Connacht Club U16 Hurling Championship Final
November 17, 2014
Tooreen Cruise to Connacht U16 Crown
Tooreen (Mayo) 2-14
Ahascragh/Fohenagh (Galway) 0-04
in The Connacht GAA Centre of Excelence
The Connacht GAA U16 Club Hurling Championship is a rare competition. It gives the U16 hurling Championship winners from Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon and Galway an opportunity to extend their club campaign, whilst experiencing at first hand what this Provincial club championship frenzy is all about. This year Carrick (Leitrim), Easkey (Sligo), Pearses (Roscommon) and Ahascragh/Fohenagh (Galway) got that opportunity, but it was the Tooreen hurling nursery in East Mayo who came away with the crown on this occasion. And not for the first time either - as the Mayo champions annexed their third title in a decade having previously held aloft the title in 2005 and 2011.
Galway U16C champions Ahascragh/Fohenagh came to the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan to take on the locals Tooreen. All the early attacking was done by Ahascragh/Fohenagh, and it took all of five minutes for the eventual winners to clear the ball out of their own half of the field. During this early dominance, Ahascragh opened their account through a free from rangy midfielder Mark Kelly. On their opening furore into opposition territory, it was Tooreen half forward Dylan Niland who opened his sides account with a point on the run from way out on the sideline. This score settled the locals and they went on to record two more quick-fire points from Brian Morley and Sean Kenny. Ahascragh rallied back, and aided by the gentle breeze in the opening half recorded two white flags of their own from Conor Cahill and Jack Kelly to bring the sides level at 0-3 apiece on the quarter hour mark. Alas, that was as close to the prize that the Galway lads came, as they went on to only register one point during the remainder of the game.
The foundation for Tooreens success was built during the second quarter of the game with Tooreen corner forward Sean Kenny recording a green flag on the 20th minute when Brian Morleys long clearance was met sweetly by Kenny at the edge of the square to shake Mark Connollys net. With their gander now up, Morley (2) and Kenny again finished the half strongly - with Ahascraghs only reply coming from a Mark Kelly free on the stroke of half time. Tooreen went in at the break in a commanding 1-6 to 0-4 lead, knowing that the elements would be aiding their scoring threat for the remainder of the game.
The Tooreen attack set about finishing their task on the restart. Scorer-in-chief Sean Kenny started the second period as he finished the first - recording two points in quick succession to dampen any Ahascragh revival. But it was Kennys second goal in the 35th minute of the tie which really showed the difference between the two outfits. After gaining possession on the edge of the 'D' - Tooreen full forward Michael McNeive found his team-mate Daniel Huane on the run - who in turn found Sean Kenny in space. As cool as you like - Kenny rounded the advancing Ahascragh goalie Mark Connolly before goaling low to put the result of the tie beyond doubt.
At this stage there was no way back into the tie for Ahascragh. Try as they might through advancing upfield runs from James Treacy, Sean Blehen and Cian Lawless - the Tooreen rearguard held firm. Captain John Cassidy at full-back, PJ Burke and Ross Egan stood solid, while behind them Bobby Douglas in the Tooreen nets dealt with everything which came his way.
Up front Tooreen continued to rack on the points with Sean Kenny (2), Brian Morley, David Gannon, Cillian English and substitute Eoin Delaney all troubling the umpires for the remainder of the game. Delaneys white flag was especially notable, as he converted from the sideline - over the shoulder - with his very first touch after being introduced. As the tie descended into its dying moments, referee John Doyle drew a halt to proceedings in front a very large local support.
After the game, Connacht GAA Hurling Games Manager Damien Coleman gave great praise to both teams for their endeavors - and thanked both sets of management teams for their promotion of our games. Fittingly, Tooreen captain John Cassidy received the Connacht Club U16 Hurling Shield on behalf of his team - a just reward for the solid hours hurling from the Tooreen full back.
Tooreen: Bobby Douglas; PJ Burke, John Cassidy, Conor Hunt; Michael Freyne, Ross Egan, Chris Murphy; Cillian English (0-1), David Gannon (0-1); Dylan Niland (0-1), Brian Morley (0-4), Shane Crinnegan; Daniel Huane, Michael McNeive, Sean Kenny (2-6,4f). Subs: Eoin Delaney (0-1) for Niland (inj), Darragh Crawley for McNeive, Nathan Boles for Hunt, Robert Lilly for Crinnegan, Sean Frayne for Burke.
Ahascragh/Fohenagh: Mark Connolly; Tommy Leonard, Cian Lawless, Oisin Delaney; Noel Ward, Sean Blehen, Darragh Glynn; Mark Kelly (0-2,2f), James Treacy; Jack Kelly (0-1), Brian Connolly, Liam Ward; Brendan McGuire, Conor Cahill (0-1), Thomas Kirwan. Subs: Patrick Mockler for Leonard, Owen Naughton for Ward, Jamie Kennedy for Kirwan.
Ref: John Doyle (Sligo)
