Central U15 2A Final Replay By Eamonn Byrne
Michael Davitts 2-9 Tinryland 1-7
There was no joy for the young Tinryland players at the end of this U15 replay at the Netwatch Training Centre on Monday evening 17th October. After a high scoring first match and extra time this game was a much cagier affair with defences on both sides tightening up a lot compared to the previous game.
Tinryland began on a good note and had 2 points on the board in the opening 10 minutes via Ross Moran and Jamie Doyle. Davitts stayed in touch with a successful free from their most impressive player Conor Kavanagh who has some strike of a ball for one so young. It got even better for the boys in blue and white in the 12th minute when Eanna Dunican was on hand to crash the ball to the net after it rebounded off an upright. This score however seemed to spur the Leighlinbridge Parish team into action and they added on 5 unanswered points before the break via Conor Kavanagh (3) Aiden Nolan and Ciaran Nolan. Tinryland’s only other first half score was a Ross Moran point after a 45 by Evan Kelliher.
Half time score Tinrylande 1-3 Michael Davitts 0-6
The 2nd half began with Tinryland in positive mode and 2 quick points from Eanna Dunican and Evan Kelliher put 2 points between the sides before Michael Davitts responded in a big way with a goal from their centre forward Ciaran Nolan after the ball had been turned over when Tinryland were attacking. Tinryland were now behind and further Davitts points from Conor Kavanagh and Alan Fitzgerald put the eventual winners in the driving seat. Tinryland did not give up and a point in the 22nd minute from Kevin McKeown left 2 points separating the sides entering the final 10 minutes.
With 5 minutes left Michael Davitts had their hands on the cup when Ruarc O’Neill slotted over another point and the icing was put on the cake for the boys from the banks of the Barrow when full forward Aiden Nolan found the Tinryland net with 3 minutes left. The final stages saw Tinryland trying to salvage something from the game and Eanna Dunican scored the final point of the match just before referee Brian Deering sounded the full-time whistle.
Despite the loss Tinryland who can call on a lot of the players again next year had prominent players in Johnny Scully, Luke Cahill, Cathal Purcell, Ross Moran, Jamie Doyle and Eanna Dunican.
Tinryland: Johnny Scully, Cathal Purcell, Harry O’Brien, Luke Cahill, Calum O’Brien Murphy, Charlie Keogh, Macdara Deane, Ross Moran 0-2, Mikey Byrne, Lorcan O’Connor, Jamie Doyle 0-1, Evan Kelliher 0-1, Kevin McKeown 0-1, Tomas Murphy, Eanna Dunican 1-2. Rest of Panel: Liam Ryan, James McDonnell, Conor McDaid, Ethan Webb, Thomas Gorman, Leo Bamrock.
