Terrific Twomey’s scores are decisive as De La Salle advance

Eddie O’Donnell Monumental Works U-20A Hurling Championship Semi-Final 

De La Salle 3-13 

Mount Sion 0-13 

A dominant last quarter, that produced 1-6 without reply, saw De La Salle to victory over a dogged Mount Sion side in a hotly contested semi-final in Walsh Park on Saturday last. Not for the first time it was Jack Twomey who proved the difference between the sides with a personal tally of 1-4 in those closing stages.

Up to that last quarter there had been nothing between these two teams with the sides level on a score of 2-7 to 0-13. The scene changed significantly in the 48th minute when a fracas near the touchline on the stand side, involving players from both sides, held play up and after a couple of yellow cards had been issued play resumed with the Mount Sion challenge fading thereafter as De La Salle and Twomey took control of the game.

END TO END

As outsiders Mount Sion looked set for a strong challenge with Adam Regan causing early problems for the De La Salle defence as he shot his side into an early two point lead. Sion midfielder Scott Ryan received an early yellow card for a foul before Twomey opened De La Sale’s account from the free and Conor Keane followed up to level the tie for the first time. Regan and Rory Wymberry exchanged points before Mount Sion moved back into the lead with points from Regan and Scott Ryan after 15 minutes.

Jack Twomey was looking increasingly dangerous up front as he added two points (1F) to level matters at 0-5 each before Regan again raced through for the lead point in the 18th minute. The breakthrough came for De La Salle in the 21st minute when a well taken sideline cut by Conor Keane into the Sion goalmouth, deceived the hitherto reliable Evan Flanagan and dropped into the net for a 1-5 to 0-6 lead.

Mount Sion replied with another point from Regan (F) but in the 25th minute Twomey ran on to a breaking ball in the Sion goal area to finish to the net. Scott Ryan replied with a point but Twomey had the final say of the half with a pointed free to give his side a slightly flattering 2-6 to 0-8 halftime lead.

Mount Sion picked up the pace on the resumption with Adam Regan continuing to stretch the De La Salle defence as he sent over from play and a 65’ forcing De La Salle to assign Conor Keane to a man marking role. Jack Douglas sent over a point for a three point lead but between the 34th and 43rd minutes three points from Adam Regan frees had the sides level with all still to play for.

GAME CHANGER

De La Salle moved back into the lead with a Twomey point from a free following a foul on J. J. Cahill and then came the incident that changed the course of the game as the Mount Sion challenge dissolved and Jack Twomey showed his class in guiding his side to victory. Two points from frees and a game clinching goal in the 55th minute all but sealed the win and Twomey might easily have added a third goal a minute later but for sending a screamer from a penalty inches wide of the post. A further point was added by Twomey before Niall Dawson and J. J. Cahill completed the scoring in added time.

Apart from Jack Twomey De La Salle had big players in Kieran O’Sullivan and Daniel Lalor in defence and Conor Keane in midfield.

For a Mount Sion side that competed strongly up to the final quarter Adam Regan was outstanding with best support coming from Tadhg Corcoran, Manny Adebayo, and Jamie Meaney.

Scorers:- De La Salle – Jack Twomey 2-8 (0-6Fs), Conor Keane 1-1, Rory Wymberry, Niall Dawson, Jack Douglas and J. J. Cahill 0-1 each.

Mount Sion – Adam Regan 0-11 (5Fs,1’65’), Scott Ryan 0-2.

De La Salle – Charlie O’Callaghan, Jake O’Halloran, Kieran O’Sullivan, Jack Jacob, David Goff, Daniel Lalor, Naill Dawson, Conor Keane, Sam Cheevers, Jack Douglas, Fionn McGrath, Rory Wymberry, Ben O’Neill, J. J. Cahill, Jack Twomey. 

Subs – L. Staunton and J. Kavanagh.

Mount Sion – Evan Flanagan, Alex Walsh, Dylan Ryan, Hugh Flanagan, Emmanuel Adebayo, Tadhg Corcoran, Cormac Dunphy, Scott Ryan, Evan Mackey, Adam Regan, Conor Walsh, Mark O’Connor, Jamie Meaney, Lee Flanagan, Jarred O’Keeffe. 

Sub – Ben Hennessy.

Referee – Thomas Walsh (Modeligo).