Arravale Rovers 1-15 Cashel King Cormacs 0-9
Arravale Rovers are the McGrath Oil
West Tipperary Under 21 A Football champions for the 20th time following their nine-point victory over Cashel King Cormacs in the final played at Golden on Sunday afternoon.
This was a repeat of the 2020 final, which was also won by the Tipperary Town side and this victory also gave them back-to-back titles for the first time since 2022.
While the scoreboard may have suggested a one-sided game, it certainly wasn't as Cashel gave their all, right up to the final whistle. They created at least three clear goal chances over the hour and were off-target from a few two-point attempts, both from placed balls and open play. The fact that these lads had played little or no football over the season was a contributing factor to their defeat.
Arravale, on the other hand, were the slicker and more clinical on the ball and moved it around well. Orrin Jones kicked three two-pointers from open play in a ten-minute spell coming up to the half-time break and these vital scores contributed to a seven-point cushion as they faced the wind for the second period.
Cashel staged a mini comeback early in the second half and a two-pointer from open play by Briain O’Donoghue was quickly followed up with a similar score from a placed ball from Ronan Connolly. This cut the deficit to five points with 25 minutes of normal time remaining. However, they were unable to add to these scores, with a couple of two-point attempts trailing off target and Arravale doing some huge defensive work.
The Tipperary Town side wrapped up the game with a Ciarán Kelly goal on 48 minutes and despite continuous attacks from Cashel over the closing ten minutes, they held firm.
Arravale Rovers availed of a strong wind for the opening half. Orrin Jones got the scoreboard moving after ninety seconds from a placed ball. Darragh Bresnan doubled their account before Cashel created their first goalscoring chance, but a scorching shot from Oisin O’Donoghue came back off the crossbar, with Arravale 'keeper Evan Ryan beaten. This was a let-off for Arravale early on, but it signalled Cashel’s intent.
Ciarán Kelly increased their lead when he finished from an Adam Ryan pass after eight minutes. Cashel attacked and another goal chance was cleared off the line. At the other end Ciarán Kelly showed a clean pair of heels as he cut open the Cashel defence but his shot was deflected by Evan O’Neill for a 45, which goalkeeper Evan Ryan converted to put his side four up.
Cashel kicked the next three minors, a free from Ronan Connolly that opened their account on 13 minutes was followed up by Oisin O’Donoghue from open play, before a move upfield involving Andy Irwin and Tuder Mereacre was finished by Lee O’Riordan.
The game was really won and lost in the ten minutes before the break, with Orrin Jones kicking a total of seven points. He kicked the first two-pointer of the game on 19 minutes and followed up with a converted free after the ball was moved up fifty metres for dissent. He kicked his second two-pointer on 28 minutes, before Ronan Connolly pulled one back from a free out on the left. A third two-pointer from Jones in added time gave the holders a seven-point cushion at the break, 0-11 to 0-4.
Arravale won the restart and Darragh Bresnan kicked his second minor after just ten seconds. He quickly added another within a minute, David Ryan being the provider of both occasions. Cashel then introduced Briain O’Donoghue to their attack and with his first touch he scored from outside the arc. Ronan Connolly followed up with another two-pointer, a free from around 45 metres, reducing the deficit to five with 25 minutes of normal time remaining, while also aided by the wind.
Darragh Bresnan kicked his fourth point, Adam Ryan again the provider, as Rovers eased back into a six-point advantage. Evan O’Neill saved from Alex Webster as the game moved from end to end. Cashel attacked in numbers but were off-target from a couple of two-point attempts, as the game headed into the final quarter.
Rovers effectively wrapped up the game with twelve minutes of normal time remaining. David Ryan won possession around midfield and his run at the defence found Jaye Cilvinas, who passed to the in-running Ciarán Kelly, who was clinical in his finish.
Try as they might, Cashel were unable to crack open the tight Arravale defence over the final ten minutes, their only score coming from Oisin O’Donoghue with the last kick of the game in added time.
Scorers: Arravale Rovers: Orrin Jones (0-8, 2f, 3x2pt), Ciarán Kelly (1-1), Darragh Bresnan (0-4), David Ryan (0-1), Evan Ryan (0-1 45).
Cashel King Cormacs: Ronan Connolly (0-4, 2f, 1x2ptf), Briain O’Donoghue (0-2, 2pt), Oisín O’Donoghue (0-2), Lee O’Riordan (0-1).
Arravale Rovers: Evan Ryan, Seán Lewis, Peter Ryan, Brendan Delaney, John Paul Lohan (captain), David Ryan, Jaye Cilvinas, Adam Ryan, Seán O’Mahony, Eoin Doocey, Orrin Jones, Donncha Quigley, Ciarán Kelly, Darragh Bresnan, Alex Webster.
Subs: Shane Quigley for Donncha Quigley (51), Oisín Hogan for Seán O’Mahony (55), Evan Carrie for Brendan Delaney (57), Tom O’Driscoll for Eoin Doocey (60), Conor O’Donoghue for Alex Webster (60).
Cashel King Cormacs: Evan O’Neill, Kyle Cully, Aidan Skeffington, Cian McGrath (captain), Calum Butler Buckley, Kieran O’Dwyer, Tudor Mereacre, Andy Irwin, Fabian Ryan, Lee O’Riordan, Ronan Connolly, Tommy O’Connor, Niall Hallissey, Oisin O’Donoghue, Eimhin Ryan.
Subs: Briain O’Donoghue for Eimhin Ryan (33), Cormac McInerney for Callum Butler Buckley (42), Anthony Walsh for Niall Hallissey (49), Oisín Dwan for Tudor Mereacre (50), Paddy O’Donoghue for Tommy O’Connor (58).
Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly).
