Carlow J.F.C. (A) Final
St Patricks 2-10 Tinryland 0-12
Tinryland’s effort to win a first Junior (A) title since the 1980’s just fell short after an absorbing contest at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday 31st July.
The men in blue and white were big underdogs against the men from Slaneyside but at various stages of this game it was Tinryland who looked the favourites.
The opening score arrived after only 53 seconds when St. Patricks top player Jacko Kennedy slotted over a point. This score was matched one minute later when Ciaran Larkin scored a bomber of a point following good play by Dinny Farrell. It got even better for Tinryland in the 8th minute when one of their best players Ronan Curran raised a white flag following great play by Alan Barrett and Padraic Whelan. Tinryland then had the first of a number of great goal chances but Padraic Whelans deflected effore re-bounded off the cross bar and St. Pats. turned the ball over to T J Kavanagh who scored a wonderful long range point. The Tullow men appeared to be getting a grip on the game at this stage and corner forward Brian Byrne edged them in front again. Tinryland held their composure and Mark Lawlor levelled matters for the 3rd time with a well taken point following good play by Dinny Farrell and Ronan Curran. This score however proved to be Tinryland’s last of the opening half and St Patricks eventually began to control the game scoring 4 unanswered points via Jack Kennedy (2) and T J Kavanagh in a five minute spell. When the half time whistle sounded the score was St. Patricks 0-7 Tinryland 0-3.
The Tinryland management asked for a greater effort in the 2nd half and the team enjoyed a much more productive spell in the 3rd quarter. Great Tinryland pressure was rewarded when Ronan Curran won a penalty in the 34th minute but unfortunately Padraic Whelans effort from the spot went over the bar. In the 36th minute veteran Evan Doyle showed that class is permanent when he deflected a long delivery over the bar and when Ronan Curran converted a free 4 minutes later Tinryland were only one point in arrears and St. Pats were now being asked serious questions. Jack Kennedy stemmed the Tinryland flow when he converted a free in the 42nd minute but Tinryland continued to press and were rewarded with 2 wonderful scores from Ronan Curran and Evan Doyle who scored after great play from Ronan Curran, Conor Brennan and Ciaran Larkin. More good play from Curran resulted in one of the scores of the match by Cathal Gaffney and when Padraic Whelan pointed with 11 minutes remaining Tinryland suddenly found themselves 2 points up. Tullow responded with another Kennedy point and Tinryland’s dream began to turn into a nightmare when Kennedy rattled the net at the former Erin Foods end which put the men from the banks of the Slaney 2 in front again. Kennedy followed up with another point before St Pats took themselves out of the pressure zone when sub. Eoin O’ Toole crashed the ball past Tinryland stand in ‘keeper Paul Doyle. Tinryland still did not lie down however and they fought to the end with 2 more wonderful Evan Doyle points to leave the final score St. Patricks 2-10 Tinryland 0-12.
Tinryland can hold their heads high after this performance and they are surely genuine contenders for the 2021 Junior A championship. Outstanding for the hoops were Peter Doran, Cathal Gaffney, Ciaran Larkin, Gregg Murphy, Ronan Curran Evan Doyle and Dinny Farrell together with subs Cormac McElligott and Conor Brennan who did well when introduced.
Tinryland: Paul Doyle, Adam Fennelly, Peter Doran, Joey Ryan, Conor McGrath, Cathal Gaffney 0-1, Ciaran Larkin 0-1, Barry Power, Mark Lawlor 0-1, Ronan Curran 0-3, Padraic Whelan 0-2, Gregg Murphy, Evan Doyle 0-4, Dinny Farrell, Alan Barrett. Subs: Cormac McElligott, Conor Brennan, Shane O’Neill, Cian Nicholl.