Toomevara edge Newport to North glory

GAA: North Tipperary Coiste na nOg Under 16 'B' Hurling Final

Toomevara 2-17

Newport 3-11

Report: Liam Hogan at Fr Kenyon Park, Templederry

Toomevara won their 12th North Tipperary Under 16 ‘A’ Hurling title with victory over Newport in an enthralling final on Saturday.

An enthralling game was overshadowed by the sending off of three players, and the extra man was decisive as the fourteen men defeated thirteen with the Greyhounds coming from behind in outscoring the Mulcair boys 1-5 to 0-3 in the last ten minutes.

The first half was a tense, low-key, affair which produced only twelve scores with Toome leading 1-6 to 1-4 at the interval.

The opening minutes had the greyhounds on the front foot with KJ Dunne’s early effort for a goal well saved by Newport goalkeeper Gavin Gaffney.

Two minutes later, Toome did open the scoring with a goal as Conal Hartnett hit the back of the net after linking up with a move including Aidan O’Gorman and 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 after catching Gaffney’s puckout in the lead up.

A minute later, Toome were back level after Oliver Duff scored from far out. Toome took up the baton again but play was halted when a melee developed. Referee Gerry Treacy had to take charge and issued red cards to Toomevara’s Dara Whyles and Newport corner back Noah Ryan Quinn.

The restart was a Jayden Delaney free which put Toome in front. Three minutes later, another attack ended with a free 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 backline 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 half-way.

One could see greater urgency 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, helped Newport create more attacks but Callum Ryan and Dan Daly were always to the right position to curb the threat.

Toome made most of their few opportunities. A Robbie Powell clearance found Aidan O’Gorman who pointed. In response, the very busy JJ Roche won a free and Moloney converted.

As the pace increased, Jayden Delaney replied in kind and with the excellent KJ Dunne often in 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 the latter to score the equaliser. A poor puckout 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 Roche gave Donnacha Kelly no chance. Newport 3-8 Toomevara 1-12. Was there a shock on the cards?

But, as expected, Toomevara responded as Duff forced the excellent Gavin Gaffney to save at the expense of a 65 which KJ Dunne converted. Sixty seconds later, Dunne levelled matters with another 65.

A Harry Moloney free had Newport back in front, however, the extra man started to tell, and in the 55th minute, the game turned for the final time as Conal Hartnett scored his second goal, 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 Jayden 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 Toomevara for the first time since 2003.

Player of the Match: KJ Dunne (Toomevara)

Toomevara: Donnacha Kelly; Michael Fitzpatrick, James Mounsey, Danny Daly; Robbie Powell 0-1, Callum Ryan, Matthew Bergin; Oliver Duff (0-2), KJ Duff (Capt, 0-3, 2 ‘65s); Jayden Delaney (0-8, 7f), Conal Hartnett 2-0, Dara Whyles; 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, 5f), Darragh Healy (0-1), JJ Roche (1-1); Ben Maher, Mike Coffey (1-2), James Ryan (1-0).

Sub: Bobby O’Connor for Maher (59).

Referee: Gerry Treacy (Borris-Ileigh).