What a Year It Has Been for the Luke O Toole S Team Already This Year

Luke O’ Toole’s Division 4 All-Ireland Feile Champions

This is what dreams are made of:

Foreword What a year it has been for the Luke O’ Toole’s team already this year. After 2 years of unsuccessfully trying to get an amalgamation off the ground, the all-important amalgamation finally took place this year when Aughrim and Tinahely agreed to join forces, in a bid to strengthen hurling in their respective towns.

Training commenced in February and the players gelled instantly. There was a mutual respect for each others talents and this would be the catalyst to forming a very good team. Team mentors Sean O’ Shea, Alan Dillon and Rory Connolly from Aughrim and Kieran O’ Shea and John Byrne from Tinahely, knew exactly the talents they had on their hands and they had a fair idea of how to get the best out of the players. Winning the Wicklow Feile was the first target and the players duly obliged by beating Avondale, Arklow Rocks and Bray Emmets in the group section before beating Michael Dwyers in the semi-final and Carnew in the final.

With that job done attention quickly turned to the National Feile. Luke O’ Toole’s used County league matches to help in their preparation and also sought practice matches against Naomh Eanna and Oulart the Ballagh, two very strong Wexford teams. Ger Cunningham the Dublin hurling Manager, Conor McDonald (Wexford senior hurling star) and Neil Ronan ( Ex-cork hurling forward and All-Ireland medalist) came in to offer some advice and do some coaching. Everything the mentors did was geared towards the National Feile.

On Fri 19th June the players and mentors departed for Carryduff, Co. Down. The Tinahely players got a great send off in Tinahely and when they arrived at Aughrim National School to pick up the Aughrim players, the whole team got a resounding send off from the Aughrim National school children, Brid Owens, principal of the school and mother to vice-captain Darragh Owens wished all her past pupils all the best and warned them and the rest of the team to come home with the All-Ireland title. When naming out all the current pupils and the past pupils on the team she asked if she had left any one out. The 3 mentors Alan Dillon, Sean O’ Shea and Kieran O’ Shea raised their hands. The bags and 240 bottles of water were loaded on the bus somehow and we went on our way.

The team arrived in good time to Carryduff and were warmly greeted by the Carryduff club, the players introduced themselves to the Carryduff players and relaxed before their 1st game.

Game 1 Group B: Luke O’ Tooles 2-02 Ruan (Clare) 1-02 Any designs that Luke O’ Toole’s were going to win a handy All-Ireland title were quickly dispelled as they faced a big battle against a Cyril Lyons trained Clare team. Although Luke O’ Toole’s stormed in to action and dominated the early proceedings, they quickly racked up the wides, 7 in all in the first 10 minutes, before Eoin Darcy finally got Luke’s on the score sheet with a solitary point. Nerves were clearly visible in the players finishing and the heads were beginning to drop as Ruan started getting a foothold in the game. Ruan hit 4 wides themselves before their outstanding No. 14 Ashley Brohan struck for a killer goal to leave the half time score 0-1 to 1-0. After the half time talk, the Luke O’ Toole players went out in the 2nd half to make amends. Within a minute of the restart Matthew Ging took possession and ran for goal. As the keeper came out to close him down he cheekily lobbed the keeper to score a magnificent goal and Luke’s were back in front. Luke’s defence with Gearoid Donoghue, Mark Clancy, Cillian McDonald and Darragh Owens playing some great hurling shut up shop and kept Ruan shooting from distance, the idea was to stop the supply of ball going in to Ruan’s danger man and this was working a treat with Goalie Conor Connolly cleaning up balls hopping in to him. Matthew Ging struck for his second goal after 3 minutes and it was thought that Luke’s would now press home their advantage, but this was not to be, Ruan kept working hard and just kept coming back and scored an important point after 6 minutes to leave just a goal in it. Stalemate ensued for a while thereafter with both defences on top and when Eoin Darcy struck for his second point with 3 minutes to go it looked like it was gameover but when Ruan hit their 2nd point with a minute remaining it meant that Luke’s would have a nervous finish. In the end they managed to keep Ruan out and got off to a nervy but winning start. Ruan were an accomplished side and it was generally felt that it would be better not to meet them again.

Game 2 Group B: Luke O’ Toole’s 4-09 Ballycran(Down) 1-02 Luke O’ Tooles came out of the traps quickly in this game. Eoin Darcy started the scoring with a point before Matthew Ging and Padraig O’ Shea added goals, it certainly looked like the flood gates would open, but again this didn’t happen the scoring stopped and Luke’s wide tally started to mount up again with the lads hitting 5 in a row before the half time whistle. Ballycran kept plugging away and were justly rewarded with 2 points to leave the half time score at 2-01 to 0-02. The boys were told to relax at half time and play their normal style of hurling and this seemed to work. In the second half Bradley Hickey quickly opened the scoring with a point and this was followed with further points from Matthew Ging and Adam Keegan. Eoin Darcy struck for Luke’s 3rd goal in the sixth minute and the game was effectively over. With Luke’s defence now in complete control the management emptied the bench to give all players some valuable game time. Eoin Darcy with 2pts Adam Keegan, Bradley Hickey and Eoghan Byrne with singles kept the scoreboard ticking over before Matthew Ging struck for the teams 4th goal. Ballycran got a consolation goal at the end when the ball came back off the post, to leave the final score at 4-09 to 1-02.

It was time now for the barbecue and presentation of gifts and the Carryduff club spared no expense, Luke O’ Toole’s and all their entourage were treated to a feast, with Michael Hayden thanking our hosts for their hospitality, we certainly learned a lot from them in our preparation for the football Feile to be held the following weekend. The Luke O’ Toole players were then matched up with their hosts, and went on their way, while the adults had a social evening in the Ivanhoe hotel, where by all accounts they had a good night.

Game 3 Group B: Luke O’ Toole’s 2-08 Carryduff (Down) 0-00 With Carryduff having lost their first two games, they weren’t really looking forward to this game, and with good reason within the first 2 minutes Eoghan Byrne with a point and John Toomey with a goal had the score at 1-01 to nil. 4 minutes later Adam Keegan with a point and John Toomey with his second goal pushed the lead out to 2- 02 to nil. Matthew Ging and Eoghan Byrne hit further points to leave it 2-06 to nil at half time. Luke O’ Toole’s having already qualified for the Cup Quarter-finals eased off the pressure and again emptied the bench to get all the players on to the pitch. Cathal Hayden, Jack Murray, Dara O’ Shea, Jake Murphy, Thomas Hayden and Padraig O’ Shea got their chance to shine for the team. Further points from John Toomey, Eoin Darcy and Oisin Dillon (2) completed the scoring.

Game 4 Qtr Final All- Ireland: Luke O’ Toole’s 4-07 Westport (Mayo) 0-02 Westport’s bus broke down on the way to Carryduff for this Qtr-final game which meant the game started 30 minutes late. This didn’t help in Westport’s preparation but it also made it difficult for the Luke O’ Toole mentors who had prepared their team for a 2.30pm start, and were only informed of the delay 5 minutes before throw in. The delay annoyed the Luke O’ Toole camp and when the game finally did start we saw the real Luke O’ Toole team show up, their backs were up. Within 3 minutes Luke’s scored 4 points through Eoin Darcy, John Toomey, Eoghan Byrne and Matthew Ging, John Toomey fired over his second point after 5 minutes before Eoin Darcy sprung to life with 2 smashing goals, John Toomey got in on the act again with Luke’s 3rd goal while Matthew Ging added a further point to finish Luke’s first half scoring. Luke O’ Tooles defence was as ever solid, with Gearoid Donoghue, Mark Clancy, Cillian McDonald and Jake O’ Kelly and goalkeeper , Conor Connolly all doing their work to perfection only allowing Westport in for one measly point. Half time score 3-06 to 0-01. The second half was much more competitive with Westport finally getting a foothold in the game. The Luke O’ Toole defence who had been magnificent up to now again kept to their task and only allowed long distance shooting. Westport hit one point and accumulated 4 wides during this period . Matthew Ging finished off the Luke O’ Toole’s scoring with a breakaway goal and point. Job done and an All-Ireland semi-final beckoned on Sunday.

The managers sat down to plan for Sunday and for the biggest day of these young lads lives. The biggest issue was that our hosts had planned for our players to go trampolining, Now, the question was should we allow them to go. In the end it was a unanimous decision and although we were taking a risk, the players had done tremendous, they had come to the Feile for some fun also, they had been looking forward to the adventure all week and the Carryduff hosts had put time and effort in to planning the event. They were allowed to go on the basis that there would be no horseplay. All players and mentors went to mass at 6pm, where Eoghan Byrne and Darragh Owens brought up the gifts and Padraig O’ Shea read a reading. The mass was special, a very nice priest (someone said he may have played hurling for Antrim at some point) complimented the players on their hurling skills and wished them all the success on Sunday. The jerseys were washed, jaffa cakes, jellies and bananas were purchased and hang sandwiches would be made for the trip to Garvaghy to Tyrone’s centre of Excellence on Sunday. The players needed lots of energy if they were going to pull this off.

Sunday morning arrived and there were no injuries picked up from the trampolining. We said our goodbye’s and headed to Garvaghy. A big number of Carryduff club members had already decided that they were going to make the trip to shout our lads on, the more the merrier. We arrived in Garvaghy in good time and were amazed with the amount of people arriving in trickles from Aughrim and Tinahely. We were definitely going to have huge support, so we better not disappoint.

Game 5 Div 4 Feile All- Ireland Semi-final Cup : Luke O’ Toole’s 2-10 Mount Sion ( Waterford) 2-03 The team had arrived in good spirits. The weather was cold, wet and windy, more like a winter’s day rather than a summer’s day. Luke’s game was delayed due to the other semi-final between Ruan and St Brigid’s Blackwater going to extra time. Ruan were the team Luke’s had beaten in the very first game, and they were still in it. They were unlucky to be beaten by 2 points, but we were glad in a way to see the back of them. The Luke O’ Toole’s game started at 1.40pm and with only a minute on the clock Bradley Hickey struck for Luke O’ Toole’s first point. A minute later Eoin Darcy broke through the Mount Sion defence and blasted home a goal, Matthew Ging added a point and at 1-02 to nil after 3 minutes it looked like Luke O’ Toole’s would win at a canter. The game settled down and Mount Sion scored a point from a free, this was followed up with their first point from play. Eoin Darcy added a point from a free for Luke O’ Toole’s to leave it at 1-03 to 0-02 with one minute to go to half time. Conor Connolly was playing another excellent game in goals, he stopped two points going over the bar and dived with his feet first to save a certain goal to keep the Mount Sion’s attack at bay, however what unfolded over the next few minutes left the Luke O’ Toole players and management a bit shell shocked. Some sloppy work from the Luke O’ Toole defence allowed Mount Sion to drive the ball across the goal where Darragh Owens and goalkeeper Conor Connolly went to catch the same ball only for them to fumble it into the net. This gave Mount Sion a massive lift, a minute in to injury time they added a second goal and with two minutes in to injury time another point. Within the space of 3 minute Luke O’ Toole’s went from being 4 points up to losing by 3. This was a complete disaster and it was the first time the Luke O’ Toole’s goal was breached twice in the same game. Heads were down at half time and the players looked tired and jaded. The players were told that they had been behind before and were able to come through, this would be no different as long as they stayed focused and kept pushing hard. Eoin Darcy had his few words to say to gee up the team. The second half started with the wind at Luke O’ Toole’s back. It was clear to see that the game got very, very tight, the room that was afforded to the Luke O’ Toole’s team in the first half didn’t exist anymore as the Mount Sion team went marking man to man. Luke’s found it impossible to break down the Mount Sion defence try as they might. With 10 minutes gone in the second half there was a glimmer of hope. Eoghan Byrne kept his nerve and slotted over a long rang free. 2 minutes later he did the exact same thing. A one point game. The game drifted in to injury time and Eoghan Byrne had a 3rd free, this time it was out on the sideline and with the wind and rain was almost impossible to score. Eoghan gave it his best and his shot went narrowly wide. That’s it we thought, the ref will blow the final whistle on the puck out. But he didn’t, one more chance then. Luke’s won the puck out and got the ball in to Eoin Darcy, who took it on, soloed 30mtrs before coolely splitting the posts to make it all square. This time the referee blew the final whistle and Luke’ O’ Toole’s were in dreamland. Final score 1-06 to 2-03. We new we just got a “Get out of Jail free card”. Coming off the pitch Eoin Darcy was hit by a Mount Sion player under the nose of the linesman and rightly so got his marching orders. There is no place for that type of behaviour in the game. The first 5 minutes of extra time was completely dominated by defences with Sean Campbell and Mark Clancy doing a particularly good job of clearing their lines. Luke O’ Tooles were playing against the wind and were on a containment exercise for these few minutes. On the turnover it was time for Luke O’ Toole’s boys to become men and when asked they weren’t found wanting. 5 minutes to an All- Ireland final with the wind at their backs. Adam Keegan who had let this game pass him by, up to now was on the end of a long puck in from midfield. The ball hopped and Adam tried to catch it and failed, however, he had the instinct to strike it on the ground, his connection wasn’t great but the ball dribbled across the goalkeeper and across the line. It may not have even hit the back of the net, but that didn’t matter it was a goal and Luke O’ Toole’s were ahead. Luke O’ Toole’s spirit was back and Mount Sion’s was broken. Eoin Darcy added 3 further points and John Toomey rounded off the scoring to leave the final score at 2-10 to 2-03. The 3 minute spell at the end of the first half when Mount Sion scored 2-01 had almost cost Luke O’ Toole’s an All- Ireland final slot and that is how close the margins are when you are playing at this level with short 30 minute games. Onwards and upwards for Luke O’ Toole’s. It must be said that the Luke O’ Tooles goalkeeper, Conor Connolly was a match winner along with Eoghan Byrne and Eoin Darcy, but it was the sheer fighting ability of all six/ eight defenders who kept the Mount Sion attack at bay for the whole of the second half and the two periods of extra time where they didn’t manage to score at all. Hats off to Gearoid Donoghue, Mark Clancy, Thomas Hayden, Dan Hedderman, Darragh Owens, Sean Campbell, Jack Murray and Cillian McDonald.

Game 6 Div 4 Feile All-Ireland Final : Luke O’ Toole’s 1-06 St Brigid’s Blackwater (Wexford) 1-01 With both teams having gone to extra time in their semi-finals, this had all the hallmarks of being a very tough game. With games being delayed due to extra time and presentations on the pitch, the game was put back to 4pm. With no dressing rooms available the team went back to the bus to keep dry and warm, not the ideal place to be sitting when you are preparing for an All-Ireland final. The Luke O’ Toole’s management team sat down and had a very long discussion on how to play the final. It was this meeting that laid the foundations to the Luke O’ Toole’s All-Ireland success. The management knew they had the players to win but they also knew they would have to do something different. It was decided to contain the St Brigid’s team as much as possible if we were playing against the wind, by utilising a corner forward as a 3rd midfielder. The small but very skilful John Toomey was put in full forward and Eoin Darcy was given the 3rd midfielder role. The game started lively and as per usual Luke O’ Toole’s scored first with a point from Eoin Darcy. This was however the only score Luke O Toole’s would get in the first half, try as they might Luke O’ Toole’s could not break down the St Brigid’s defence. John Toomey had the best chance of the half when the ball fell to his feet but as he pulled on it he hit the ground first and the goalkeeper saved easily. John had more time than he thought to make sure and normally you would have put your house on him scoring, but things can be very different in an All-Ireland final. Luke O’ Toole’s were dominating proceedings and continued to press forward, however they hit 4 wides on the trot and with the St Brigid’s full back playing a stormer it was hard to see where the scores were going to come from. At the other end Luke O’ Toole’s three midfielders and defence were doing a marvellous job of containing the St Brigid’s attacks, no more so that Jake O’ Kelly who was getting out first to the ball and clearing his lines well. Mark Clancy was again dominating and if he could have made the ball stick to his hand he would have made his life so much easier. St Brigid’s struck for their first point on the 10 minute mark and on the stroke of half time got an all important goal when one of the Luke O’ Toole players failed to track back. This time there was no panic at half time, we had done out containment job very well and we knew the wind would be a big factor in the second half. On the re-start Eoin Darcy was moved back in to the full forward line and within 3 minutes he went on a trademark solo run and as the crowds from Aughrim and Tinahely held their breath he smashed the ball to the back of the St Brigid’s net. Game on. Matthew Ging went on one of his solo runs 3 minutes later and tapped over a point for the lead and with the spirit in the team starting to rise, the magnificent John Toomey slotted over two fantastic points to stretch the lead out to 3. Eoghan Byrne, who played a captain’s role throughout the Feile and was giving a man of the match performance from midfield added the insurance point with 4 minutes remaining. Eoin Darcy as he had started the scoring for Luke O’ Toole’s in the first game of the Feile typically had the last word by scoring the last point of the Feile deep in to injury time, to leave the final score at 1-06 to 1-01, with the defence again as a whole keeping the opposition at bay for the second half.

The Aftermath The supporters from Tinahely and Aughrim poured on to the pitch and the players went crazy, nobody could believe what just happened. There were hugs, and kisses all round, handshakes and tears. It got emotional very quickly as it was slowly dawning on people the marvellous achievement of these young lads.

Eoghan Byrne played a captains role throughout the Feile, as he has done so all year. In his victory speech he thanked St Brigid’s for an excellent game of hurling, he thanked his own team for their super efforts, the referee’s linesman and umpires for a job well done, and the coaches for all their hard work and dedication. He thanked the host families for their hospitality over the weekend and for making the trip to Garvaghy and also the travelling supporters from Tinahely and Aughrim who made the long trip up this morning.

Thousands of photographs were taken as everyone wanted to be pictured with the trophy and celebrations continued on in to the dressing rooms where 4 of the 5 coaches were soaked to the skin with water being poured on them from the players – Rory was too cute to come in. it was probably the players way of saying thank you, or maybe they just had enough of the coaches at this stage.

The players boarded the bus for home and were somewhat quite, Darcy got cramp and suggested that they should have done the cool down after the match after all. The team bus, a bit fuller now than when we were going to Down, pulled in at Lusk for a bite to eat before arriving at 9.45 at their first port of call – Aughrim. The scenes were amazing in Aughrim, upwards of 200 people turned out with flags flying everywhere to welcome Team Captain, Eoghan Byrne and Vice-Captain Darragh Owens off the bus. The players didn’t expect this. Photos’ were taken at the monument and many a hug and handshake took place. Liam Keenan as club chairman mentioned something about a 1981 team that went to Galway, where Alan Dillon, Kieran and Sean O’ Shea played, this surely pales into insignificance now and then an emotional Kieran O’ Shea as head coach broke down as he tried to get out the words to express the significance of this All- Ireland win. The first time it has ever been achieved in either Aughrim or Tinahely and it may be a long time before it will happen again. The players loaded back on to the bus with some more strays and it was off to Tinahely. The first songs of the trip were coming from the back of the bus and thank god it was only a short trip as the boys sang the same song 3 times. The turn out in Tinahely was even, upwards of 300 people turned out to welcome the victorious team home. It was now Michael Hayden’s turn to speak and the likes of Thomas Murphy, Niall O’ Dare, Mickey Murray and Coleman Byrnes’ names were mentioned as part of this combined Aughrim/Tinahely 1981 team. Michael was so proud of the players achievements and it is a memory that will long live in both towns from now. Kieran again said some words before as did Captain Eoghan Byrne before Tinahely Club President, Pat Doyle spoke of the achievement.

Who would have believed it, an U14 hurling team from the towns of Aughrim and Tinahely joining together to win an All-Ireland hurling Feile. Juvenile hurling was resurrected in Aughrim 7 years ago when this bunch of Aughrim players came on the scene and it started 3 years ago in Tinahely, with Eoin Darcy doing his early hurling in Aughrim. Neither club has an adult hurling team at present. Reading through the hurling Feile Programme you could quickly point to the hurling history of most of the clubs. Aughrim has some tradition in hurling winning junior and intermediate titles down the years but never a senior title. Tinahely has no tradition in hurling but have faired very well in football down through the years. To win an All- Ireland with very little hurling tradition and beating in to submission all 3 semi-finalists from the mighty hurling counties of Clare, Waterford and Wexford is something special and it is surely a remarkable achievement from a great bunch of players. These young men may not realise it but they have made history in their respective clubs, where their feats will live long in the memory of all who had the privilege of seeing them in action over the weekend of 19th to 21st June 2015.

The Feile Na nGael rules committee must also take credit for introducing the minimum of 4 subs rules. The rule meant that each and every one of the players played their part in bringing home this All- Ireland title to Wicklow.

One other point that should be made is that the full panel of players were exemplary right through the weekend. They were excellent ambassadors for Tinahely and Aughrim, they got down to business when they played hurling and they made and enjoyed the craic afterwards. Each and every parent should be proud of their child, remember the saying “ a street angel and a house devil”.

Scores for: 15-42 (87pts) Scores against : 5-15 (30pts) Scorers: Eoin Darcy 5-14, Matthew Ging 5-07, John Toomey 3-06, Eoghan Byrne 0- 07, Adam Keegan 1-03, Bradley Hickey 1-03, Padraig O’ Shea 1-00, Oisin Dillon 0- 02

The full panel of All- Ireland medalists are: Conor Connolly, Daniel Hedderman, Mark Clancy, Darragh Owens, Sean Campbell, Eoghan Byrne, Cillian McDonald, Bradley Hickey, John Toomey, Jake O’ Kelly, Gearoid Donoghue, Eoin Darcy, Adam Keegan, Matthew Ging, Dara O’ Shea Oisin Dillon, Diarmuid Lambert, Thomas Hayden, Padraig O’ Shea, Jack Murray, Jake Murphy, and Oisin Dunne who unfortunately was unavailable for the Feile finals.

by Sean O’ Shea, mentor