Rousing homecoming in Arva for the Cavan junior football champions

Arva played Knockbride in the Final of the Michael Fitzpatrick Architects Junior Football Championship on Saturday evening last in Kingspan Breffni and got over the line winning by eight points in the end – Arva 2-11 Knockbride 0-9.

Two goals – one in either half by Man of the Match Conal Sheridan - gave Arva a cushion that Knockbride just couldn’t claw back. Arva were strong all over the field supporting each other all the time.

Arva opened the scoring when Ciaran Brady caught the throw in and headed goal ward before passing to Tristan Noach Hoffman who split the posts after 15 seconds. Knockbride replied inside the minute and Arva took the lead again with Hoffman on target (3 min) once more. A good Arva attack finished up with a great block by the Knockbride Goalie to deny Barry Donnelly.

A few minutes later it was the turn of the Arva Goalie Cian O’Hara to block a Knockbride Goal chance and with James Morris they blocked at least 3 further shots for goal with the ball eventually going over the bar (11 min). Hoffman hit his and Arva’s third point 2 minutes later and was followed by Jonathan McCabe with another (15 min).

Then following a great passing move up the field Conal Sheridan sent a rasping shot to the net (16 min) to leave Arva ahead 1-4 to 0-2. Mc Cabe added another point (19 min) before a brace from Knockbride to make it 1-5 to 0-4. Thomas Partington pointed for Arva (29 min) before Knockbride closed the first half with a point to leave it 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.

Four minutes were gone in the second half before Kevin Bouchier added to the Arva tally and another 4 minutes until Sheridan added another. Knockbride then hit 2 points (41 / 45 min) with a Bouchier point in between (42 min). Another sweeping move up the field by Arva resulted in Mc Cabe giving a superb pass to Sheridan who again hit the net (48 min). Knockbride were still battling hard all over the field with neither side scoring until Sheridan pointed 2 frees (60 / 62 min) followed by 2 Knockbride points (64 / 65 min) to leave Arva champions and winners of the Sean Leddy Cup. 

There were scenes of great jubilation as supporters spilled out from the Stand and Terrace to proclaim their hero’s. The team came home to a great welcome in St Patrick’s Hall where all the underage members (and some not so young) were waiting. The team were introduced onto the stage by Brían Ellis and Niall Brady. 

Arva Team – Cian O’ Hara, Dylan Maguire, James Morris, Finbar Mc Avinue, Thomas Brady, Stephen Sheridan, Danny Ellis, Ciarán Brady, Tristan Noach Hoffman (0-3), Thomas Partington (0-1), Barry Donnelly, Jonathan Mc Cabe (0-2), Peter Morris, Kevin Bouchier (0-2), Conal Sheridan (2-3). Sub’s – Ciaran Stanley, Stephen Ellis, Paul Cassidy, Danny Conneely. 

Arva will now set their sights on the Ulster Club Championship where they will play the Derry Champions at Owenbeg, Derry on the weekend 4 / 5 November

The homecoming was tinged with sadness as the word spread throughout the town that John Donnelly had passed away shortly after the game but hopefully he knew that his grandson had played a starring role for Arva. Go mbeidh sé í measc na n\Aingeal go deo.