Toomevara win North U13A hurling crown while Ballinahinch and Templederry combo claim B title

U13A North Tipperary Hurling Championship Final

Toomevara 1-14

Nenagh Éire Óg 1-5

Toomevara’s young Greyhounds were crowned North U13A champions after a terrific performance saw them get the better of a battling Nenagh Éire Óg side in the showpiece game of Saturday’s final festival in Borris-Ileigh.

Full value for the win, Toomevara led the game from start to finish with some brilliant performances around the pitch from a very balanced team who played with confidence and skill belying their youth.

Starting as they intended to go on throughout the contest, Toome made the most of the beautiful weather in Borris-Ileigh with Donnacha Kelly, Jayden Delaney (free), and Michéal Fitzgerald getting the first three points of the game in the opening ten minutes.

John Duggan fired over Nenagh’s first of the day in the 11th minute with a fine strike on the turn, but it was a struggle for the young Sky Blues to curtail their opponents as Toome continued to impress with their play and scoring range.

In particular, the influence and play of Jayden Delaney continued to plague Nenagh and the number ten hit the next four points (two free) with his striking a joy to behold for such a young lad and it gave Toome a 0-7 to 0-1 lead after 19 minutes.

Nenagh needed a response and their fighting spirit was there for all to see as they hit the next two points from Fionn Tucker frees before they were given a huge jolt in the 22nd minute when Kirsters Janitens pinged an outrageous shot into the top corner of the Toome net from nothing; game back on as a Jayden Delaney placed ball gave Toome a slender 0-8 to 1-3 lead at half-time.

It was a closer game on the scoreboard than it was in general play and that could have made the Toome boys nervous at half-time, but they came out fighting in the second half and dominated the game thereafter with Jayden Delaney (free) and the deadly Aidan O’Gorman’s goal after the throw-in, putting them 1-10 to 1-4 to the good.

From here, it was all that Toome needed to rediscover their confidence and they would hit four of the last five points of the game through O’Gorman, Delaney, and a first of the game from Theo Dunne to put their name firmly on the roll of honour.

Toome were outstanding in the game and have a well-balanced team at this grade with all of their players hurling well. In particular, the play of Jayden Delaney, Aidan O’Gorman, Conall Hartnett, and Charlie Hackett caught the eye and they will be full of confidence going into the county series.

Nenagh Éire Óg put up a defiant fight despite the loss and they had some impressive performances themselves with Kirsters Janitens, Fionn Tucker, and John Duggan catching the eye.

Toomevara: David McElligott; Charlie Hackett, Sean O’Brien; Neil Ryan, Robbie Powell, Conall Hartnett; Oliver Duff, Dan Daly; Donnacha Kelly (0-1), Jayden Delaney (0-9, 0-7f), Michéal Fitzpatrick (0-1); Aidan O’Gorman (1-2), Theo Dunne (0-1).

Subs used: Tadgh Ryan, Adam Cummins, Daniel Cleary.

Nenagh Éire Óg: Dylan Corrigan; Paraic Sheehy, Evan Jones; Daniel O’Leary, Kevin Hogan (0-1), Odhran Cahill; Harry Bailey, Harry Coughlan; David Mullarkey, Fionn Tucker (0-3f), James Hynes; Kirsters Janitens (1-0), John Duggan (0-1).

No subs used.

Referee: Ger Fitzpatrick (Roscrea)