Seven up as O’Toole’s overcome St Kevin’s
UNDER-20 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
LUKE O’TOOLE’S ST KEVIN’S 7-6 3-0
LUKE O Toole’s travelled to a wet, windy and sometimes torrid conditions in Hollywood, in the U-20 football championship on Sunday afternoon last.
The victors showed more composure when handling the greasy ball and dealt with the elements with greater ease.
In the early stages it looked like we would have a real tight battle, however the Tinahely backboned team seem to want to add another piece of silverware to their war chest, to go along with their IFC and Junior ‘C’ football titles for 2018.
Amby Miley got the opening score for St Kevin’s with a well-executed goal after a great ball in from Conal Byrne in the third minute.
Eoin Darcy pulled a shot wide with O’Toole’s first attack. O’Toole’s responded when Gearoid Murphy, won the resultant kickout and laid of to Rory Stokes, who cut through the Kevin’s rearguard, and unleashed a powerful shot that was initially saved by David Richardson, however Eoin Darcy was first in to finish the rebound to the net.
James Hedderman fired over a long-range point in the next attack as the rain bucketed down.
Liam Miley fielded a mark and sailed in a sublime pass to Amby Miley, who cannoned home his second major in the 12th minute.
The visitors found a bit of mo- mentum in the next period, a great move started by Curtis Keating was rewarded when Eoin Darcy boomed over a point.
Luke O’Tooles suffered a huge loss, when James Hedderman went off concussed.
Rory Stokes powered his way through on goal and found the back of Richardson’s net to close out the opening quarter, with the score reading 2-00 to 2-02.
O’Toole’s steadied the ship and built from there and things looked bleak for the home side as Eoin Darcy rose another green flag after a great pass in from Gearoid Murphy.
Dave Richardson under pressure, gathered a high ball under his crossbar and cleared, as the visitors upped the ante.
St Kevin’s were now under immense pressure as an O’Toole’s side backboned with a host of players from the Tinahely Intermediate champions, piled on the pressure.
Dan Ging dribbled the size 5 around three players and chipped into the top corner for O’Toole’s fourth major, as the heavens opened.
St Kevin’s lost Rob Kelly, to a needless black card, for remonstrating with the match official.
Midfielder Gearoid Murphy plundered another major for the visitors.
There was no way back for the home side, who struggled to get possession, to create any chances and sunk like the titanic.
Full-back, Kevin Mulhall slotted over a fine point before Rory Stokes landed a pointed free, as the half-time whistle sounded, with O’Toole’s in a commanding position leading 5-05 to 2-00.
O’Toole’s started where they left of, and when Daniel Ging and Rory Stokes each torpedoed a goal, it was game over, as there was no coming back from that.
Tadgh Miley and Dan Coyne battled valiantly and broke down a number of O’Toole attacks.
David Richardson brought off three more clinical saves as O’Toole’s sailed on.
Conal Byrne made a darting run of the field and fed Padraic Keogh who pulled his shot wide of the target.
The game petered out in the final ten minutes, Eoin Darcy floated over an eye catching point, for their last score of the match.
Charlie Clarke went on a storming run and found Padraic Keogh, who this time, sank the ball into Alex Byrne’s goal, as the final whistle shrilled.
Scorers - St. Kevin’s: Amby Miley 2-00, Padraig Keogh 1-00.
Luke O’Toole’s : Eoin Darcy 2-02, Rory Stokes 2-01, Daniel Ging 2-01, Gearoid Murphy 1-00, James Hedderman 0-01, Kevin Mulhall 0-01.