Cavan Champions Arva too strong for Milltown in All-Ireland semi-final

AIB Football All-Ireland Junior Club Championship Semi-Final

Arva 2-16

Milltown 1-7

The final whistle in The Downs in Westmeath brought to an end a historic year for Milltown GAA club. They, alongside neighbours Allenwood, won Kildare and Leinster Championships and on Saturday took aim at All-Ireland semi-finals.

However, the semi-final stage is where that journey stopped this season as Milltown met Cavan champions Arva. It would be the Ulstermen who would get the opening score of the game too as Jonathan McCabe found himself in enough space to tempt him into a shot at the posts. McCabe slotted his effort between the sticks inside the opening minute.

Milltown would equalise just 60 seconds later when goalkeeper Alan Dignam curled over a superb free-kick off the ground from long-range. Dignam likely found it easy to find an ideal tuft of grass to prop up the ball as conditions were less than ideal under foot for this game.

The surface seemed to bother Arva much less however as they operated at a much more efficient level than their Kildare counterparts. Milltown had some decent possession early on, but when Arva fell into their defensive shape, Darren O’Shea’s men were either overly hurried or too sloppy to do damage.

Those early misplaced passes would be punished to the maximum as Arva knocked over scores on the break through Tristan Noack Hofmann, who tapped over a free after a swift counter-attack. As well as Kevin Bouchier who got his first of the day and his side’s third in the sixth minute.

Things looked ominous for Milltown as the points were flowing only in one direction. It looked like it was about to get even worse when Paul Cassidy was bearing down on Alan Dignam’s goal, but Cassidy took the safe option and extended his side’s lead to three with a simple point.

Milltown would lose the resulting kick out and be made to pay again as Peter Morris converted from close range. It was 0-5 to 0-1 and the Kildare side needed to stop the bleeding.

Just past the 11th minute mark, Patrick Donohoe got one down the other end in what was perhaps the point of the day with a stunning effort from the outside of his boot. 

Looking back on that score would tell you a lot about this game as Donohoe’s point was the only one from play for Milltown in the opening half, demonstrating what they were having to do, and attempt, to break down a superbly organised opposition.

Stephen Sherian would get the Cavan men back to scoring ways with a fine point. Just a minute later, Arva would register their first wide of the day and one of just three overall, another example of their ruthless efficiency.

Conor Sheerin reduced the gap to three for Milltown and despite looking second best, they were still within touching distance.

Milltown needed to be more patient in attack, pick their passes much more carefully, because Arva were in no rush to move out of their solid defensive shape. 

The Cavan men would give their opponents a perfect example of that down at the other end too as Jonathan McCabe picked out an exceptional pass through to Barry Donnelly.

Donnelly took the long ball in his stride before rounding Alan Dignam and finding the back of the net. The goal made it 1-6 to 0-3 in the 16th minute.

Things were looking bleak for the trailing side, but just when they were about to give Arva a taste of their own medicine on the counter-attack, Stephen Sheridan dragged down Conor Sheerin. The attack was lost for Milltown, but Sheridan was dismissed for a blatant black card offence.

The numerical advantage was an obvious opportunity for Milltown. However, when Sheridan ran back onto the field, they were a further point down, had missed three free-kicks, and dropped an effort from play into the ‘keeper's hands.

The sides would exchange points from set-pieces before the break to leave Arva with a commanding 1-8 to 0-4 lead at half-time.

In truth, there appeared to be little jeopardy left in this tie as Milltown just looked a  step off their semi-final opponents on the day.

Milltown’s loss wasn’t for the want of trying though as they attempted to create something big early on with a smartly worked short free-kick to Kevin Byrne. Byrne blasted his effort goalwards but saw his shot tipped over the bar by Cian O’Hara.

Arva would add some intrigue into this game all on their own however as Ronan O’Shea took aim at the posts. O’Shea’s effort dropped well short and under no challenge whatsoever the Arva goalkeeper spilled the ball behind him and the Umpire flagged that it had crossed the line. The blunder made it 1-10 to 1-6 and breathed some life into the travelling fans in green and red.

The next score was crucial and Milltown just couldn’t quite find it. One loss of possession and one turnover for overcarrying was like a dagger to the heart as you felt another score may just have inserted some doubt into Arva minds.

Huge credit must go to the Cavan men as they re-assumed control of this game. Milltown would get just one more score in this tie after the goal as Arva dominated the last quarter.

It ended up being a routine closing out for victory, but not before Paul Finnegan grabbed a goal for his side from the bench, no more than 15 seconds after entering the field.

The closing moments would be marred by frustrated scuffles as two Milltown men were sent to the sidelines. But the game was well gone at that stage as Arva took home a 2-16 to 1-7 victory and a place in the All-Ireland Club Junior final.

Arva, Kevin Bouchier 0-7 (0-4 frees), Barry Donnelly 1-2, Jonathan McCabe 0-3, Paul Finnegan 1-0, Tristan Noack Hofmann 0-1 (0-1 frees), Paul Cassidy 0-1, Peter Morris 0-1, Stephen Sheridan 0-1.

Milltown, Ronan O'Shea 1-0, Patrick Donohoe 0-2 (0-1 frees), Kevin Byrne 0-2, Alan Dignam 0-1 (0-1 frees), Conor Sheerin 0-1 (0-1 frees), Aaron Jacob 0-1.

ARVA: Cian O'Hora; Dylan Maguire, James Morris, Finbar McAvinue; Charlie Madden, Stephen Sheridan, Ciarán Stanley; Ciarán Brady, Tristian Nowck Hofmann; Thomas Partington, Barry Donnelly, Jonathan McCabe; Peter Morris, Kevin Bouchier, Paul Cassidy. Subs: Jamie Gray for Peter Morris (Half-time), Stephen Ellis for Finbar McAvinue (52 minutes), Bryan McEntee for Ciarán Brady (53 minutes), Paul Finnegan for Barry Donnelly (59 minutes).

MILLTOWN: Alan Dignam; Jamie Cross, Cian Buckley, Seán Murphy; Aaron Jacob, Colin O'Shea, Shane Daly; Kevin Byrne, Conor Sheerin; Karl Heuston, Ben Heuston, Ben Curran; Declan McKenna, Ronan O'Shea, Patrick Donohoe. Subs: Tom Stapleton for Aaron Jacob (45 minutes), Aaron Walker for Ben Curran (47 minutes), Sam O'Hara for Ben Heuston (56 minutes), Ian Fitzgerald for Karl Heuston (62 minutes).

Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary)