Éire Óg edge out Luke O’Toole’s
 in a thriller

Éire Óg and Luke O’Toole’s fought out an intense battle in the Minor hurling championship on Tuesday night with the Greystones boys emerging as one-point winners in the end.

A warm evening in Greystones showcased a thrilling contest between these teams, an excellent hurling spectacle for spectators to enjoy.

This fourth round match was played as 13-a-side to facilitate Luke O’Tooles shortage of players. The Luke OToole’s team was decimated with players on holidays, injuries and preparations for the National Fleadh Ceoil.

The start had to be delayed to allow Luke OToole’s full-back Lorcan O’Toole to make it to the grounds. Five Under-15 players were called up to make a team.

In contrast, Éire Óg contained some county players. Something of a David and Goliath contest.

But despite the lack of numbers Luke O’Toole’s fought back after Éire Óg got off to the best possible start, taking an early 1-2 lead.

Paddy Marrinan rounded a ‘cold’ Luke O’Toole’s full-back Lorcan Toomey to rifle the goal on two minutes. Joshua Barry added two points, writing seemingly on the wall for youthful O’Toole’s.

Sean Byrne and Dominic O’Loughlin were defending like demons for Luke O’Toole’s, Lorcan Toomey warmed up, Éire Óg’s gallop halted.

O’Toole’s started making inroads but wayward shooting cost them. However Marc O’Shea, picked out by Brian Tallon with a pin-point pass, rounded the defence and fired home a classy goal, just the tonic Luke O’Toole’s needed.

Oscar Lane and Paddy Marrinan stretched Éire Óg’s lead, but confidence growing in the Luke’s team. Hitting a purple patch, Conaill O’Brien with a long-range point and Adam Lifely with three leveled the scoring for the first time on the 20-minute mark.

Game on and Éire Óg knew they were in a right battle.

Tackles were tough, the battle between Alec Bartac and Mikey Keogh particularly noteworthy.

Mick Carroll Moorehouse gave Éire Óg the lead but soon after Adam Lifely rifled a fine shot to the net to give Luke’s the lead for the first time.

Conaill O’Brien added a fine point from distance to stretch the lead to three points.

Alec Bartac responded with a well-taken goal and Joshua Barry added a pointed free giving Éire Óg the last say in the half and the half-time lead of 2-6 to 2-5.

Luke O’Toole’s’ Mikey Keogh sustained what turned out to be a fractured hand and Callum Keenaghan suffered a bout of illness, but both played on, no way were they going forfeit the game to Éire Óg. This team is made of steely stuff.

The second half continued in the same competitive vein as the first.

Brian Tallon levelled for O’Tooles. This sparked Éire Óg into life and points from Joshua Barry, Mick Carroll Moorehouse and a fine strike from the wing from Paddy Marrinan gave the Greystones lads some breathing space after seven minutes.

Luke’s were awarded a 20-metre free on eight minutes and Adam Lifely coolly slotted the ball to the back of the Éire Óg net to make it all square again.

There was some last-ditch defending by both sides at times, Callum Keenaghan put in a fine deflecting block as Mick Carroll Moorehouse pulled the trigger. 14-year-old Daniel Duffy made a fine save from Oscar Lane as he barrelled down on goal.

At the other end Dean Barry in goal and James O’Dowd at full-back were playing a lot of hurling to keep the Luke O’Toole’s attack at bay.

The next eight scores were shared with Adam Lifely firing over four frees against Éire Óg’s Mick Carroll Moorehouse, Alec Bartac, Paddy Marrinan and Joshua Barry’s (free) singles.

All square at 2-13 to 3-10 with 22 minutes on the clock. Adam Lifely gave Luke O’Toole’s a slender lead with another pointed free but this was quickly countered by Oscar Lane.

With 26 minutes gone Joshua Barry gave Éire Óg the advantage from a pointed free, he followed up again on 28 minutes leaving the home side two up going into the closing minutes.

Adam Lifely again responded for Luke’s from a free on 30 minutes but unfortunately Luke’s ran out of time as they chased down the clock and a well-deserved equalizer.

It was a humdinger of a game and credit to both teams for giving their all on the night.

Éire Óg: Dean Barry, Cian Power, James O’ Dowd, Hugh O’Carroll, Tom Meyler, Cathal Kirby, Daniel Burns, Tomas O’Connell, Oscar Lane 0-02, Alec Bartac 1-01, Ryan McCorrick, Joshua Barry 0-07, Sean Meyler, Paddy Marrinan 1-03, Mick Carroll Moorehouse 0-03, Rian Morris, Finn Morris, Sean McLaughlin, Johnny O’Brien, Cillian Brady, Ciaran Darcy.

Luke O’ Toole’s: Daniel Duffy, Sean Byrne, Lorcan Toomey, Dominic O’Loughlin, Callum Keenaghan, Mikey Keogh, Marc O’Shea 1-0, Adam Lifely 2-09, Brian Tallon 0-01, Conaill O’Brien 0-02, Finlay Jameson, Cormac Sheridan, Ross Welds.