Junior Football League Preliminary round
Tinryland 1-7 Rathvilly 0-5
Tinryland began the new season on a winning note when they comfortably overcame a determined Rathvilly in a competitive game at Rathcrogue on Saturday last. The first half was an evenly contested affair with Rathvilly first out of the blocks scoring 2 points in the opening 5 minutes from former senior player Alan Kelly and lively centre forward Regan Murphy. Tinryland gradually came to terms with Rathvilly’s flying start and after good play by Vivian Nixon, Cillian Fagan slotted over the opening point for the home side. After a free was won by Tinryland Fagan slotted over the equaliser in the 11th minute and the same player edged his team in front for the first time with a well taken point after 16 minutes. The Wicklow border team then got back on terms with another Alan Kelly point in the 20th minute as the away side lost their full forward Dylan Sheridan who was replaced by Gerard Kavanagh. Rathvilly corner forward Jack Carroll then put his side back in front before Tinryland finished the half on a high note scoring points from Rory Doyle and his cousin Jack Lowry to lead by the minimum when referee Brendan Fitzgerald sounded the half time whistle.
Half Time score Tinryland 0-5 Rathvilly 0-4.
When the teams appeared for the 2nd half Tinryland showed 4 changes with Mark Lawlor, Peter Hennessy, Alan Barrett and Cathal O’Toole all entering the fray for Cian Nicholl, Jack Lowry, Cillian Fagan and Adam Fennelly. The home side really upped the ante in the opening minutes with Luke Broderick converting a free after good play by Peter Hennessy. The recently introduced substitute Hennessy was really making an impact at this stage and he was on hand to rattle the Rathvilly net in the 32nd minute following great play by Adam Mullen, Vivian Nixon and Luke Broderick.
Tinryland now led by 5 points and they consolidated their lead with a wonderful Mark Lawlor point in the 40th minute following great play by Rory Doyle. This score proved to be Tinryland’s last but stout defending kept Rathvilly at bay for the remainder of the game and the men from the borders of Wicklow could only manage one more point from substitute Garrett Byrne before the final whistle sounded. Outstanding for the winners were Chris Townsend in goal, Joey Ryan, Cian McGuire, Vivian Nixon, Luke Broderick, Cillian Fagan, Rory Doyle and goggle box star Gregg Murphy. Rathvilly had prominent players in Kyle Byrne, Noel Doyle, Alan Kelly, Regan Murphy, Kenneth Ballo, Andrew Sibbald and goalie Adam Lawler.
Tinryland: Chris Townsend, Sam Byrne, Joey Ryan, Cian McGuire, Adam Fennelly, Rory Doyle 0-1, Vivian Nixon, Gregg Murphy, Luke Broderick 0-1, Brian McGrath, Padraig Townsend, Cian Nicholl, Jack Lowry 0-1, Adam Mullen, Cillian Fagan 0-3. Subs: Mark Lawlor 0-1, Peter Hennessy 1-1, Cathal O’Toole, Alan Barrett, Conall O’Shea.
Rathvilly: Adam Lawlor, Senan Molloy, Andrew Sibbald, Liam O’Brien, Padraic Byrne, Kyle Byrne, Sean Corcoran, Kenneth Ballo, Noel Doyle, Regan Murphy, Diarmuid Gavin, Adam Doyle, Jack Carroll, Dylan Sheridan, Alan Kelly. Subs: Gerard Kavanagh, Jack Nolan, Eoin Corcoran, Garret Byrne.
