LUKE O’TOOLE’S

Under-14 hurling ‘A’ championship – Carnew 2-11, Luke O’Toole’s 3-11 - Luke O’Toole’s under-14 hurlers played their first game in almost two months in the ‘ A’ championsip against Carnew in Carnew on Friday last.

Carnew were Divisional All-Ireland Féile winners and were fresh from a good win over Bray Emmets already in the championship so were going to be on top of their game.

Lukes were down two players but still had a panel of 19 to pick from.

The game started and with less than a minute gone John Toomey, who had broken his wrist just three weeks ago, had notched his first point. This was quickly followed in the third and fifth minutes with points from Adam Keegan and Matthew Ging for Lukes to go in to an early lead.

There was no panic in the Carnew side, they slowly got in to their stride and replied with four points of their own before a James McGing long range effort dropped under the crossbar for the first goal of the game. Carnew 1-04, Luke O’Tooles 0-03 after 16 minutes. Adam Keegan and Eoin Kavanagh traded points before Diarmuid Lambert scrambled over his first goal after Dara O’Shea’s ground strike was well stopped by the Carnew goalie.

Adam Keegan hit a further point from a free to leave it all square after 23 minutes. Carnew finished out the half stronger, Rory O’Dare made some great saves in the goals, to keep the goal safe but Carnew took some fine long range points to lead at the break at 1-08 to 1-05. Lukes came out in the second half with a different attitude, Adam Keegan with two points and Philip Toomey with one point, with Carnew’s only reply a point left only one point in it. However, Carnew were not finished just yet, James McGing scored a fantastic individual goal which was quickly followed up with a point to leave it 2-10 to 1-08 after 10 minutes and it looked like Carnew were going to push on and win this one. Diarmuid Lambert struck for his second goal with another ground strike, but again Carnew came back with a point.

On the 16th minute Adam Keegan struck for goal, his shout rebounded off the crossbar, but Philip Toomey was on hand and finished to the net for Lukes third goal. The sides were level at 3-08 to 2-11. Lukes made some vital changes at this stage and it seemed to stifle Carnew. Matthew Ging, Jake O’Kelly and John Toomey hit three unanswered points in the 19th, 23rd and 27th minute and the team saw out a nervous last few minutes with some great defending to come away with a very good win.

Oisin Dunne as always played a massive role in defence, where Shane Arthur, Dylan Byrne and Dan Hedderman also played magnificent. Jake O’Kelly, Jake Murphy, Bradley Hickey and Matthew Ging all did their part around the middle of the field while Adam Keegan, Philip Toomey and Diarmuid Lambert were the pick of the forwards. Rory O’Dare was thrown in at the deep end when asked to mind the goals and it was his magnificent saves that kept Lukes in the game when it looked like Carnew were going to take complete control. All in all a great team performance.

The under-12s play Avondale in the Mini