Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill defeated Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams by 0-16 to 2-9 in the Tipperary Co-Op Super Valu sponsored West Senior Hurling Championship Final.
@EireOgAnnacarty Paidi O' Dwyer lifts the cup after their @Westtippgaa win today in Cashel. @TippFMSport pic.twitter.com/WIbluPNQ6F
— Michael P Ryan (@ryanmilestone) August 23, 2015
Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill take on Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams in the 86th running of the Tipperary Co-Op Super Valu sponsored West Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday August 23rd at 2.30pm in Cashel. The sides will be meeting for the second time in the West Championship this season having met in round 1 of the competition.
Sixteen years ago Kickhams went into the final as favourites. Now the tables have turned slightly and Eire Óg as current champions are this year’s. Favourites though I imagine will count for very little once the players cross that white line when two neighbouring parish’s collide. It will be the fifth meeting of the teams in the final and the first meeting of the sides since 1999 a game in which Kickhams convincingly came out on top. In fact Kickhams have defeated Eire Óg in their previous four encounters in the final to date, although three of those were in the late 30’s and 40’s.
When the sides clashed in 1999 Kickhams went in as favourites and duly deserved. It was widely expected that Eire Óg would put up a performance but Kickhams would win through. For Eire Óg it didn’t happen on the day as Kickhams won a one sided final. Their stories from there until now in the intervening years are contrasting yet similar.
Kickhams would contest the next four years finals but all ended in defeat. In 2006 they eventually get their hands on the trophy again as they surprised Clonoulty/R. The latter would reverse the result 12 months later, Kickhams’ last appearance in a West Final.
After the defeat in 1999, Eire Óg would not return to a West final for nine years and would play some of those years in the intermediate grade as it turned out to be rebuilding. They had a brief spell at Senior in 2004 when joined with Golden/K and won the West championship but came up against a very strong Toomevara side in the County Final. Following a county intermediate title in 2007 they were senior again and from 2008 to 2014 it would see them contest five West Senior Hurling Finals. In 2013 Clonoulty/R went into the West Final as favourites going for their seventh title in a row. Eire Óg had lost their three previous finals to same opposition and it was expected to be the same again. However Eire Óg came home with the title. A year later people doubted their credentials but again they stepped up to the plate to take a second title in a row.
What a difference a few years make, it is Eire Óg who are now the Kingpins of the division as they go in search of a third West title in a row. They too want to make their own bit of history as they look to the teams from the parish from 1941 to 1944 who captured four titles in a row. They will believe that it is time for them to become the new hero’s of the club.
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While most of the players from that 1999 final have retired such as Fergal Heaney, Brian Horgan, John McCormack and the Butlers they have now been replaced by a new generation. Aidan Butler came on as a sub in the final he now patrols the Kickhams side-line while Derek Breen was also a sub on the day has started the last two games for Kickhams.
Same too can be said of Eire Óg who had some great servants in Donnacha Horan, Liam Mooney, Vincent Ryan, John Quinn and Anthony Crosse they too have paved the way for next era of Eire Óg stars. Ollie Kelly and Kevin Fox played for Eire Óg on the day, and have now graduated to the roll of selector and manager respectively.
Eire Óg go into the game without a competitive match since their 1st round victory over Sundays opponents while Kickhams will have played two matches in the intervening period including the West semi-final just under a month ago.
On the first day out Dinny Crosse’s goal mid-way through the first half in that game proved to be difference at the final whistle as Eire Óg advanced. Kickhams though never looked out of the game and it took two points from Ronan O’Brien who had moved out the field as the clock ticked down to seal the issue for Eire Óg. Just over three months later in the same venue the sides will go head to head again.
When the draw for the competition was made in February most people would have predicted a fourth Eire Óg and Clonoulty/R final to be the outcome. Eire Óg came through on their side. Kickhams and Cappawhite would play the losers group final, Kickhams advancing to a semi-final against old foes Clonoulty/R. Kickhams were expected as usual to put it up to Clonoulty/R on the night but the Clonoulty men would eventually come through. Kickhams season would end on 26th July. Kickhams though had other ideas and on 26th July on a very wet and windy evening in Annacarty, Kickhams came storming into the game upsetting all the odds. Their work rate and hunger had to be admired as they returned to the final for the first time since 2007.
Eire Óg Annacarty go into the final having finished second in Group 3 of Roinn 1 of the County Senior Hurling Championship. They recovered from an opening round defeat to Killenaule, with victories over 2014 beaten County finalists Loughmore/C and Lorrha/Dorrha.
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams on the other hand had a contrasting County Championship group phase, finishing third in Group 1 of Roinn 2 defeating Moyne/T but tasting defeat against JK Brackens and Carrick Swans.
Kickhams will more than likely have Paddy Ryan in goal, Michael Heelan starting at full back which would provide an interesting dual should Conor O’Brien remain at full forward. James Shanahan and Padraig Hayes form the remainder of a strong full back line. Damien McGrath, Eoin Carew and Derek Breen form a very experienced half back line and will need to be on top of their game against a half forward line of Donal O’Dwyer, Paudie O’Dwyer and Dinny Crosse. Paul O’Dwyer and Ger Browne are likely to start in the midfield berth against Kevin Fox and Eoin Bradshaw. Niall O’Brien, Michael Shanahan and Shane Morrissey could form the half forward line up against the Eire Óg half back line of Paul Downey, Brian Fox and Tom Fox. Kickhams inside forward line of Brendan Ryan, David Butler and Johnny Ryan may be a lethal combination should they all click together on the day and this should be a fascinating tussle with the full back line of Diarmuid Ryan, Eoin Kennedy and Jeremy Furlong. And finally Darragh Mooney has now firmly established himself as the Eire Óg number one.
Paudie O’Dwyer is a very important player in the Eire Óg attack and as he showed in round 1 is deadly accurate from placed balls. David Butler in the Kickhams attack was superb from play and placed balls in their semi-final win over Clonoulty/R. Damien McGrath was to the fore for Kickhams in their semi-final win and his experience will be vital to the Kickhams cause come 2.30pm on Sunday. Brian Fox will be another to watch for Eire Óg and his energy in the Eire Óg half back line will propel the team further up the field. The O’Brien brothers of Ronan and Conor will bring a vast experience to this Eire Óg forward line with both well capable of getting scores. On the Kickhams side both Johnny Ryan and Brendan Ryan are a vital cog in the Kickhams full forward line as we have seen in their games to date.
Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill will be contesting their fifth final in six seasons, 24th in total and will be aiming to add to their 12 titles (2 were shared). In the process they will be hoping to make it three titles in a row having beaten Clonoulty/R in the last two deciders.
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams will be contesting their first final since 2007 and will be looking to win their first title in the grade since 2006 when they defeated Clonoulty/Rossmore in the final. They have contested the final on 29 previous occasions having won the title 17 times.
Whatever team wins there will be a few lads I’m sure on Monday heading to the local field or hitting a sliotar off the wall as they try to emulate their local heroes. Will Kickhams keep their unbeaten final run against Eire Óg going or will this Eire Óg team win the West for the third year in a row. Liam O’Neill presided over three drawn All Ireland hurling finals during his tenure as president of the GAA, Tom English has presided over the Eire Óg renaissance and will he be presenting the trophy to Eire Óg for a third time. History will count for nothing though when both sides cross the white line.
It should be a close and exciting encounter and while Eire Óg will start as favourites, if Kickhams bring the same intensity to the game they showed against Clonoulty/R in the semi-final, the result will be doubtful to the final whistle
By Jonathan Cullen Tue 18th Aug
