AIB Leinster Club SFC q-final: Wolfe Tones advance
Caolan Ward of Wolfe Tones was among the scorers again in Ashbourne. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
AIB Leinster club SFC quarter-final
Wolfe Tones 1-20 An Tóchar 2-13
By Paul Keane at Donaghmore-Ashbourne GAA grounds
With around 20 minutes to go, the Wolfe Tones supporters were probably already starting to think about returning to Ashbourne on November 28 for an AIB Leinster club semi-final.
Leading by a whopping 14 points at that stage, Shane McCoy's Meath champions looked home and hosed - only to be suckered into near oblivion by a dramatic An Tóchar revival.
The clock ultimately ran out on Wicklow champions An Tóchar's comeback and their bid to replicate the club's 1995 heroics when they journeyed all the way to the final.
The Roundwood side simply left themselves too much to do with Kyle Moran inspiring a brilliant first 40 minutes or so for hosts Wolfe Tones.
Moran scored six points from his wing-forward position while the victors effectively turned the screw with 1-3 in a three-minute spell early in the second half.
During that mini-blitz, full-forward Cian O'Neill scored a two-pointer and a goal, and with 37 minutes on the clock, Tones were 1-15 to 0-4 up.
That should have been that but a previously unimpressive An Tóchar suddenly came to life, the Garden County side outscoring Tones by 2-9 to 0-5 for the remainder of the contest.
Goals from Wicklow duo Conor Fee and John Paul Nolan, along with a couple of two-pointers from John Paul Nolan and Luca Nolan, cut the gap by 10 points.
Tones held out, however, to secure a semi-final clash with The Downs of Westmeath next Saturday week.
The Kilberry outfit were returning to the ground where they won the county final a month ago, claiming the Keegan Cup for just the third time.
They previously won it in 2006 and 2021 but failed to make much headway in either of the subsequent provincial campaigns, picking up a solitary win in 2006.
Meath teams in general have struggled in Leinster with the county last contesting a senior club final in 2004, and last winning one in 2002.
So An Tóchar fancied their chances of an upset but struggled badly in the opening half and hit the interval trailing by seven points.
Moran was terrific for Tones who overwhelmed the visitors with their hard running, clever overlaps and score-taking.
Tones got a firm grip at midfield too where county man Adam O'Neill partnered up with Eoin Donegan.
Their half-time 0-10 to 0-3 lead didn't flatter them and Ben Reilly swelled the gap to eight with a single just seconds into the second half.
JJ Brady responded with an An Tóchar score but then came that Tones blitz, 1-3 without response and an impressive cameo from O'Neill who netted in the 36th minute after a brilliant fetch at midfield by Martin.
Another Reilly point left Tones 1-15 to 0-4 ahead and with 14 points between them, it was hard to see any way back.
An Tóchar did their best to make it happen, finally securing enough possession around the middle to pin Tones back for extended periods.
John Paul Nolan finished with 1-4, his goal coming from a 63rd minute free that he rifled to the net, followed by a Luca Nolan two-pointer.
Tones' difficulties were compounded by the loss of former Meath forward Sarán Ó Fionnagain with a knee injury - but they held on.
Wolfe Tones scorers: Kyle Moran 0-6, Cian O'Neill 1-2 (1 tp), Oisín Martin 0-3, Caolán Ward 0-3 (1 tpf), Sarán Ó Fionnagain 0-2, Ben Reilly 0-2, Adam O'Neill 0-1, Thomas O'Reilly 0-1.
An Tóchar scorers: John Paul Nolan 1-4 (1-2f, 1 tpf), Conor Fee 1-3, Oisín Cullen 0-2, Luca Nolan 0-2 (tp), Joao Vitor Fagundes 0-1, JJ Brady 0-1.
Wolfe Tones: Ciaráin Ó Gallachóir; Shane Glynn, Andrew Crawford, Conor Sheppard; Oisín Martin, Ross Gallagher, Adrian Crawford; Adam O'Neill, Eoin Donegan; Caolán Ward, Thomas O'Reilly, Kyle Moran; Sarán Ó Fionnagain, Cian O'Neill, Ben Reilly.
Subs: Rioghan Ó Beaglaoich for Adrian Crawford 47, Evan Curley for Ó Fionnagain 56, Fiachra Ward for Cian O'Neill 60, Ryan Fox for Reilly 62.
An Tóchar: Peter Byrne; Eoin Murphy, Matthew Fox, Luke Kenny; Lorcan Smith, Matt Nolan, Luca Nolan; Oisín Cullen, Ger Byrne; Gavin Fogarty, Darragh Fee, Joe Heatly; Conor Fee, Éanna Nolan, John Paul Nolan.
Subs: Gavin Kenny for Murphy 26, JJ Brady for Smith 26, Joao Vitor Fagundes for Darragh Fee h/t, Jamie Salley for Kenny 40.
Referee: Kevin Williamson (Offaly).
