacy opening Cappawhite’s account within twenty seconds while Elliot Thompson replied as quick at the other end. Both free takers quickly got in on the act with Willie Barry and Conor Horgan trading points. Ciaran Doody edged Cappawhite ahead again only for another Horgan free to tie the sides for the third time all in the opening eight minutes. Cappawhite did gain a small edge coming up to the water break with three unanswered points from David Buckley, Willie Barry and Mikey Carmody while at the other end Kickhams radar was slightly off. Cappawhite leading 0-6 to 0-3 at the water break.
David Buckley added his second on the resumption for Cappawhite before centre forward Michael McCormack opened his account, Kickhams first score in twelve minutes. Willie Barry who had a big impact on the scoreboard added another Cappawhite point from play. Kickhams were coming more into it with Jamie Duncan coming further out the field and Lorcan Carr now getting on a lot of ball at wing back and the latter was the focal point of the Kickhams attack. An attack which just couldn’t fully get motoring, though they did manage the last three points of the half from Daniel Lonergan and two Conor Horgan frees. Cappawhite ahead at the break by the minimum, 0-9 to 0-8. Cappawhite outscoring their opponents 0-6 to 0-3 from play in the opening thirty.
The opening ten minutes of the half saw scores at a premium and the conditions were probably partly to blame for this. Horgan added another pointed free to tie the game for a fourth time before Willie Barry and Paudie Slattery swapped points. Paudie Slattery working hard as usual coming out the field to win ball. Kickhams briefly led for the first time in the game when David Butler got his first score of the afternoon. Kickhams were rocked in the next attack when Tom Treacy who was doing an amount of work for Cappawhite found himself bearing down on goal, handpassed to the unmarked Thomas Costello just on as a substitute and he pulled on the sliotar first time, straight to the net. Kickhams worked hard and Michael McCormack who was making a good impression added to his tally before David Butler pointed his second to once again tie the game. The sides would be level for the seventh time at the water break 1-11 to 0-14. Cappawhite full back line doing a very good job protecting Michael O’Neill in the Cappawhite goal with Ross Dunne leading the line.
The sides were level for the eighth and last time in the game in the twenty third minute when Willie Barry cancelled out Conor Horgan’s free. Both sides had goal chances, Michael McCormack’s effort was blocked at the dressing room end while Ger O’Dwyer just flicked away David Buckley’s effort as the latter was about to pull the trigger. A goal either side at this stage was going to be a huge advantage and it came at the hospital end of the ground. Once again Tom Treacy broke the tackle before finding the top of the net and a big Cappawhite roar. Kickhams were struggling to gain decent possession and David Butler came further out the field to rectify this. Stephen Browne on as a substitute did rectify this but two Willie Barry points from a placed ball and play sealed Cappawhite’s place in the decider against Golden/Kilfeacle on Saturday.
Teams & Scorers:
Cappawhite: Michael O’Neill, Ross Dunne, Philip Gantley, Mikey O’Brien, Daire Duggan, Ciaran Ryan P, Pakie Barry, Ryan Renehan, Ciaran Doody, Willie Barry, Tom Treacy, Mikey Carmody, Gearoid Lennon, David Buckley, Fraser Allen.
Subs Thomas Costello, Colm O’Dwyer.
Cappawhite: Willie Barry (0-9, 0-6f)), Tom Treacy (1-1), Thomas Costello (1-0), David Buckley (0-2), Ciaran Doody (0-1), Mikey Carmody (0-1).
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams: Jack Breen, Ben Loughman, Eoin Carew, Jamie Duncan, Eddie Daly, Paudie O’Carroll, Lorcan Carr, Daniel Lonergan, Conor Horgan, Elliott Thompson, Michael McCormack, Walter O’Carroll, Paudie Slattery, David Butler, Dean Thompson.
Subs Used: Ger O’Dwyer, Joe Fitzgerald, Ben Ryan, Stephen Browne.
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams: Conor Horgan (0-8f), Michael McCormack (0-2), David Butler (0-2), Elliot Thompson (0-1), Daniel Lonergan (0-1), Paudie Slattery (0-1), Stephen Browne (0-1).
Referee: David Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs)
