Impressive second half display sees the title remain by the Nore
Castletown's Luke Delaney celebrates after scoring a his goal against the Harps on Sunday Photo: Denis Byrne
FOR the second year running these two underage specialists met in the minor hurling decider and again it was the curtain raiser to the senior final. The two have been the form teams all year, even though they were minus several of last year’s panels.
On Sunday it was the Harps who set the early pace, after Castletown took the lead with a point from distance by Tom Óg Phelan who was to have a huge influence as the game progressed.
The Harps struck for the game’s opening goal when an attempt by Jay Brophy bounced kindly for Eoin Delaney and he made no mistake with a good goal and he would go on to be a big player for the Harps, especially in the opening half.
At half time the Harps, after a good half hour, went to the break leading 2-9 to 1-7. The Castletown goal fell to Luke Delaney after a great pass by centre forward Cian Kirwan. Tom Óg Phelan fired over an excellent point.
The Harps needed to stay in touch and replied with a brace of points by Sean Dempsey and Jay Brophy.
Player of the match, Tom Óg Phelan fired another brace of points, but down at the Town end goal Eoin Delaney, another from last year, he added a brace of points to keep his side in the hunt. Jamie Mahony added a point for the Harps, followed by an Eoin Delaney point from a placed ball.
The champions were defending strongly but as the first half was reaching a closure the Harps had a tonic. Danny Campion went on a solo along the wing and then he spotted the in-running Eoin Delaney, picked him out and when the centre forward broke inside the Castletown defence he slammed great ball to the back of the Castletown net, and that against the run of play. The Harps needed that score and as teams went to the dressing room the scoreboard read 1-7 to 2-9 in favour of the Durrow side.
If the Harps got the right finish to the opening half, then they began where they left on the change of ends. Within a minute Liam Townsend added a point to their advantage.
However, Castletown responded with the next three scores. First it was Tom Óg Phelan with a well struck goal.
Eoin Delaney pointed for the Harps who were still playing well.
Then the Castletown danger man, Tom Óg Phelan struck for a brace of points before Castletown substitute Alex Brophy found the net. At this stage the champions were turning the screw adding points by Tom Óg Phelan while Jamie Mahony replied for the Harps.
Castletown went on to record fine points from Cian Kirwan and Joe Dunne, and it was fitting that Tom Óg Phelan closed the scoring with another brace of points for a winning margin of six points.
At full time, team captain Tom Óg Phelan was presented with the player of the match as well as the Harry Gray Perpetual Cup.
Tom Óg Phelan 1-12 (0-7fs, 0-1 65), Alex Brophy and Luke Delaney 1-0 each, Taidgh Dalton, Joe Dunne and Cian Kirwan and Daniel Cuddy 0-1 each.
Eoin Delaney 1-6 (0-5fs), Joey Dempsey 1-1, Jamie Mahony 0-2 (0-1f), Sean Dempsey, Jay Brophy, Danny Campion and Liam Townsend 0-1 each.
Odhran Cuddy; Jamie Phelan, Sean Phelan, Billy Byrne; David Peters, Daniel Whelan, Josh Sheridan; Ryan Byrne, Fionn Cuddy; Daniel Cuddy, Cian Kirwan, Joe Dunne; Tom Óg Phelan, Luke Delaney, Taidgh Dalton.
Alex Brophy for D Cuddy (38m), Eoin Delaney for Dalton (50m), Darragh Kearney for Sheridan (59m).
Sean Farrell; Jamie Fogarty, Harry Donohue, Fionn Sullivan; Evan Stanley, Tony Mahony, Conor Dempsey; Eoin Holland, Liam Townsend; Jamie Mahony, Eoin Delaney, Danny Campion; Joey Dempsey, Jay Brophy, Sean Dempsey.
Killian Murphy for Sullivan (ht).
JJ Gorman (Clough/Ballacolla)
