Sizzling first half leads Louisburgh to glory

Homeland U16 'D' Final 

Louisburgh 3-9 

Moy Davitts 0-9

Paul O’Malley at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park 

Despite a much-improved second half showing from Moy Davitts, Louisburgh had their hard work done in a first half where they scored two goals to secure the U16 'D' Championship.

Thomas O’Toole, Michael Ball and Diarmuid Coen all hit the back of the net for the west Mayo side on the way to victory.

Ball was on the ball in the opening minute to fire Louisburgh ahead and James Duffy responded for Moy Davitts. That would be their only point for 24 minutes as Louisburgh took firm control of the final.

Thomas O’Toole found the net when his shot lacked power but trickled past the keeper nonetheless. They then took the next five points unanswered with the superb Alfie Maxwell hitting three, including two from play and the other from a free. Callum O’Grady and Sean Hoban were also among the scorers.

Cian Fahy stopped the rot for Moy Davitts on the 27-minute mark but it was a temporary reprieve as Louisburgh soon hit the next again. He collected a high ball and finished well from close range. Thomas O’Toole scored a point from play to bring the half to a close.

Moy Davitts were much improved in the second half and scored points through Dean Butler and James Duffy early on. Louisburgh captain Paul O’Malley replied with a point from play and another from a free. Cian Fahy hit two frees and Jamie Loughney scored one from play to keep Moy Davitts ticking away.

However, there was always the sense that Louisburgh could shift through the gears quickly and find another goal, having already come close through O’Malley, whose early effort flew just wide of the post. With 56 minutes played, Michael Ball played a lovely high pass over the top of the Moy Davitts defence and found Diarmuid Coen who finished.

Matthew Ruane and Killian Commons added further points for Moy Davitts to ensure that the three goals were the gap between the teams but it was a game Louisburgh never looked like losing after that impressive first half performance.

Scorers - Louisburgh: Michael Ball and Thomas O’Toole 1-1, Diarmuid Coen 1-0, Alfie Maxwell 0-3 (1f), Paul O’Malley 0-2 (1f), Sean Hoban and Callum O’Grady (f) 0-1 each.

Moy Davitts: Cian Fahy 0-3f, James Duffy 0-2, Matthew Ruane, Jamie Loughney, Dean Butler and Killian Commons 0-1 each.

Louisburgh: Luke Cox; James McLoughlin, Michael Heneghan, Sean Hoban; Conor McGreal, Darragh Maxwell, Leo Gibbons; Paul O’Malley, Callum O’Grady; Tiernan Needham, Brian Smyth, Alex Cusack; Alfie Maxwell, Thomas O’Toole, Michael Ball. Subs: Diarmuid Coen (for O’Toole 36); Cian Clarke (for McLoughlin 43); Nathan McCluskey (for Smyth 49); Colm Feeney (for Needham 58); Rory Grady (for Ball 60).

Moy Davitts: AJ McKeown; Jason Walsh, Padraig McKeown, Kiefer Walsh; Matthew Ruane, James Duffy, Brady Guilfoyle; Conal Reid, Cian Fahy; Jamie Loughney, Dean Butler, Donnacha Timlin; Senan Tolan, Dylan McHale, Joseph Horan. Subs: Rory Byrne (for Horan ht); Connall Reilly and Tom Gostic (for K Walsh and Byrne 50); Harry Reddington and Killian Commons (for Loughney and Timlin 53).

REF: Vincent Joyce (Claremorris)