Ballyhaise hold on for narrow win over Arva in close contest

SFC round 3

Ballyhaise 1-15

Arva 1-14

Paul Fitzpatrick at Ballinagh

This battle of the last two Cavan Intermediate Champions, both of whom reached the provincial final in that grade only to lose by a point, was always expected to be close – and so it proved at Ballinagh on Saturday evening. On the balance of play, though, Ballyhaise were the better side, leading for most of the contest, opening a seven-point advantage in the first half and doing enough to hold off an Arva rally that almost earned them a share of the spoils.

Ballyhaise, fielding without county man Evan Crowe, got on top early.

Michael Brady, who caused problems with his powerful running, was fouled after two minutes and tapped over the free himself.

Aaron Watson added a placed ball and when Jack Dobson replied with Arva’s opener, Eoin Clarke – who impressed with his range of distribution – delivered a glorious 60-metre ball to Padraig Moore, who turned and clipped over for 0-3 to 0-1.

Arva then enjoyed their best spell of the half.

Dobson won and converted a two-point free from the arc and when the kick-out went over the sideline, Peter Morris curled over a superb effort from a tight angle. Suddenly Arva led 0-4 to 0-3 after 16 minutes. Clarke, though, swung the momentum back. Given space to advance, he nonchalantly struck over from 39 metres with his left and from the resulting kick-out, he won possession and sent Brady charging through for another score.

The impressive Brian O’Rourke was fielding well around the middle and Arva, despite their bright patch, had already racked up four wides.

The game’s first major score arrived on 25 minutes. Sean Óg Teevan’s shot was half-blocked but it fell kindly to Clarke, who showed great strength to hold off his man and lash the ball into the roof of the net.

When Brady followed up with a booming 50-metre two-point free, Ballyhaise were cruising at 1-8 to 0-4.

Arva, though, responded well, Dobson arrowing over a classy left-footed score. They went in at half-time six behind, 1-8 to 0-5, but would have been closer only for five wides.

The 2023 junior All-Ireland winners started the second half with intent. After another wide, Dylan Maguire created a chance for Jonathan McCabe, who pointed.

Michael Brady knocked over a close-range free before Conal Sheridan replied with a terrific effort from distance.

Dobson then showed leadership beyond his years, gathering possession 50 metres out, beating a man and swinging over a wonderful two-pointer.

The sap was rising but Ballyhaise steadied quickly, Martin Conaty knocking over with the outside of the boot.

Sheridan converted a free, McCabe added another, and with Ciaran Brady coming more into it, Arva were building momentum. Morris iced a two-pointer on the loop to level the match and it felt like Ballyhaise were on the ropes.

But they responded in style. Conaty threaded a clever pass to Moore, who sidestepped and slotted over, and Teevan’s pace then carried him clear to make it 1-12 to 0-13.

Ballyhaise could have stretched their lead further but Brady, unusually, was off target from a free.

Still, Teevan was proving a threat and when he darted into space again, he teed up Colin McKiernan for a neat finish.

Back came Arva with another Dobson free after Sheridan was fouled but Moore replied with a classy point on the loop.

Arva had chances. Bouchier was wide, Cian O’Hara missed a 45, and with time running out, Ballyhaise keeper Gary O’Rourke showed the way, venturing forward to convert from distance and leave it 1-15 to 0-14.

That looked decisive but Arva weren’t done. Brady picked out Tristan Noack Hofmann at the back post and he palmed home to cut the gap to one.

In injury time, Brady seemed to be fouled on another attack but referee Padraig Sheridan thought otherwise and waved play on; Ballyhaise held out.

Gerard O’Kane’s side were deserving winners, with Clarke outstanding in the first half, Brady a constant menace and Moore offering a focal point to attacks. Arva, for their part, will reflect on wastefulness and inconsistency but even so, they came within a whisker of snatching a draw.

Arva: Cian O’Hara; Dylan Maguire, James Morris, Finbar McAvinue; Éanna Ward, Stephen Sheridan, Paul Finnegan; Ciaran Brady, Tristan Noack Hofmann (1-0); Jamie Gray, Kevin Bouchier, Jonathan McCabe (0-2, 1f); Jack Dobson (0-7, 2pt, 2ptf, f), Peter Morris (0-3, 2pt), Conal Sheridan (0-2, 1f)

Subs: Thomas Partington

Ballyhaise: Gary O’Rourke; Fionan O’Reilly, Aodhagan Watters, Darren Reilly; Aaron Watson (0-1f), Ben Smith, Cormac Clarke; Eoin Clarke (1-1), Brian O’Rourke; Colin McKiernan (0-1), Michael Brady (0-5, 2f, 2pt), Sean Óg Teevan (0-1); Martin Conaty (0-1), Padraig Moore (0-4), Killian Brady.

Subs: Shane Briody

Ref: Padraig Sheridan