Magnificent second half sees Arva make history

All-Ireland Club JFC final

Arva 0-13

Listowel Emmets 0-10

Paul Fitzpatrick at Croke Park

Arva footballers are the toast of Cavan after they became the first club from the county to win an All-Ireland title at Croke Park after a magnificent second half performance which saw them topple favourites Listowel.

The various Kingdom representatives have won this competition 11 times in 21 renewals and the north Kerry club were strongly fancied to add their names to the roll of honour – and at half-time, they looked well on their way.

But Arva had other ideas and upped their game hugely to win by a three-point margin which, if anything, flattered the runners-up on the day.

Listowel weathered an early Arva storm and owned the second quarter to go in leading by 0-7 to 0-4 at the midway point. Finbar O’Reilly’s men hadn’t played near their best by that point but they were a different team on the resumption – they went after Listowel’s kick-out (winning 10 of the 14) and defended superbly, with full-back James Morris imperious throughout.

At midfield, Tristan Noack Hofmann was superb, with Kevin Bouchier and Peter Morris also shining in attack, but the Man of the Match award rightly went to captain Ciaran Brady, who again delivered a top-class performance when it was needed most.

Arva should have scored more; they kicked 10 wides, mostly from scoreable positions, as nerves played their part but Listowel also fluffed their lines in attack at times and had the ball in the net in injury time only for the referee to call it back for a free.

After a cagey opening 10 minutes, Arva hit the front when Hofmann found Brady, who twisted and turned to make space and fisted over the opening score.

Peter Morris curled over the next from the edge of the D after nice skill from Kevin Bouchier but Listowel are a team who can reel off flurries of scores and once Cormac Mulvihill opened their account, they did just that.

Captain Niall Collins kicked a nice point with the outside of the boot as Listowel began to exert serious pressure on the Arva kick-out. A lovely strike from Mulvihill was followed by a Sean Keane free as the Emmets made it four points in five minutes.

Arva replied with a well-taken Hofmann point after good work from Danny Ellis and Johnny McCabe on 19 minutes but the Kerrymen extended their lead to 0-5 to 0-3 when Eddie Healy pointed after a quick mark.

By that stage, the free count was 12-3 in favour of Listowel although that would even itself out in the second half. A David Keane free made it double scores; by now, Listowel’s dander was up but Arva hung in there, Kevin Bouchier nailing a missable free before Keane did likewise to leave three between them at the break.

So consistent and outstanding had been Arva’s form all year that they were winning most matches with a degree of comfort; now, they were faced with a fresh challenge, to come from three down having not played anywhere near their best against a Kerry side who were warming to their task.

Arva’s response was exemplary. From the very opening moments of the second half, it was clear that they had a fresh energy and confidence about them and were determined to have no regrets.

After an early wide, Brady won the resulting kick-out, drive through and pointed to get them going again. Over the following 15 minutes, they would rout the Listowel restart, which gave them a footing in the match again and allowed them to regain the lead by the 43rd minute.

Hofmann was fouled and Bouchier did the honours in pulling back another before Listowel spurned a couple of chances themselves, James Morris producing a spectacular diving block to deny Bryan Sweeney, although Sean Keane did knock over a point after the resulting 45 was scuffed.

That left it at 0-8 to 0-6 but the period that followed was where the game was won as Arva reeled off three in succession. A neat score on the turn from Hofmann was followed by a well-taken score from Peter Morris, in the pocket after Brady did well.

And when Arva stole the next kick-out and Brady sent over, they were in front, 0-9 to 0-8, and the sense grew that they could become the first Cavan men’s team to win an All-Ireland at this venue since the St Patrick’s College Hogan Cup team in 1972.

Listowel levelled with a David Keane free but found themselves at a numerical disadvantage moments later when veteran Ger McCarthy picked up a black card for a foul on McCabe.

Hofmann won a free which Bouchier converted as Arva grabbed back the lead. Listowel were still pushing – Charlie Madden came up with a vital interception at this stage – but Arva had momentum and pulled two clear when Bouchier converted another with the aid of the upright.

By this stage, Arva had won eight of Listowel’s 10 second-half kick-outs but poor shooting – they had 10 wides in total – meant the scoreboard was still close. Listowel were unlucky to see a shot strike the upright and fall into the grateful arms of McCabe as the Gods seemed to be smiling on the Cavanmen.

Still, they worked tirelessly, McCabe and James Morris producing a key turnover and then Peter Morris taking a pass from Bouchier and launching over a great point from 35 metres to make it 0-12 to 0-9 with exactly 57 minutes on the clock.

Arva needed an insurance point and they got it when that man Brady capitalised on another pinched kick-out. Listowel pressed hard on the home stretch and had the ball in the net, only for ref Anthony Nolan to call it back, having already sounded his whistle.

They got a point from the resulting free and there were some nervy moments deep in injury time but Arva held on, deservedly, to make history and crown a stunning season with national silverware.

Arva St Patrick’s: Cian O’Hara, Dylan Maguire, James Morris, Finbar McAvinue, Charlie Madden, Stephen Sheridan, Danny Ellis, Ciaran Brady (0-4), Tristan Noack Hofmann (0-2), Thomas Partington, Barry Donnelly, Jonathan McCabe, Peter Morris (0-3), Kevin Bouchier (0-4f), Conal Sheridan

Subs: Ciaran Stanley for D Ellis (41), Thomas Brady for C Sheridan (57), Paul Cassidy for P Morris (60)

Listowel Emmets: Cathal Keane, Ciaran Pierse, Niall Collins (0-1), Eddie Healy (0-1), Sean Keane (0-2, 1f), Eddie Browne, Micheál Kennedy, Joe Joe Grimes, Darragh Leahy, Jack McElligot, Bryan Sweeney, Ger McCarthy, Jamie McVeigh, Cormac Mulvihil (0-2)l, David Keane (0-3f)

Subs: Darragh Lynch for D Leahy (ht), Sam Tarrant (0-1f) for D Keane (50), Adam O’Rourke for B Sweeney (56), Cillian Holly for J McVeigh (58)

Ref: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)