Thomastown advance to second successive Under 21 Hurling decider

Thomastown deservedly booked their passage through to the final of the under-21 A Championship, beating a gallant James Stephens team by three points in Larchfield.

Despite an impressive showing for much of the contest, Thomastown failed to find their mojo in the opening period and didn’t register a score in the opening 12 minutes. But to their credit, a strong response soon followed for the men in blue with a strong period in the second half.

It was the city side who were fastest out of the blocks, scoring two early goals.

Ben Cantwell and Stephen Manogue both sent the net bulging for the second time in two matches to open up a 2-0 to 0-0 lead after 11 minutes.

If the first goal wasn’t duly noted as a warning for Thomastown, the second certainly was, within seconds of Manogue’s goal, Peter McDonald converted his team’s first point of the day.

The 2-0 to 0-1 scoreboard aptly summed up the manner in which the game was flowing and the time of year too.

The teams exchanged scores for the next period before arguably the match defining moment midway through the first half.

Thomastown seized an opportunity to create an opening, the ball bobbled into the net with calls for square ball. However, referee Eoin Maher signalled for a penalty, with Peter McDonald not needing a second invitation to raise a green flag leaving the scoreline at 2-1 to 1-2 in favour of James Stephens.

The match began to gradually swing in Thomastown’s favour as the first half came to a finish but to their credit, the Village never wilted.

Three points apiece in the closing eight minutes meant at half-time James Stephens held a delicate 2-5 to 1-5 advantage.

The opening five minutes of the second half did little to separate the teams on the scoreboard, the Village shading the scoreline 2-8 to 2-7 despite a growing Thomastown tsunami.

The big sucker punch a goal from substitute Eanna O’Keeffe who put in an excellent showing during his stint on the pitch.

Colm Treacy and Naoise Dempsey notched scores for the away side while Oisin Bateman, Stephen Manogue and Ed McDermott kept the home side’s noses in front.

Thomastown took a grip of the game heading into the final quarter, eventually taking a 2-11 to 2-10 lead.

Three further scores from Thomastown gave Paddy Butler’s team a mountain to climb.

Two James Stephens scores including the point of the day from Ed McDermott did keep the Village in with a fighting chance but to no avail.

Thomastown put the cherry on top with a late Naoise Dempsey score to secure the 2-15 to 2-12 victory.

Thomastown: Luke Manenagh; Jimmy Maher, Cian Moore, Oisin O’Reilly; Zach Bay-Hammond, Peter Connellan, Podge Kirwan; Peter McDonald, Alex Cass; Cian Farrell, Luke Connellan, Naoise Dempsey; Conor Holden, Rory Connellan, Colm Treacy.

Sub: Eanna O’Keeffe.

James Stephens: Daniel Power; Stephen Power Kellett, Sam McEvoy, Noah Manogue; Paddy Kehoe, Adam O Connor, Oisin Bateman; Eoin Deely, Sean Bergin; Sean Deely, Ed Lauhoff, Jamie O'Keeffe; Ben Cantwell, Ed McDermott, Stephen Manogue.