S.F.L. Div. 3
Leighlinbridge 2-10 Tinryland 1-10
Leighlinbridge maintained their unbeaten record in the S.F.L. division 3 with a hard- fought victory over a much -improved home side in Rathcrogue on Saturday evening.
Tinryland were first off the mark when Conall O’Shea slotted over a 4th minute point which was balanced one minute later when All black full forward Aidan Lillis raised a white flag.
A well struck ’45 from Conor Carew in the 6th minute restored the Tinryland lead but it was all square again in the 11th minute when Aidan Byrne pointed for Leighlin after good play by P.J. Haughney. The home team then enjoyed a productive spell when Conor Carew lofted over a beauty and Alan Barrett did likewise to give his team a 2 point advantage mid- way through the opening half.
Both sides then traded points via Aidan Byrne for Leighlin and Glen Doyle for Tinryland before Aidan Lillis reduced the Tinryland lead to the minimum before the sides were level once again from the boot of Leighlin’s wing forward David Lillis. As the clocked ticked towards the half hour Glen Doyle gave Tinryland a short lived advantage but the first goal then arrived from Leighlinbridges’ Lee Conran to leave the half time scoreboard reading Leighlinbridge 1-5 Tinryland 0-6.
When referee Damien Brady re-started proceedings Padraic Whelan reduced the margin to the minimum once again with a well struck free but back came Leighlinbridge to decorate the scoreboard once more with a well taken point from the boot of Lee Conran. Another Whelan point from a dead ball left the minimum separating the teams before Conran struck once again with another point. The game then took a significant change when Tinryland’s Paul Doyle intercepted a Leighlinbridge clearance and he off loaded to Alan Barrett who rattled the ball past Leighlin goalkeeper Cian Kavanagh. The Tinryland lead was short lived however and within 90 seconds Leighlinbridge were back in front when Lee Conran struck the Tinryland net to give his team a lead they would not relinquish. The closing stages saw both sides throw the kitchen sink in an effort to secure the league points and Leighlinbridge despite losing 2 players to 2nd yellow and black cards had to defend with all their might as Tinryland were given a life line. The men from the banks of the Barrow succeeded in gaining their 3rd set of league points with further points from Aidan Byrne, Aidan Lillis and sub. Alfie Barcoe while Tinryland added on 2 further points from Padraic Whelan and Conall McGuire. The closing stages saw Tinryland goalie Chris Townsend bring off a class save which kept the game alive right up to the end. Both teams will now have a 2 week break until the next round with Tinryland away to Fighting Cocks on 6th April and Leighlinbridge at home to Asca on the same evening.
Leighlinbridge: Cian Kavanagh, Joey Byrne, Billy Lennon-O’Brien, Jason Haughney, Kasper Gniedziejko, Cathal Brennan, P.J. Haughney, Liam Bennan, Aidan Byrne 0-3, David Lillis 0-1, Darren O’Keeffe, Robert O’Byrne, Lee Conran 2-2, Aidan Lillis 0-3, Cian Brennan. Subs: Alfie Barcoe 0-1, Val Fleming, Keith Lillis, Geoff Doran.
Tinryland: Chris Townsend, Matthew Gleeson, Cian McGuire, Vivian Nixon, Padraic Whelan 0-3, Padraig Townsend, Sean Murphy, Conall McGuire 0-1, Glen Doyle 0-2, Paddy Walshe, Conall O’Shea 0-1, Conor Carew 0-2, Seamus McCullough, Alan Barrett 1-1, Alex Farrell. Subs: Paul Doyle, Mark Walshe, Gregg Murphy, Aongus O’Shea.
Referee Damien Brady Eire Og.
