Thomastown win Under 21 A Hurling Title for the first time

Thomastown created history as they claimed the JJ Kavanagh and Sons Under 21 A Hurling Championship title for the first time ever when defeating Mooncoin in a thrilling decider at UPMC Nowlan Park.

In a game that saw the two South Kilkenny sides share 11 goals in total, Thomastown eventually did enough to come out on top after extra-time.

Mooncoin were bidding to repeat their minor success from 2018 and when they scored four first half goals , everything appeared to be on track for another victory as James O'Keeffe, Lee Tracey and Darragh Murphy all found the net.

Thomastown got an opening half goal themselves from Peter McDonald but with the wind at their back in the second period, Mooncoin looked in control when leading 4-4 to 1-7 at the half-time break.

Thomastown hit 11 wides during that opening half though and they stormed back into the game with goals from subs Rory Connellan and Alex Cass.

Those pair of goals edged Thomastown in front but Mooncoin responded valiantly with successive points from O'Keeffe and Killian Hogan.

Thomastown looked to have sealed the win when senior star Jack Holden scored a brilliant individual goal in the 55th minute but again Mooncoin came back with Mairtin Gannon finding the net.

It was then a frantic final few minutes before Thomastown's Peter McDonald knocked over a pair of points in stoppage time to level the contest.

Thomastown dominated the majority of the extra period  as they outscored Mooncoin 1-2 to 0-0 in the first half.

Pauric Kirwan's fortuitous goal from distance essentially being the difference between the sides as Thomastown found a way to get over the line.

Mooncoin did threaten to spoil the party when O'Keefe scored his hat-trick goal but despite piling on the pressure, they ran out of time as Thomastown claimed a landmark victory.

Teams and Scorers

Thomastown- Peter McDonald (1-7, 0-3f), Jack Holden (1-5, 0-2f), Pauric Kirwan (1-1), Rory Connellan, Alex Cass (1-0 each), Luke Connellan (0-2), Zach Bay Hammond, Diarmuid Galway, Conor Holden (0-1 each)

Mooncoin- James O’Keeffe (3-1), Killian Hogan (0-7, 0-3f and 0-1 65), Lee Tracey, Mairtin Gannon, Darragh Murphy (1-0 each), Adam Croke (0-3), Liam Hogan (0-1)

Thomastown- Luke McNena; Pauric Kirwan, Cian Moore, Oisin O’Reilly; Naoise Dempsey, Eddie Donnelly, Peter Connellan; Peter McDonald, Liam Treacy; Zach Bay Hammond, Luke Connellan, Diarmuid Galway; Paddy Collins, Jack Holden, Conor Holden.

Subs- Rory Connellan for Treacy h-t, Alex Cass for Collins h-t, Sean O’Keeffe for Galway 70 mins.

Mooncoin- Donnacha Hogan; Paraic Murphy, Cormac Kinsella, Robert Finn; Sean O’Dwyer, Aidan Doyle, Ryan Carroll; Liam Hogan, Killian Hogan; Adam Croke, Mairtin Gannon, James Delahunty; Lee Tracey, Darragh Murphy, James O’Keeffe.

Subs- James Aylward for Delahunty 42 mins, Michael Ryan for Murphy 53 mins, Mark Finn for Croke 60 mins.

Referee- Peter Burke (Emeralds)