S.F.L. Division 1 semi-final
Tinryland 3-10 St. Patrick’s 1-6
Tinryland senior footballers are one victory away from a first senior league title since 1968 following a comfortable win in the end against a determined St. Patricks at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday 28th May. Tinryland began this game in a high tempo mode scoring 1-3 without reply in the opening quarter. The Tinryland points scorers were Mark Mullen after only 30 seconds,and a Diarmaid Walshe conversion after the same p[layer won a free. Tinrylands goal in the 5th minute was scored by lively corner forward Cillian Fagan who deflected a high ball past Gerry McGuill in the Slaney- siders goal. The men in blue and white could have been further ahead at this stage only for a number of wides and the respect they were showing at times to their Intermediate opponents. After being held scorless for the opening 15 minutes St Patricks then burst into life following a Jack Kennedy converted free immediately followed by a Brian Byrne goal which left two points separating the sides after 20 minutes. Another Jack Kennedy point in the 24th minute reduced the margin further and with no further scores the teams retired to the dressing rooms with the half time scoreboard reading Tinryland 1-3 St Patricks 1-2.
The second half began with Tinryland upping the ante in a big way and 3 quick points from Mark Mullen, Diarmaid Walshe and another Walshe free after Conor O’Toole was felled in the St. Patricks half gave the favourites some breathing space. St. Patricks to their credit did not wilt and two quick points from Brian Byrne and Jack Kennedy brought the margin back to 2 points by the 40 th minute. It could have been even better for the men from Bro. Leo Park who had two scoring chances well defended by this scribes man of the match John Murphy and Conor McGrath.
These let off’s seemed to spur Tinryland and a brilliant Tinryland goal by Shane Redmond and a superb point from Diarmaid Walshe let the Hoops breath again. Tinryland were in control now and denying the Tullow men the ball they added a further goal scored by Conor O’Toole before the losers replied with an excellent sideline kick by Brian Byrne. The end result was now a foregone conclusion and the match ended after 3 minutes of stoppage time with another Brian Byrne point for the Tullow men and a successful free scored by Diarmaid Walshe for Tinryland.
Tinryland will now meet Eire Oģ in the final, date to be confirmed.
Tinryland: Cathal Gaffney, Conor Ryan, John Murphy, Cian McGuire, Danny Moran, Niall Lowry, Mark Mullen 0-2, Shane Redmond 1-0, Cormac Walshe, Conor McGrath, Cormac O’Brien, Conor O’Toole 1-0, Michael Hosey, Diarmaid Walshe 0-7, Cillian Fagan 1-1. Subs: Matthew O’Toole, Maurice Lawler, Rory Doyle, Conor Carew, Barry Power.
St. Patricks: Gerry McGill, Cian Doran, Lee Kavanagh, Eoghan Cleary, David Tobin, Niall Sherry, David Orbinski, Will Doran, Dylan Gorman-Comerford, Jack O’Neill, Jack Kennedy 0-3, Craig Staunton, T. J Kavanagh, Cian Gorman-Comerford, Brian Byrne 1-4. Subs: Dylan Hanley, Jacob Dobiss, Eoghan O’Toole, Darren Walsh.
Referee Billy Fanning Ballon
