Sensational finish sees Larkins grab Minor A title glory

Date Published: 14-Nov-2012

Tommy Larkins 4-8

Turloughmore 2-13

Noel Carney in Athenry

IT has taken two enthralling games to separate these wonderful young teams, but we finally got a winner at Kenny Park, Athenry last Sunday when Tommy Larkins came from behind to turn an eight-point deficit into a thrilling victory after possibly the game of the year in the replayed Minor A hurling championship final.

Champions in 2006, Larkins seemed to have lost their chance when falling 2-10 to 1-5 behind at the three-quarter stage against a Turloughmore side that had been reduced to 14 players after Michael Morris had been red-carded only minutes after kicking his team’s opening goal early on.

That blow only served to rouse Turlough to double their efforts, however, and they quickly surged into a 2-4 to 1-1 thanks to an Ultan Hurney goal after a tremendous run at the defence by Conor Shaughnessy. They were five points clear at the break and they were looking good until things started to go wrong in a disastrous four-minute spell early in the final quarter as Larkins came roaring back.

Firstly, big Jason Flynn caught a dropping ball and lashed it to the net, then he quickly added another and to compound Turlough’s woes they had brilliant corner-back Eoin Flaherty sent off for a foul on an opponent. Tommy Larkins now had the bit between their teeth and finally wore down their gallant opponents who found the numerical advantage too much for them.

All credit to the Woodford-Ballinakill side though. Ciaran Fahy’s lads seemed to have missed their opportunity with a little over ten minutes left. They never gave up on their dream and finally succeeded, but spare a thought for a young Turloughmore side that started with no less than eight under-16 players. They played out of their skins, were the better side for much of the match and actually led for most of it.

It was Larkins who scored first when Flynn, who was to play such a crucial role for them, drove over a free but Shaughnessy turned it around by converting two at the other end. Even though Stephen Keon blasted a goal for Larkins at the end of a move started by Andrew Moran, Turlough got a point from a Shaughnessy free and although he was foiled when another placed ball came back off a post, Morris was on hand to snatch a vital goal.

The unlucky Morris was then sent to the line when he appeared to swing at the ball but connected with an opponent, but it didn’t seem to affect his colleagues much and when a point from a long range Jamie Holland free was followed by a Hurney goal they were 2-4 to 1-1 ahead. Conor Gardiner and Hurney then swapped scores as did Jason Flynn (free) and Sean Linnane, who showed delightful ball control before driving over. The hard working Gardiner had the final score of the half to leave his side trailing, 2-6 to 1-4, at the change of ends.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.