Delaney on point as Carlow Town secure final spot
Dylan McGrath clears his lines for Carlow Town with Eamonn Lalor from Naomh Eoin applying the pressure.
This Stryve under 21 ‘A’ Hurling Championship semi-final at Netwatch Training Centre on Sunday could be described as a ‘game of two halves’. The first half belonged to Naomh Eoin as they held a three point lead (0-10 to 0-7) over Carlow Town at the break and increased it to five with a Sean Tracey goal two minutes into the last period. It was from here Carlow Town lifted their game and took control of the second period in a lively test of championship hurling.
Top scorer, Alex Delaney for Carlow Town, got the show on the road inside fifty seconds but Ciaran Kavanagh levelled. Delaney and Cian Quirke traded points before full-forward Jack Kelly edged Naomh Eoin in front. They were proving more industrious keeping a two-point margin between the sides and increasing it to four 0-9 to 0-5 eight minutes before the break. Kavanagh had Naomh Eoins last point of the opening half before Tom Behan for Carlow Town narrowed the gap to three when referee, David Hickey, called half-time.
On the restart the scores came fast. Delaney narrowed the gap to two but Sean Tracey shot to the net for a Naomh Eoin goal all under a minute and a half to leave the Myshall side 1-10 to 0-8. Carlow Town responded fast with three points from Delaney. James Ingram was on hand to shoot home their goal eight minutes in to the last period to edge his side ahead by a single point.
Even though they tried hard to stem the tide Naomh Eoin were coming under pressure as the Town men were hurling confidently. Further, points from Delaney, Brandon Cassidy and Harry Delaney opened up a three point lead for Carlow Town turning into the last quarter. Alarmingly for Naomh Eoin the scoring of the opening half dried up. They only registered two points in the last period from Cian Quirke frees.
The Carlow defence was now working solidly with Seanie McMahon, Conall McGuire, Sean Buggy, Brandon Cassidy, Eoin Townsend and James Ingram paying close attention to the Naomh Eoin forwards who had been causing problems in the opening period. Delaney and Dylan McGrath at midfield for the winners had some great duels with Tomas Doyle and Eamon Lalor.
Shane McCarthy at left half forward caught some fine high ball and along with Delaney, Jay Barcoe, Behan and Aaron Power were instrumental in getting the second half scores for the winners.
With ten minutes remaining four points separated the sides 1-15 to 1-11 and try as they might Naomh Eoin could not get the vital scores they needed as Delaney sent over Carlow Towns last three points to give them their tickets to the Stryve U-21 hurling final where they will meet Mount Leinster Rangers.
After giving their best Naomh Eoin will rue that they could have possibly have accumulated a few more scores in the opening half. In defence Declan Nolan, Paddy Doyle, Paddy Hogan, Aodhan Keogh battled hard. Up front, Sean Tracey, Kavanagh and Quirke tried hard to the end.
Alex Delaney (0-13), James Ingram (1-0), Harry Delaney (0-2), Brandon Cassidy (0-1), Shane McCarthy (0-1); Tom Behan (0-1)
Cian Quirke (0-7), Sean Treacy (1-2), Ciaran Kavanagh (0-2), Jack Kelly (0-1)
Finlay Racklyeft; Seanie McMahon, Conall McGuire, Sean Buggy; James Ingram, Brandon Cassidy, Eoin Townsend; Harry Delaney, Dylan McGrath; Jay Barcoe, Alex Delaney, Shane McCarthy; Tom Behan, Cian Campion, Aaron Power.
Brandon Farrell, Robbie Connolly, Joe Carbery, Aaron Walsh-Myles, Conor McDaid, Peter Lynch,
Kyle Foley; Eoghan Kavanagh, Aodhan Keogh, Paddy Hogan; Paddy Doyle, Declan Nolan, Ben Nolan, Tomas Doyle, Eamon Lalor, Sean Treacy, Andy Jordan, Cian Quirke, Alex Carroll, Jack Kelly, Ciaran Kavanagh.
Eoghan Kavanagh, Cian Kelly, Charlie Nolan, Shane Kenny, Darragh Fitzgerald, Ronan Lalor
David Hickey (Fenagh)
