Super second half seals win for Lukes
O’Toole’s eventually dominate AGB
LUKE O’TOOLE’S 1-15 AGB 3-07
The U-17 football league game played in glorious sunny weather at Pearses Park, Arklow on Monday evening last, May 8, was a well contested and enjoyable game.
Two well matched and well drilled sides served up some fine football.
AGB led for almost all the game and were only overhauled in the last few minutes, but they can have few complaints as they only scored twice in the second half, a goal straight from the throw in and one further point.
The Luke O’Toole’s men gradually reeled their opponents in point by point and deservedly went ahead just as the game entered time added on by the referee.
Matthew Ging got the O’Toole’s on the scoreboard straight from the throw in. Jack O’Reilly equalised off his left foot in the fifth minute.
Matthew Ging restored the Luke O’Toole’s lead when a misunderstanding in the AGB defence allowed the ball to hop in the square and over the bar.
Jack O’Reilly levelled again, this time off his right foot. Both sides were moving the ball quickly up and down the field in flowing passing movements but, more often than not, they were taking too much out of the ball and movements were breaking down.
The O’Toole’s half-forward line was particularly dangerous. Matt Ging put his side two points ahead by the 16th minute.
AGB full-forward Sean Crowley struck the crossbar in the 11th minute.
Mark Hurley pointed on 17 minutes and almost immediately Crowley levelled scores with a shot that skimmed the crossbar.
Liam Moore put the home side ahead with a pointed free and it took a great save by Alex Byrne from a Connor Breslin shot to prevent an AGB goal on 22 minutes.
AGB were going through a period of dominance and Conor Breslin eventually got through for his goal.
Liam Moore added a point and O’Toole’s were struggling.
A goal by centre-forward Eoin Darcy followed by a fine point by midfielder James Hedderman brought Luke O’Toole’s back to within a point.
A Jack O’Reilly goal put daylight between the sides again but two points from Matt and Daniel Ging left AGB ahead by just tow points at the break 2-6 to 1-7.
They were probably worth more but over elaboration in the forward line cost them scores.
Conor Breslin scored a great goal for AGB right from the throw in after half-time. He gained possession, passed to Jack O’Reilly, took the return and sent on unstoppable shot to the roof of the net.
Mark Fitzgerald added a point but this was to be the last score for AGB. O’Toole’s buckled down to the task in hand and began to dominate the game.
Midfielders James Hedderman and Pierce Lawlor came strongly into the game and with full-forward Padraig Murray playing very deep, AGB were unable to mount as many attacks.
Despite making the same mistakes as their opponents in over elaboration in the forward division, they still began to pull down the lead.
Points from Padraig Murray, Pierce Lawlor, Matt Ging (2), Daniel Ging and eventually Rory Tompkins on 26 minutes brought the sides level.
Tompkins pointed a free just on full time to put his side ahead. Back came AGB and Jack O’Reilly was fouled on the 14 metre line out to the right of goal.
It was a free for a left footed player but Liam Moore’s right footed effort went across goal and wide. Back came Matthew Ging to seal a two-point win with the last kick of the game.
This was a very sporting game deservedly won by Luke O’Toole’s who totally dominated the second half.
Scorers - Luke O’Toole’s: Matthew Ging 0-8, Eoin Darcy 1-0, Daniel Ging 0-2, Rory Tompkins 0-2, James Hedderman, Padraig Murray and Pierce Lawlor 0-1 each.
AGB: Conor Breslin2-0, Jack O’Reilly 1-2, Liam Moore 0-2, Mark Hurley, Sean Crowley and Mark Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
Luke O’Toole’s: Alex Byrne; Daniel Hedderman, Darren Keegan, Jack Murray; Cian Moules, Eoghan Byrne, Bradley Hickey; James Hedderman, Pierce Lawlor; Matt Ging, Eoin Darcy, David Ging; Ruairi Tompkins, Padraig Murray, Christopher Doyle. Subs: Sean Doyle for Darren Keegan (BC).
AGB: Michael O’Reilly; Dylan Furlong, David Kealy, Brian Fennell; Sean Molloy, Andrew Maher, Tomas Lynch; Elliot Young, Mark Fitzgerald; Mark Hurley, Liam Moore, Conor Breslin; Jack O’Reilly, Sean Crowley, Ben Fennell. Subs: Chris Furlong for Mark Hurley. Darragh Murray for Ben Fennell (BC).
Referee: Anthony Nolan