S.F.L. Div. 2
Tinryland 2-9 Ballinabranna 1-12
Tinryland 2nd fifteen remain unbeaten in the S.F.L division 2 after gaining a hard fought share of the spoils with the home side at Pairc Liam Dobb on Sunday evening.
This was Tinryland’s hardest task to date and they held their own in a lively first half that saw the former senior side make the early running with 2 Darren Lunney points within 3 minutes of the throw in. Tinryland had a clear cut goal chance as early as the 4th minute when Ballinabranna keeper Adrien Brennan denied Richie Whyte a certain goal after a great pass from Evan Doyle. Ballinabranna extended their lead in the 5th minute with a James Kehoe point but 2 minutes later Tinryland were level after a great Evan Doyle goal following good play by Mark Lawlor.Ballinabranna responded immediately however when their most influential player Robert Sansom rifled the ball to the top corner of the Tinryland net. Two further points from Darren Lunney and Gary Dunne extended the Ballinabranna advantage to 5 points by the 12th minute before Evan Doyle linked with Mark Lawlor to reduce the advantage back to 4 points. It got even better for the men in blue and white by the 13th minute when Evan Doyle rattled the Ballinabranna net after good play by Padraic Whelan.
On the stroke of the first water break Robert Sansom gave Ballinabranna some breathing space when he converted a free from inside the 45 to leave his side 2 points ahead at the drinks break.
When play resumed Sansom converted a free before Peter Hennessy was denied a certain goal for Tinryland by the crossbar. Cormac McElligott for Tinryland and Sansom exchanged points and further Tinryland points from Eoghan Hosey, Evan Doyle and Padraic Whelan squared matters with 3 minutes remaining in the first half. Two more points were then traded by Doyle and Sansom before referee Damien Brady sounded the half time whistle. H.T. score Tinryland 2-6 Ballinabranna 1-9.
The second half began with Tinryland facing the hill and a strong enough breeze and it started well for Tinryland when Peter Hennessy landed a great 45 with Richie White also scoring a beauty in the 33rd minute. Chris Townsend was then called into action at the other end making a great save from a Sansom piledriver. Sansom then converted a 45 as proceedings got a little feisty after some strange decisions by the match official. Afer a few skirmishes mid way through the half Tinryland were reduced to 14 men when Barry Power was unfairly shown a red card when it appeared he was not the major aggressor. Ballinabranna were now hot favourites to take the points and they drew level with another Sansom point with 8 minutes remaining. The home side then went for the jugular but heroic defending by Tinryland kept them at bay before Sansom appeared to have given his sid the full points with a well taken point with 6 minutes remaining. Tinryland were then thrown a lifeline when Ballinabranna number 4 was shown a red card which also puzzled many of the spectators . With 2 minutes remaining Conor McGrath lofted over the equaliser for Tinryland and both sides seemed happy when referee Damien Brady sounded the long whistle. Outstanding for Tinryland were Chris Townsend, Joey Ryan, Padraig Townsend, Mark Lawlor, Conor McGrath and top scorer Evan Doyle.
Tinryland: Chris Townsend, Conor McGrath 0-1, Peter Doran, Joey Ryan, Cormac McElligott 0-1, John Paul Moore, Padraig Townsend, Peter Hennessy 0-1, Barry Power, Conor Brennan, Glen Doyle, Mark Lawlor, Padraic Whelan 0-1F, Evan Doyle 2-3, Richard Whyte 0-1. Subs: Eoghan Hosey 0-1, Brian McGrath. Ballinabranna: Adrian Brennan, Robert Comerford, Jimmy Cahill, Cormac O’Hara, Andy Mulleney, Colin Byrne, Jamie Lunney, Bobby Daly, Gary Dunne 0-1, David Cox, James Kehoe 0-1, Mark Fitzgerald, Jim Dunne, Robert Sansom 1-7, Darren Lunney 0-3.
