Toomevara youngsters triumph in red-card drama to end 23-year wait

North Tipperary U16 A Hurling Championship Final

Toomevara 2-17

Newport 3-11

An enthralling second half was ruined by the disappointment of seeing three players sent off but, in the end, Toomevara’s know-how shone when they defeated Newport at Templederry last Saturday afternoon.

The extra player was a help also as fourteen men defeated thirteen, with the Greyhounds having to come from behind, 1-12 to 3-8, before outscoring the Mulcaire boys 1-5 to 0-3 in the last ten minutes of exciting fare as Toome, Under 15 champions twelve months ago, won their 12th North Under 16 title and first since 2003.

The first half was a tense, low-key affair which produced only twelve scores, with Toome leading 1-6 to 1-4 at half-time. In fact, the opening minutes had Toomevara on the front foot, with KJ Dunne’s early effort for a goal well saved by Newport goalkeeper Gavin Gaffney at the expense of a sixty-five.

Two minutes later, Toome did open the scoring, yes, with a goal as Conal Hartnett hit the back of the net after linking up with a move including Aidan O’Gorman and KJ Dunne.

From there, both defences began to settle down as Toome went 1-3 to 0-4 ahead before the tables turned in the 21st minute as Mike Coffey raced through to find the net after a Darragh Healy assist. Healy had caught Gaffney’s puck-out in the lead-up to the goal. A minute later, Toome were back level after Oliver Duff scored from far out.

Toome took up the baton again, but play was called up at the Newport twenty-metre line when a mild melee developed. Gerry Treacy had to take charge and he issued red cards to Dara Wyles, Toomevara, to be joined by Newport corner-back Noah Ryan Quinn. The restart was a Jayden Delaney free which put Toome in front.

Three minutes later, another Toome attack ended with a free into the Greyhounds which Delaney converted and, to make matters worse, Newport full-back Jack Landers was dismissed for a second yellow-card offence. Newport were now short two-thirds of their full-back line as the sides changed ends, with Toome in front by two.

The second half began with Harry Moloney’s pointed free, only to see KJ Dunne respond from halfway. One could see some urgency in the players now, and Newport had it most as they dominated the next four minutes, scoring 1-2 without reply.

JJ Roche scored first and, in the 37th minute, James Ryan had the ball in the Toome net after good work by Ben Maher before Mike Coffey made it a three-point game, 2-7 to 1-7.

Toome, who were more or less playing a defensive game at this period, helped Newport create more attacks, but Callum Ryan and Dan Daly were always in the right position to curb the Newport threat. In contrast, Toome made the most of the opportunities.

A Robbie Powell clearance found Aidan O’Gorman, who scored a point. In response, the very busy JJ Roche took on Toome and won a free, which Moloney converted. As the pace increased, Jayden Delaney replied in kind and, with the excellent KJ Dunne often the key man, Toome came once more, but Gaffney denied Colm O’Brien before play was called back for another pointed free by Delaney.

By the 45th minute, the sides were level as Dunne, Hartnett and Charlie Cummins were involved for Cummins to score the equaliser. A poor puck-out by Gaffney saw Oliver Duff gain possession and score the lead point in the 46th.

The end-to-end fare continued and, two minutes later, Newport were back in front as JJ Roche gave Donnacha Kelly no chance. Newport 3-8 Toomevara 1-12. Was there a shock on the cards?

But, as expected, Toome responded as Duff forced the excellent Gavin Gaffney to save at the expense of a sixty-five, which K J Dunne converted. Sixty seconds later, Dunne had levelled matters with another sixty-five. Harry Moloney’s free had Newport back in front.

However, the extra man was telling and, in the 55th minute, the game turned for the final time as Conal Hartnett doubled his goal account following another assist by Dunne.

Colm O’Brien increased the Toome lead. Michael Coffey replied two minutes later as the excitement and tension increased, with Moloney reducing the margin after another free after Ben Maher was fouled.

The next score was vital and Toome prospered as Delaney increased his total to eight with his first from play before wing-back Robbie Powell finished his fruitful day with a good point and the title was back in Toome for the first time since 2003.

Toomevara: Donnacha Kelly; Michael Fitzpatrick, James Mounsey, Danny Daly; Robbie Powell 0-1, Callum Ryan, Matthew Bergin; Oliver Duff (0-2), KJ Dunne (0-3, 0-1f, 0-1 65); Jayden Delaney (0-8, 0-7f), Conal Hartnett (2-0), Dara Wyles; Aidan O’Gorman (0-1), Colm O’Brien (0-1), Charlie Cummins (0-1).

Newport: Gavin Gaffney; Noah Ryan Quinn, Jack Landers, Rhys Guiney; Ryan Byrne, Ronan O’Mahony, Gearoid Gavin; James Egan (0-1), Tom McCabe; Harry Moloney (0-6, 0-5f), Darragh Healy (0-1), JJ Roche (1-1); Ben Maher, Mike Coffey (1-2), James Ryan (1-0).

Subs used: Bobby O’Connor for Maher (59).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh)