S.F.L. Division 3
Tinryland 2-13 Old Leighlin 3-8
Tinryland wound up their division 3 campaign with a hard- earned win over the home team at Molaise Park on Wednesday 17th May. This was a game that Tinryland made difficult for themselves conceding 2 second half penalties that kept Old Leighlin in contention.
In a lively start Keith Jackson for Tinryland and Michael Meaney for Old Leighlin traded points before 2 quick points from Glen Doyle and Conall O’Shea stretched the Tinryland advantage to 2 points by the 7th minute following good play by Cathal O’Toole, Conor Byrne, Sam Byrne and Keith Jackson.
Gearoid Foley and Glen Doyle then traded points before Darragh Fitzgerald reduced the margin to the minimum after 12 minutes. Peter Doran then came to Tinryland’s rescue when he deflected a certain goal out for a ’45 which Old Leighlin missed before Tinryland settled down to play their best spell of football scoring a pair of points via Alan Barrett and another from Keith Jackson who turned in another good display at midfield. Glen Doyle was then given a black card by referee Eoin Evisson as the first half scoring was completed by the Old Leighlin midfielder Michael Meaney in the 27th Minute. This left the half time scoreboard reading Tinryland 0-7 Old Leighlin 0-4.
The 2nd half began on a positive note for Tinryland with a wonderful Glenn Doyle point in the 35th minute after good play by Alan Barrett, Padraig Townsend and Cathal O’Toole. Old Leighlin stayed in touch with a Gearoid Foley point before Glenn Doyle gave the men in blue and white some breathing space with a deflected goal after good work by Keith Jackson, Conall O’Shea and Cathal O’Toole. The Old Leighlin response was swift however and Gearoid Foley scored a goal to keep Tinryland honest with 15 minutes remaining. Keith Jackson restored the Tinryland advantage in the 46th minute after good play by sub. Padraig Whelan. Old Leighlin responded with another point before Jackson again came up trumps with another point following good play by Alan Barrett as Paul Doyle replaced Adam Mullen who had given a great shift up to then and was denied a legitimate point in the first half that everybody in attendance except the referee thought was over the bar. With 10 minutes remaining referee Evisson awarded a penalty to the home side which was despatched by Gearoid Foley. The scores were now level but Cathal O’Toole quickly restored the Tinryland lead after a good passage of play involving Padraig Townsend, Gregg Murphy, Peter Doran and Sam Byrne. Conall O’Shea was felled in the Old Leighlin square in the 55th minute and Paul Doyle duly despatched the ball past former Co. senior goalkeeper James Clarke to give his side a 4- point lead with 5 minutes remaining. Old Leighlin responded with another point to reduce the margin back to 3 points before Padraig Whelan lofted over a valuable point for Tinryland after good play by Glenn Doyle. Old Leighlin continued to press and were awarded another penalty in the 61st minute which brough up a hat trick for the taker Gearroid Foley. It was backs to the wall stuff now for Tinryland as they tried to preserve their one- point advantage and they had the final say when Keith Jackson capped a fine performance with a well struck ’45 before the referee sounded the final whistle. Tinryland still have an outside chance of making the league semi-finals but are guaranteed a place in the knockout stages of the shield which is a welcome addition to the league programme in all divisions this year.
Tinryland: Chris Townsend, Joey Ryan, Peter Doran, Sam Byrne, Padraig Townsend, Conor Byrne, Vivian Nixon, Keith Jackson 0-5, Gregg Murphy, Cathal O’Toole 0-1, Shane O’Neill, Conall O’Shea 0-1, Adam Mullen, Glenn Doyle 1-4, Alan Barrett 0-2. Subs: Adam Dunne, Padraig Whelan 0-1, Paul Doyle 1-0
Old Leighlin: James Clarke, James Maher, Colin Brennan, James McDonald, Barry Hayes, John Hayden, Tadhg O’Neill, Michael Meaney 0-2, Declan Gough 0-1, Evan Callaghan, Darragh Fitzgerald 0-1, Liam Coughlan, Thomas Lynch, Gearoid Foley 3- 4
Referee: Eoin Evisson
