Arva secure promotion and place in league final
ACFL Division 2 semi-final
Arva 1-14
Cornafean 0-14
Arva left nothing behind them at Ballinagh last Saturday evening in fighting off a feisty challenge from ACFL Division Two promotion rivals and next-door neighbours Cornafean.
Ultimately, the town team’s success in stringing together a 1-4 scoring spree inside the opening five minutes of the second half made a huge difference in deciding the destination of the spoils.
In bagging a berth in the division two final and pinching promotion into the bargain, Arva proved to be marginally the more potent and consistent team.
That said, the Reds will wonder just how they didn’t manage to eke out the win for themselves given their excellent start to the match.
Cornafean looked in the mood to show their opponents a clean pair of heels in the first half as they notched four points, almost in as many minutes.
The blues found themselves up against the ropes from the get-go with Jack Wharton pointing after just 40 seconds. The in-form Wharton struck again moments later from a free before Dean Kilkenny pointed in the fourth minute and then Cormac Cullen added the Reds’ burgeoning tally of scores in the 5th minute.
As things panned out, the Reds’ sprint from the starting blocks proved to be arguably their bests period of the match and, sadly, for them, they failed to consistently find the target with such regularity thereafter.
Arva weren’t exactly on fire early on, of course, but Conor McEntee belatedly opened his side’s account in the 6th minute with a neat effort.
Conal Sheridan added to Arva’s renewed momentum with a free in the 8th minute but a Sheridan point for Cornafean in the 11th minute and one shortly afterwards by Dean Kilkenny left Arva looking to their laurels once more.
Barry Donnelly - with a fisted point - aided Arva’s cause and them just seconds later, Conal Sheridan kicked a tremendous point after great work by Ciaran Cooney.
Jason Miney then popped up with a very good point (20) and Cornafean looked on even more shaky ground when Conal Sheridan fired over a free (21) after Barry Donnelly was fouled.
Peter Doyle (26) and Conal Sheridan (free) – after a foul on Jonathan McCabe – traded points before Andrew Smith closed the scoring in the first half with a point (34) to leave it 0-9 to 0-6 in Cornafean’s favour at the interval.
The third quarter was a wholly different story though with Cornafean’s slow start on the restart and Arva’s clinical finishing turning the game on its head.
The second half started off with Arva’s Tristan Noah Hoffman pointing after just 50 seconds and then less than 90 seconds later good work by Barry Donnelly ended up with the aforementioned Hoffman finding the Cornafean net with aplomb.
Conal Sheridan then went on the rampage with three unanswered points to make it 1-4 without reply and leaving the Reds threading deep water.
Jack Wharton’s free (39) steadied the ship somewhat for Corfnafean but the respite for the chasing team was short-lived as Ciaran Brady and Jonathan McCabe (41) notched a point apiece.
Jack Wharton and Peter Doyle (53) kept the pressure on Arva as the clocked ticked by but a great save by Arva ‘keeper O’Hara in the dregs of the game – plus Conal Sheridan’s 66th minute point – helped make it Arva’s day.
Arva: Cian O’Hara; Charlie Madden, Mikey Cully, Danny Ellis; Stephen Ellis, Ciaran Brady (0-1), Shane Hamilton; Jonathan McCabe (0-1), Tristan Noah Hoffman (1-1; Ciaran Cooney, Conor McEntee (0-1), Thomas Brady; Barry Donnelly (0-1), Peter Morris, Conal Sheridan (0-9).
Subs: Kevin Bouchier; Finbar McAvinue; Bryan McEntee.
Cornafean: Emmet Martin; Ronan Traynor, Dan Wharton, Niall Corcoran; Shane Doyle, Mark Johnston, Jason Miney; Andrew Wharton, Cormac Cullen (0-1); Conor Sheridan (0-1), Dean Kilkenny (0-2), Barry Doyle; Jack Wharton (0-6), Andrew Smith, Peter Doyle (0-3).
Subs: Peter Hogan; James McGahern; Gerry Sheridan (0-1).
Photo courtesy of Arva GAA Facebook page.