Kavanagh shines as Lukes drive on
LUKE O’TOOLES BRAY EMMETS 4-9 0-7
ON Sunday afternoon last, Luke O’Tooles qualified to repersent Wicklow in the upcoming national Féile na nGael competition to be hosted in Cork in June.
Carnew Emmets and Bray Emmets were also in this group and all cancelled each other out on Saturday afternoon in the qualifying stages, also in Ballinakill, as all the three teams won and lost a game each.
As score difference doesn’t apply in juvenile, this option went out the window to decide the top two also.
Later on Saturday evening, Coiste na nÓg got a ruling from Croke Park that the three teams were to be put in the hat, and that the first two drawn out would play each other, the winners would go straight into the final and the runners up would play the third team, with the winners of this going into the final, so that the same scenario as Saturday couldn’t occur again.
Play it again Sam on Sunday morning was the call.
Carnew and Bray were both drawn out of the hat first, and after a tough battle Bray edged out Carnew on a scoreline of 2-6 to 1-5 in a tight encounter.
With this win Bray qualified for the ‘B’ final, with Carnew to battle off with Luke O Tooles for the other final spot.
After a tough physical encounter, O’Toole’s proved too strong for Carnew, winning on a scoreline of 4-4 to 0-2.
In the final, Luke O Tooles got off to a flying start with full-forward Alex Kavanagh firing over the two opening points of the match.
Adam Prunty split the posts from a free to get Bray off the mark moments later.
James Lambert drilled a shot past Eanna Hayes in the Bray goal, to raise a green flag for the Tinahely combination side.
Conor Broderick thought he was in for a Bray goal, but a sensational clearance by Barry Kealy cleared the danger.
Adam Prunty tagged on a second Bray point from another free as the play ebbed up and down the field.
Alex Kavanagh split the uprights with a powerful effort in the next attack. Sean Kenny shot over from an acute angle for the N11 side’s third white flag of the game. Cillian Ryder looked in for a certain goal, but a clinical save by Conaill O’Brien denied the Bray man.
Bray were applying a lot of pressure, but Barry Kealy was in flying form and cleared any sliotar, high or low that came his way.
Bray were further punished when O Tooles added the two final scores of the half, a point from the hurl of Dermot Toomey and a Stephen O’Toole goal, as the half-time whistle sounded with the score reading 2-5 to 0-3.
Bray got the opening point on the restart with some fine stickwork from Conor Broderick. Marc O’Shea had two fine blocks, as Bray couldn’t break through a well marshalled O’Toole’s rearguard.
Conaill O Brien saved another shot as Bray battled on.
However, they were punished when Alex Kavanagh landed 1-2 without reply to take a commanding league going into the final couple of minutes.
Lorcan Toomey landed a fourth major for O’Toole’s, but credit to a young Bray side who battled on and rallied off three unanswered points, all from Adam Prunty.
However, Alex Kavanagh landed the final brace of point before the full-time whistle sounded.
Coiste na nÓg Chairman Pat Dunne complimented all three teams, thanked Hugh Kenny and the referee, before presenting Luke O’Toole’s captain Alex Kavanagh with the winning trophy.
Scorers - Luke O’Tooles: Alex Kavanagh 1-8, James Lambert 1-0, Stephen O’Toole 1-0, Lorcan Toomey 1-0, Dermot Toomey 0-1.
Bray Emmets: Adam Prunty 0-5, Conor Broderick 0-1, Sean Kenny 0-1. Photos: Paul Messitt