Extra-time surge sees Toomevara crowned after Cashel thriller

County U16A Hurling Championship Final

Toomevara 0-27

Cashel King Cormacs 2-14

After a slumbering first half, Toomevara came to life in the second half but needed 80 minutes of thrilling action to see them win their first County U16A Hurling title in 27 years when they defeated a game Cashel side at The Ragg last Saturday evening.

This was a sweet one for Toome, who were County U15 winners last year, with Moycarkey Borris the victims, coming after a narrow semi-final win over Cashel.

Charlie Cummins scored Toomevara’s opener after thirty seconds, but MJ Kennedy replied with a free exactly 60 seconds later before scores were level for the second time inside five minutes.

Cashel had the game’s opening goal a minute later when Ben Fitzgerald scored after an assist by Cathal Bonnar. Fitzgerald had a great day at midfield, with defenders Scott Underwood, Robert Dunne and Adam O’Halloran having the measure of everything that came their way in the first half.

Colm O’Brien’s point narrowed the margin for Toomevara, but in the 13th minute Cashel hit the net a second time when Cormac O’Donoghue (brother to Tipp senior star Oisin) scored after MJ Kennedy and Cathal Bonnar were involved in the lead-up. Kennedy, Fitzgerald and Underwood were hoping to make amends for the defeat in their minor game against Newport seven days previous.

The next five minutes favoured Toomevara, two points to one, and their deficit might have been less had they concentrated on points instead of trying to walk the ball into the net before Cashel went six to the good after points by Fitzgerald and Cormac O’Donoghue. Charlie Cummins then doubled his account to see the half-time score at Cashel 2-5 Toomevara 0-6.

Something must have stirred in the Toomevara dressing room at half-time because their display in the opening minutes was chalk and cheese compared to their display in the first as they scored five unanswered points through KJ Dunne, Conor Hartnett, Dunne again, plus Aidan O’Gorman and the impressive Callum Ryan at centre-back.

MJ Kennedy replied with a free, but the Toome attack were full of battle and out first to the ball without exception as full-forward Colm O’Brien levelled matters, 2-6 to 0-12, after 36 minutes. However, Cashel had their moments too, but with the Toomevara backline giving little away in terms of play, their concession of frees became a worry as two MJ Kennedy frees gave Cashel some breathing space.

Despite lining out at wing-forward, Jayden Delaney was acting as a third midfielder and he reduced the deficit with a point. Further pressure by Toome saw a goal disallowed because play was called back for a free, which KJ Dunne surprisingly failed to convert as Toomevara’s wides from placed balls (including 65s) were increasing.

MJ Kennedy had no such worries as his latest effort had Cashel two in front again. From the restart, Dara Wyles scored, only to see Cormac O’Donoghue win the puck-out and send midfielder Robert Kelly on his way to move Cashel two in front once more with thirteen minutes remaining.

It was anyone’s game, but Toome fought back with KJ Dunne’s next free and Jayden Delaney’s point from play bringing the sides level for the fourth time in the 49th minute. Cormac O’Donoghue’s lead point for Cashel was matched by one from Colm O’Brien.

Toome looked the more dangerous, and they could have sealed the tie, but Cashel goalkeeper Kasper Marshall came off his line to bravely save Conor Hartnett’s shot, which resulted in a 65.

Dunne failed, but Toome’s next attack resulted in another free, and Jayden Delaney scored what was a possible winner with two minutes remaining.

However, Cashel were not for leaving, and they came forward, but the Toome defence stood firm until Scott Ryan won a close-in free, with the same player converting to bring matters to a halt and two ten-minute periods of extra-time to follow.

Extra-Time

It took KJ Dunne all of 24 seconds to see Toome start the first half of extra-time on the front foot, and the score signalled the start of a four-point run as three more were added through Evan Grace, plus a sideline ball from Jayden Delaney, along with one from Oliver Duff.

The start of the last half signalled another two points through KJ Dunne (his seventh point and fifth from play) before Delaney increased the margin from a free. Halfway through the half, Ben Fitzgerald ended the Cashel drought with a free, but with KJ Dunne acting as a sweeper, his many clearances had ensured more scoring chances as Evan Grace and Colm O’Brien concluded the Toome total, leaving the final word with Cormac O’Donoghue, who scored a consolation point deep into added time.

It was Toome’s first title since 1999, and their eighth in all as ten players made the scoresheet, but their backline deserve a mention, especially James Mounsey, Dan Daly and Callum Ryan, who just about edged it as man of the match ahead of Oliver Duff, KJ Dunne, Jayden Delaney and Colm O’Brien.

Spare a thought for Cashel, who had a disappointing week following their minor hurling semi-final defeat at the hands of Newport. Still, three of that team, Scott Underwood, Ben Fitzgerald and MJ Kennedy, gave it everything. At the same time, Kasper Marshall in goal, plus Robert Dunne, Adam O’Halloran, Robert Kelly, Cathal Bonnar and Cormac O’Donoghue, didn’t let the side down.

Toomevara: Donnacha Kelly; Michael Fitzpatrick, James Mounsey, Dan Daly; Robbie Powell, Callum Ryan (0-1), Matthew Bergin; Oliver Duff (0-1), KJ Dunne (0-7, 0-2 65s); Jayden Delaney (0-5, 0-2f), Conall Hartnett (0-1), Dara Wyles (0-2); Aidan O’Gorman (0-1), Colm O’Brien (0-5), Charlie Cummins (0-2).

Subs used: Evan Grace (0-2) for O’Gorman (58).

Cashel King Cormacs: Kasper Marshall; Oisin Quirke, Scott Underwood, Brian O’Dwyer; Robert Dunne, Adam O’Halloran, Joshua Mulcahy; Robert Kelly (0-2), Ben Fitzgerald (1-2, 0-1f); MJ Kennedy (0-6, 0-5f), Cathal Bonnar, Adam Hayde; Scott Ryan (0-1), Cormac O’Donoghue (1-2), Jamsie O’Donoghue.

Subs used: Luke Doyle for R Dunne (56); Dominic Flynn (0-1) for C O’Donoghue (ET).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)