Baltinglass rejoice after superb win!
Stunning second half from O’Brien’s charges
BALTINGLASS LUKE O’TOOLES 1-11 0-09
WHAT a right belter of a football match this was. The two powerhouses of Minor football collided in the Minor A football championship final in Joule Park, Aughrim, last Sunday afternoon and it was the Baltinglass lads who managed to put a stop to the Luke O’Tooles march and storm home for a fantastic victory in front of a superb Baltinglass crowd.
Conditions didn’t allow for a wonderfully flowing game of football and the presence of a sweeper in the Luke O’Tooles defence offered a stiff challenge to the Baltinglass attack in the opening half, but, nevertheless, some of the play and scoring in this game were quite superb to say the least.
Both teams had arrived into this decider on the back of two good victories in the semi-finals. Luke O’Toole’s had downed a strong Blessington challenge while Baltinglass had emerged unscathed after a battle with Clara Gaels, both games played in Ballinakill at the same time.
Both teams possess some really talented young footballers, many of whom will no doubt line out for the county team in a few years if they maintain their progress and hard work. Names such as Christopher Grimes, Darragh Doyle, Johnny Keogh, Jack Fleming, Johnny Keogh, and Jack Hanlon on the Baltinglass team and footballers like Eoghan Byrne, Eoin Darcy, Ruairi Tompkins, and Matthew Ging on the Luke O’Tooles side are just a few of the strong talents on show in Joule Park, Aughrim, on Sunday last.
The major turning point of the game came after 29 minutes when a Jack Hanlon ball was gathered by the very impressive Jack Fleming who was playing inside for Baltinglass and being picked up by the very capable Gearoid Donohue. Both lads were enjoying a pitched battle up to this with Fleming looking like one of Baltinglass’s most effective players.
Fleming gathered between the 14 and the 21 and turned for goal with Donohue stuck to his side. Fleming powered on despite the strong challenging of Donohue and he managed to make it inside the square before Donohue fell and in doing so took Fleming out of it as well. Referee Robert Whelan pointed to the spot.
Up to this point the game had well and truly belonged to Luke O’Tooles. Two stunning points from full-forward Matthew Ging got the group team up and running and they were followed by a sweetly struck 45 from midfielder Eoin Darcy after five minutes with Baltinglass struggling to even launch and attack at this stage.
But attack they did and they got off the mark through Johnny Keogh after seven minutes. However, Baltinglass were finding it really difficult to deal with the Luke O’Tooles threat with Kevin Darcy’s men shooting towards the dressing rooms.
Eoin Darcy increased the Luke O’Tooles lead to 0-04 to 0-01 and things only got better for them in the next few moments with points from James Hedderman and a pointed free from Ruairi Tompkins.
Baltinglass needed something, anything, and they got it through Jason Sinnott, wearing 25 but started instead of Killian Kelly, who fired over two rapid points within 60 seconds of each other to pull Baltinglass kicking and screaming back into the game with 20 minutes gone.
It was much better from Baltinglass now in terms of balance of play. They recorded their first wide after this from full-forward Alan Barrett and Jack Fleming was also wayward with his shot but they were making inroads into Luke O’Tooles territory nonetheless.
With 28 minutes on the clock and 10 minutes since their last score it was Matthew Ging who stopped the rot and he fired over a free to make it 0-07 to 0-03.
Then we had the penalty drama to pull Baltinglass to within one and a sweet Tadhg O’Toole score levelled the game with only seconds remaining in the opening half. But, the last word of the half went to Ruairi Tompkins who sent over a screamer with 33 on the clock to send Luke O’Tooles in with a very precarious one-point lead and knowing that they facing into the wind and up towards the Rednagh Hill end for the second period.
Within 50 seconds of the restart, Baltinglass were level through a Johnny Keogh free after a foul on Tadhg O’Toole. Baltinglass looked totally committed to the second half. Jason Steed cleared a dangerous ball to Matthew Ging.
O’Tooles were not gone away though. Ging blazed across the Baltinglass goal after six minutes but Baltinglass struck next with Alan Barrett firing over with 10 on the second half clock and Baltinglass led. It was a massive moment in the game.
Sean O’Brien’s side had two goal chances in the next few moments but neither were taken. Keogh converted a free after 15. O’Toole went wide after 16 and Keogh went wide again shortly after.
But one man wasn’t going to be denied last Sunday in Joule Park, Aughrim, and that was Jack Hanlon. He bombed over a magic score to push Baltinglass ahead by three points and Tadgh O’Toole followed suit and all of a sudden Luke O’Tooles were in a real spot of bother. They had introduced Andy Foley after 37 minutes but their route to goal and their energy was being blocked and drained by an inspired Baltinglass crew.
Hanlon pointed after 22 minutes to make it 1-10 to 0-08. Sean O’Brien sent in Diamantino Marcu and Killian Kelly for Fleming and Liam Fisher.
Luke O’Tooles attacked. They were approaching the needing a goal phase of the game but a ball from Matthew Ging to Killian McDonald resulted in a point when a goal might have been on the table.
Johnny Keogh kept the Baltinglass tally on the up with a pointed free after 28 and back came O’Tooles but Baltinglass cleared one attack and Eoin Darcy went wide from a free.
Tom Keogh spurned a late goal chance for Baltinglass but it didn’t matter because they had done enough in the second half to secure a precious victory for the proud club and going by the reaction of the management, the players and substitutes and the large Baltinglass crowd in attendance, this was a victory that will be treasured and appreciated for many years to come.
Scorers – Baltinglass: Jack Hanlon 1-02 (p), Johnny Keogh 0-04 (3f), Jason Sinnott 0-02, Tadhg O’Toole 0-02, Alan Barrett 0-01.
Luke O’Toole’s: Matthew Ging 0-03 (1f), Eoin Darcy 0-02 (1 45), Ruairi Tompkins 0-02 (1f), Killian McDonald 0-01, James Hedderman 0-01.
William Rogers; Jason Steed, Christopher Grimes, Patrick Whelan; Jason Sinnott, Darragh Doyle, Colm Keogh; Karl Furlong, Sean Doody; Tadhg O’Toole, Johnny Keogh, Jack Fleming; Jack Hanlon, Alan Barrett, Liam Fisher. Subs: Tom Keogh for J Sinnott, Diamantino Marcu for J Fleming, Killian Kelly for L Fisher.
Cathal Lambert; Fionn Furlong, Kevin Mulhall, Gearoid Donohue; Daniel Ging, Eoghan Byrne, Adam Hadden; Eoin Darcy, James Hedderman; Bradley Hickey, Ruairi Tompkins, Killian McDonald; Pierce Lawlor, Matthew Ging, Pauric Murray. Subs: Andy Foley for P Lawlor, Daniel Hedderman for A Hadden, Sean Doyle for P Murray.
Robert Whelan (Kilcoole)