Kilruane MacDonaghs class wins out in County U19B hurling decider

FBD County U19B Hurling Championship Final 

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-23 

Arravale Rovers 1-16

By Liam Hogan

Kilruane’s greater finish pulled them well clear of a gallant Arravale Rovers side when the teams met in the FBD Insurance County U19 B Hurling final at Kilcommon last Saturday afternoon. 

The winners, who had eight under seventeen players on the starting lineup, had the greater all-round attacking front six including Michael Cleary who displayed nerves of steel as he finished the game with a top billing of 0-14.

Kilruane attacked from the word go and with the help of the breeze led 1-10 to 0-8. Was it enough we wondered as Arravale, who fought for every ball, came strong in the second half but lacked accuracy in front of goal, seven wides from scoreable positions, and the fact that the elements were kind to the winners with the breeze weakening in the second half. 

Kilruane played into the clubhouse end and had the best start possible. Michael Cleary pointed a free after fifty seconds and ninety seconds later Tommy O’Meara broke through the cover before firing to the net. 

But Arravale, with seven of the starting 15 still U17 players who lost narrowly to Holycross in the U17A semi-final, had midfielder Sean O’Mahoney as their best scoring threat both from frees and play and he scored three points in a row, the middle one from a free. 

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

Despite the setback, there was plenty to admire from Arravale where Ronan O’Connor plus Jay Cilvanis and Alex Webster at half-back were making many deliveries to the other end of the field forcing the Kilruane defence to foul on occasion. 

After another O’Mahoney free there followed by a fine point from the very dangerous Adam Ryan at centre forward followed before O’Mahoney scored another free following a foul on Adam Ryan. 

In the 20th minute, Kilruane were back in attack when Tommy O’Meara set up Brian O’Meara for a MacDonagh score. Seconds later Brian O’Meara hit Kilruane’s fifth wide of the half but he made amends a minute later when securing another well-taken score from outfield. 

Kilruane’s Jack Mulcahy showed great ability to win high ball and he won a free which Michel Cleary converted in the 24th minute. 

Arravale replied a minute later through David Ryan with the centre-back striding upfield to score. Half-time was fast approaching but yet enough time for another Cleary free after Cillian Healy won a free and from the puckout, Arravale combined for O’Mahoney to score his sixth of the half and his fourth free to make the half-time score read Kilruane 1-10 Arravale 0-8.

Now playing with the breeze, Arravale were expected to attack on the Kilruane lead and Sean O’Mahoney’s two frees followed by a point from play by Shane Quigley had the west champions two in arrears three minutes into the new 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 same added a point from play in the 35th minute.

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

The excellent Jay Cilvanis followed up with a point from almost halfway as Arravale continued their fightback with another O’Mahoney free following a foul on Adam Ryan leaving three points separating the teams 1-15 to 0-15.

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

Then the next five minutes would prove decisive as Michal Cleary pointed two frees before the same player added a point from play following a good 30-metre run by his brother Shane and in the 54th minute, Jack Mulcahy followed up with a point from play.  

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

Arravale hit back and managed to narrow the gap with a goal by full forward Cian Kelly but it was too little too late as Michael Cleary completed a great day for the young corner forward with his latest free. 

Kilruane were winners and the victory made up for the disappointment in losing the U17A semi-final to Holycross where eight of the players lined out.

Scorers for Kilruane: Michael Cleary (0-14, 0-10f, 0-1’65); Brian O’Meara 0-5; Tommy O’Meara 1-0; M Hennelly, Jack Mulcahy 0-2 each.

Scorers for Arravale Rovers: Sean O’Mahony (0-10, 0-8f); Ciaran Kelly 1-0; Adam Ryan, David Ryan, Jaye Cilvanis, Evan Ryan 0-1 each. 

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

Subs used: Charlie Kennedy for Burriss (HT).

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

Subs used: Robert O’Brien for Delaney (40); Stephen Ryan for Quigley (55); Luke Walsh for O’Dwyer (58). 

Referee: John Lillis (Drom & Inch)