O’TOOLE’S SEE OFF ROCKS
Arthur to the fore in strong second half performance
LUKE O’TOOLE’S ARKLOW ROCKS 1-5 1-1
THE hurlers of Luke O’Toole’s and Arklow Rock Parnells served up a decent battle in Tinahely last Wednesday evening in the Division 1 under-15 hurling league.
While shooting may have been on the wayward side for both teams, it was a strong second half showing from the home side that propelled them to victory over a gallant Rocks side who never gave up the cause.
A major aspect of this game was the performance of Shane Arthur at centre-half back. The lofty Arthur snuffed out plenty of Rocks attacks and won the war with Conor Gahan, although Gahan looks a useful hurler who will have better days in the Rocks jersey without a doubt.
The Rocks did their scoring in the opening half.
There were si minutes on the clock when full-forward Thomas Kelly walloped home a fine groundstroke to the back of Alex Kavanagh’s net.
It would be the only blemish on 13-year-old Kavanagh’s record for the evening as he dealt with all other challenges superbly.
Dermot Toomey got Rocks off the mark with a fine point, but the Luke O’Toole’s men fired over a collection of wides over the next 15 minutes before the impressive Seosamh Kelly showed sweet skills to fire over a lovely score after 24 minutes to put the rocks 1-1 to 0-1 ahead.
However, what looked set to be a three-point advantage at the break became a draw game when Dermot Toomey lashed home to the back of Daniel O’Reilly’s net. It was a superbly taken goal and fully deserved by the Luke O’Toole’s men.
Both teams went at it hammer and tongs in the second half, but the O’Toole’s men just found it that bit easier to find the scores and they added points from Arthur (a free), the very impressive Larry Kinsella (a free), a superb score from the wing from Stephen O’Toole and another Larry Kinsella bomb to finish the scoring at 1-5 to 1-1.
A well-earned victory for Luke O’Toole’s.
Alex Kavanagh was solid in the goals, Ned Williams, Sam Carroll, Patrick Faye and Daragh Hayden all played big parts in the win while Callum Mutton, Rory O’Dare and Shane Arthur were big players in the engine room.
Up front, Larry Kinsella, Ciaran Lambert, Kevin Murray, Dermot Toomey and Stephen O’Toole looked useful in attack and will benefit from more hurling.
For the Rocks, they battled bravely all through the game, but it was one of those games where the scores just wouldn’t come.
Daniel O’Reilly is a very useful goalkeeper and has a mighty puck out. Casey Doyle, Liam Murphy, and Fionn Merrigan were competent in defence. Conor Gahan was utilised as a centre-half forward but met a big player in Shane Arthur.
Oisin Wood, Dara Furlong, Seosamh Kelly, Matt Curran, Sean McCarthy, Josh Tunney, Thomas Kelly, Tiernan Gahan, Paudric Kelly and Kyle Byrne worked hard all evening, with Seosamh Kelly really impressive.
Scorers – Luke O’Toole’s: Der- mot Toomey 1-1, Shane Arthur 0-1 (f), Larry Kinsella 0-02 (1f), Stephen O’Toole 0-1.
Arklow Rocks: Thomas Kelly 1-0, Seosamh Kelly 0-1.
1. Alex Kavanagh, 2. Ned Williams, 4. Sam Carroll, 5. Patrick Faye, 6. Daragh Hayden, 7. Callum Mutton, 8. Rory O’Dare, 10. Ciaran Lambert,
11. Shane Arthur, 12. Larry Kinsella, 13. Kevin Murray, 14. Dermot Toomey, 15. Stephen O’Toole.
1. Daniel O’Reilly, 3. Casey Doyle, 4. Liam Murphy,
5. Fionn Merrigan, 6. Conor Gahan, 7. Oisin wood, 8. Dara Furlong, 9. Seosamh Kelly, 10. Matt Curran, 11. Sean McCarthy, 12. Josh Tunney, 14. Thomas Kelly,
16. Tiernan Gahan, 17. Paudric Kelly, Kyle Byrne. Pat Moran (Carlow)