S.F.L Div 1
Clonmore 3-7 Tinryland 1-10
Goals win matches and Clonmore’s hat trick at a balmy Rathcrogue was enough to maintain their unbeaten record in round 6 of the S.F.L on Friday last.
The winners got off to the perfect start after only 2 minutes when Owen Coleman rattled the Tinryland net in their first attack after Tinryland had practically owned the ball since the throw in.
Tinryland replied almost immediately when Diarmaid Walshe opened his sides account after good play by Paddy Regan. Shane McGrath increased the Wicklow border team’s advantage 60 seconds later before Walshe replied again following good play by Cormac O’Brien, and Michael Hosey.
More Clonmore pressure saw Shane McGrath lift another white flag before Matthew O’Toole did likewise for the home side following good play by his brother Conor and Paddy Regan.
Another Diarmaid Walshe conversion in the 10th minute left only the minimum separating the teams but Clonmore were attacking in waves at this stage and were repelled by good defending by Danny Moran and Cian McGuire. Seven scoreless minutes then followed before Shane McGrath lifted the drought with a successful free. Another 9 scoreless minutes then followed before Matthew O’Toole deflected a ball over the Clonmore crossbar and with the game entering first half stoppage time Clonmore went two points clear with another successful McGrath free just before the team in red and green rattled Chris Townsends net for the 2nd time following another Tinryland defensive lapse.
Full forward Rob Bulmer was the player credited with Clonmores 2nd goal. The first half ended when Tinryland’s Bobby Doyle won a free which was duly converted by Diarmaid Walshe. Half time score Clonmore 2-4 Tinryland 0-6.
When Ballon referee Billy Fanning re-started proceedings Clonmore had introduced Eoin Connolly into the fray but it was Tinryland who decorated the scoreboard first when Rory Doyle slotted over a point within 60 seconds of the re-start after good work from Diarmaid Walshe and Michael Hosey.
Clonmore continued to empty their bench with the introduction of Con Murphy who had made a brief appearance as a blood sub in the first half. Rob Bulmer then broke through on goal but was twarted by a brilliant save from Tinryland goalkeeper Chris Townsend before substitute Con Murphy extended the team from the Hacketstown parishes advantage to 4 points once again. A Tinryland point from Bobby Doyle in the 37th minute left only a goal separating the sides once again with this score the product of great fielding from Tinryland’s experienced former Co. player Shane Redmond.
Another defensive error by Tinryland ended with a penalty award to Clonmore in the 40th minute but once again Chris Townsend came to Tinryland’s rescue with a wonderful save from Shane McGrath as Mark Lawlor was introduced into the Tinryland line-up.
Tinryland pressure was then rewarded in the 43rd minute with a Cormac Walshe goal after fine play from Danny Moran and Paddy Regan and it got even better for the home team entering the final quarter when Diarmaid Walshe gave Tinryland the lead for the first time in this all- action game.
Another Tinryland breakdown resulted in Clonmore getting back on level terms with a Luke Connolly point before Bobby Doyle restored the Tinryland advantage with another fine point.
This score proved to be Tinryland’s last however and Clonmore were back in front in the 52nd minute when midfielder Enda McGrath found the Tinryland net and the winners also had the final say when corner forward Tom Pollard pointed as the game edged into stoppage time.
Clonmore who have now qualified for the knockout stages will conclude their successful league campaign with home games against Palatine and Eire Og while Tinryland will be away to Bagenalstown Gaels on 3rd May and will end their league with the postponed game against Palatine which will double as the Andy Murphy shield final.
Clonmore: Jordan Kane, Rory Maguire, Anthony McDonald, Paddy Gahan, Billy Lawlor, Matt Cullen, Shane Murphy, David Mulvany,Enda McGrath 1-0, Luke Connolly 0-1, Shane McGrath 0-4, Anthony Byrne, Tom Pollard 0-1, Rob Bulmer 1-0, Owen Coleman 1-0. Subs: Con Murphy, Eoin Connolly 0-1, Aaron Kelly, Con Murphy, Jake Hickey, Cormac Connolly.
Tinryland: Chris Townsend, Danny Moran, Conor Ryan, Cian McGuire, Conor O’Toole, Michael Hosey, Rory Doyle 0-1, Niall Lowry, Shane Redmond, Cormac O’Brien, Diarmaid Walshe 0-4, Paddy Regan, Matthew O’Toole 0-2, Cormac Walshe 1-0, Bobby Doyle 0-3. Subs: Mark Lawlor, James McGrath.
Referee Billy Fanning (Ballon)
