Phelan to the fore as Castletown win back-to-back Laois GAA Minor Hurling titles

Castletown are once again the kings of Laois underage hurling after they captured back-to-back Midlands Park Hotel Minor Hurling Championship titles with a hard-fought victory over The Harps in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon.

The contest, which served as the curtain-raiser to the Senior Hurling Championship final between Clough-Ballacolla and Camross, lived up to its billing as a repeat of last year’s decider. In the end, however, the result was the same, Castletown’s class and composure prevailing, with talisman Tom Óg Phelan delivering a stunning individual display that yielded 1-13 of his side’s total.

The game began at a rapid pace, and it was Phelan who opened the scoring with a free in the first minute. The Harps struck the first major blow soon after when Jay Brophy burst through and saw his goal-bound effort flicked to the net by Joey Dempsey. Phelan responded with another free before The Harps captain Eoin Delaney got off the mark, set up smartly by centre-back Tony Mahony.

Phelan added a third point, but The Harps kept the pressure on as Dempsey split the posts for his second score. Castletown hit back in style in the next passage of play, Luke Delaney finding the net after a slick move before Phelan grabbed his first from play. The sides traded blows in an evenly matched opening quarter, with Sean Dempsey and Brophy on target for The Harps, while Phelan’s free restored Castletown’s narrow advantage.

Two frees from Eoin Delaney edged The Harps ahead again, only for Phelan to equalise once more. The teams were level for the second time at 1-6 apiece before points from Jamie Mahony and another Delaney free gave The Harps some breathing room.

Castletown looked poised to respond when Danny Campion produced a vital block to deny his opposite number Joe Dunne, but The Harps finished the half the stronger. Dempsey added a point before Eoin Delaney grabbed a sensational solo goal, breaking from midfield, bulldozing through challenges, briefly losing possession, and then firing low past the goalkeeper. That strike gave The Harps a 2-9 to 1-7 lead at the interval.

Whatever was said in the Castletown dressing room clearly worked, as they came flying out of the traps. Within 10 seconds of the restart, Liam Townsend extended The Harps’ lead, but that was quickly wiped out when Phelan fired to the net at the other end, followed by points from Taidhg Dalton and Daniel Cuddy.

Two more Delaney frees steadied The Harps, pushing them three clear again, but it would prove to be their final time in front. Phelan, ever the danger man, pointed a free and immediately won the next puck-out to narrow the gap further. The Harps’ shooting began to falter as Delaney missed three consecutive frees, allowing Castletown to grow in confidence.

Phelan levelled matters in the 45th minute, and soon after, a pivotal moment arrived. Substitute Alex Brophy capitalised on a mistake from goalkeeper Sean Farrell, who lost control of the sliotar, leaving Brophy to slot the ball into an empty net.

The Harps tried to rally as Jamie Mahony took over free-taking duties and reduced the deficit to two, but Castletown’s experience and composure saw them over the line. They finished with a flourish, points from Cian Kirwan, Joe Dunne, and two more Phelan frees putting the seal on a six-point victory and another memorable championship triumph.

For The Harps, there will be disappointment after leading for large spells, but they contributed greatly to a high-quality final. Castletown, meanwhile, were clinical when it mattered most, and their ability to dig deep and seize key moments proved decisive once again.

FINAL SCORE

Castletown 3-16

The Harps 2-13

SCORERS– Castletown: Tom Og Phelan 1-13 (0-7 frees, 0-1 65’), Alex Brophy and Luke Delaney 1-0 each, Joe Dunne, Cian Kirwan and Daniel Cuddy 0-1 each. The Harps: Eoin Delaney 1-7 (0-6 frees), Joey Dempsey 1-1, Sean Dempsey and Jamie Mahony (0-1 free) 0-2 each, Jay Brophy 0-1.

CASTLETOWN: Odhran Phelan; Jamie Phelan, Sean Phelan, Billy Byrne; David Peters, Daniel Whelan, Josh Sheridan; Ryan Byrne, Fionn Cuddy; Daniel Cuddy, Cian Kirwan, Joe Dunne; Tom Og Phelan, Luke Delaney, Taidhg Dalton. Subs: Alex Brophy for D Cuddy (38 mins), Eoin Delaney for Dalton (51 mins), Daniel Cuddy for Kirwan (59 mins), Darragh Kearney for Sheridan (61 mins).

THE HARPS: Sean Farrell; Jamie Fogarty, Harry Donohue, Fionn Sullivan; Evan Stanley, Tony Mahony, Conor Dempsey; Eoin Holland, Liam Townsend; Jamie Mahony, Eoin Delaney, Danny Campion; Joey Dempsey, Jay Brophy, Sean Dempsey. Subs: Milo Brennan for Sullivan (HT)

Referee: JJ Gorman (Clough-Ballacolla)