Kilruane take their chances to claim County Under 19 glory

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Under 19 ‘B’ Hurling Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-23

Arravale Rovers 1-16

Report: Liam Hogan in Kilcommon

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Michael Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs).

SCORERS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Michael Cleary 0-14 (10 frees, 1’65); Brian O’Meara 0-5; Tommy O’Meara 1-0; Michael Hennelly, Jack Mulcahy 0-2 each.

Arravale Rovers: Sean O’Mahoney 0-10 (8 frees); Shane Quigley 0-2; Ciaran Kelly 1-0; Adam Ryan, David Ryan, Jaye Cilvanis, Evan Ryan 0-1 each.

Kilruane MacDonagh’s greater finishing ability saw them pull clear of a gallant Arravale Rovers side in the County Under 19 ‘B’ Hurling final on Saturday.

The winners, who had eight players under the age of seventeen in the starting line-up, had the greater all-round attacking threat, including Michael Cleary who displayed nerves of steel in finishing as the games top-scorer with fourteen points, eleven from placed balls.

The North champions attacked from the word go, and with the help of the breeze led 1-10 to 0-8 at half time. Was it enough we wondered as Arravale, who fought for every ball, came strong in the second half but lack of accuracy in front of goal, seven wides from scoreable positions, plus and the fact that the elements weakened in the second half came against the West side.

Kilruane made the best start possible when Michael Cleary pointed a free after fifty seconds, and ninety seconds later, Tommy O’Meara broke through the cover to fire to the net.

But Arravale, with seven of the starting fifteen still under the age of seventeen, and who lost narrowly to Holycross in the minor ‘A’ semi-final, had midfielder Sean O’Mahoney as their best scoring threat, both from frees and play, scoring three points in a row, the middle one from a free, to get them up and running.

However, Kilruane recovered with Michael Hennelly and Michael Cleary scoring a point each before Brian O’Meara went on a great scoring run with three points in as many minutes to steer his side six clear.

There was plenty to admire from Arravale where Ronan O’Connor, Jay Cilvanis and Alex Webster in the half back line were making many deliveries to the other end of the field forcing the Kilruane defence to foul on occasion.

After another O’Mahoney free was followed by a fine point from the very dangerous Adam Ryan at centre forward before O’Mahoney scored another free following a foul on the All-Ireland minor medal winner.

In the 20th minute, Kilruane were back in the attack when Tommy O’Meara set up Brian O’Meara for a score. Seconds later, the latter hit Kilruane’s fifth wide but made amends a minute later when adding another well-taken score from out-field.

Kilruane’s Jack Mulcahy showed a great ability to win high ball and won a free which Micheel Cleary converted in the 24th minute. Arravale replied a minute later through another All-Ireland minor winner David Ryan with the centre back striding up field to score.

Half time was fast approaching but there was enough time for another Cleary free after Cillian Healy won possession from the puckout. Arravale combined for Sean O’Mahoney to score his sixth of the half to leave the half time deficit at five points.

Now playing with the breeze, Arravale were expected to cut into the Kilruane lead and two Sean O’Mahoney’s frees followed by a point from play by Shane Quigley had the West champions two in arrears three minutes into the half.

However, the Kilruane response came in the guise of a Jack Mulcahy catch from the resulting puckout, only to be fouled allowing Michael Cleary to point the resulting free before the he added a point from play in the 35th minute.

By now the game had developed in a battle of the free-takers with Cleary outscoring the Arravale men three points to two to see Kilruane 1-15 to 0-13 in front with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The excellent Jay Cilvanis followed up with a point from almost half way as Arravale continued their fightback with another O’Mahoney free following a foul on Adam Ryan, leaving three points separating the teams.

Arravale’s efforts in cutting the deficit further continued but was not helped by inaccuracy in front of goal while close marking by Paul Molloy, Cathal England and Cian Hayes had a say in the matter also.

The next five minutes would prove decisive as Michael Cleary pointed two frees before he added one from play following a thirty metre run by his brother Shane, and in the 54th minute, Jack Mulcahy pointed from play.

Both sides pressed for more scores as Evan Ryan pulled one back for Arravale before Brian O’Meara won a free and Michael Cleary pointed, while seconds later Michael Hennelly doubled his account, followed by a splendid Jack Mulcahy score just on the hour mark.

Arravale narrowed the gap with a goal by full forward Cian Kelly, but it was too little too late as Michael Cleary completed a great performance for the young corner forward with his tenth converted free as Kilruane MacDonaghs emerged worthy winners.

TEAMS - Kilruane MacDonaghs: Tom Austin (Capt 7); Danny Cahalan (7), Cathal England (7), Cian Hayes (7); Paul Molloy (7), Shane Cleary (7), Cormac Kennedy (7); Cian Moyles (7), Tommy Burriss (6); Tommy O’Meara (7), Jack Mulcahy (7), Cillian Healy (7); Michael Hennelly (7), Brian O’Meara (8), Michael Cleary (8).

Sub: Charlie Kennedy (6) for Burriss (HT).

Arravale Rovers: Ben Dudley (7); Michael Bowes (6), Ronan O’Connor (Capt 7), Odhran O’Dwyer (7); Alex Webster (7), David Ryan (7), Jay Cilvanis (8); Brendan Delaney (7), Sean O’Mahoney (8); David O’Brien (6), Adam Ryan (7), Evan Ryan (6); Donnacha Quigley (6), Ciaran Kelly (6), Shane Quigley (7).

Subs: Robert O’Brien (6) for Delaney (40); Stephen Ryan (6) for Quigley (55); Luke Walsh (NR) for O’Dwyer (57).

Referee: John Lillis (Drom & Inch).