Michael Lyng Motors Carlow S.F.C.
Fenagh 2-11 Tinryland 1-12
If the bookies odds before this game were to be believed Tinryland had only to turn up at Netwatch Cullen park on Saturday to claim the points against last years Intermediate champions Fenagh. The current league champions were 1/10 to win with the Fenagh men 6/1 in a two-horse race. Fenagh did not read that script however and they were well worth their win against a flat and disappointing Tinryland who never led in this game played in blustery conditions. Fenagh made their intentions known as early as the 2nd minute when full forward Padraig Hynes scored a brilliant two pointer from the sideline on the Oak Park side of the pitch. Four minutes later Jack Treacy who was a torment to the Tinryland defence throughout increased his teams lead and it could have got worse for the favourites minutes later when Padraig Hynes could have scored a major after a poor Tinryland kick out. Diarmaid Walshe finally opened the Tinryland account in the 8th minute after good play from Ross Moran and within seconds Cormac Walshe reduced the margin to the minimum after good play by Conor O’Toole and Diarmaid Walshe. By the 11th minute matters were all square after Diarmaid Walshe converted a free won by James McGrath. One of Fenaghs best players Jack Treacy restored the lead for the Moll Bennetts in the 13th minute and the same player then capitalised on a poor kick out to rattle the Tinryland net at the halfway stage of the first half. When Adam Smyth slotted over another Fenagh point in the 19th minute the in running odds on a shock certainly changed as Tinryland still had to wake up and were now trailing by 5 points.
The Tinryland revival finally commenced over the last 10 minutes of that opening half mainly through the efforts of Co. player John Murphy who was instrumental in every score his team got during that period of play. Murphy scored himself in the 21st minute and set up Cormac Walshe for another Tinryland point two minutes later. Tinryland were enjoying a purple patch at this stage and another beauty from John Murphy together with a Niall Lowry point and a spectacular point from Murphy in the 26th minute finally gained parity for the favourites before Fenagh corner forward Ian Craddock gave his side a lead by the minimum just before referee James Foley blew the half time whistle. Half time score Fenagh 1-6 Tinryland 0-8.
The 2nd half was only 10 seconds old when Sean Murphy raced through the Tinryland defence to increase his sides advantage. After 8 minutes without a score Tinryland gained parity once again with a well taken Mark Mullen point. John Murphy was then narrowly wide with a screamer of a goal chance, but it was Fenagh that increased their advantage with another Padraig Hynes conversion after the free was won by Sean Murphy who was just as influential for Fenagh as his cousin and namesake John was for Tinryland. Conor Ryan then stepped up to level matters again in the 43rd minute after a great pass from James McGrath. Diarmaid Walshe then had a chance to put Tinryland ahead, but the uprights prevented that attempt and it was Fenagh that went ahead with another Hynes point. The same player put the icing on the cake with a crucial Fenagh goal in the 53rd minute and when he slotted over another point one minute later Fenagh led by 6 points and it looked all over for Tinryland. To their credit Tinryland with the addition of fresh legs In Bobby Doyle, Maurice Lawler, Danny Moran, Conall O’Shea and Lorcan O’Connor threw the kitchen sink at Fenagh, and they were rewarded with a goal and a point from Bobby Doyle but it was too little too late and Fenagh were mighty glad to hear the long whistle for a deserved win.
Tinryland will be back in action on Sunday 14th September at 5 p.m. against Palatine when a much-improved performance will be required against our neighbours.
Fenagh: Jack Rowan, James Cummins, Darragh Byrne, Mark Dermody, Eric English, Jack Kehoe, Cormac Nolan, Jamie McCabe, Sean Murphy 0-1, Adam Smyth 0-1, Colin Byrne, Cormac Lomax, Ian Craddock 0-1, Padraig Hynes 1-4, Jack Treacy 1-4. Sub: Josh Kearney.
Tinryland: Chris Townsend, Ross Moran, John Murphy 0-3, Michael Hosey, Jonah Dunne, Paddy Regan, Conor O’Toole, Conor Ryan 0-1, Mark Mullen 0-1, Diarmaid Walshe 0-2, Peter Hennessy, Niall Lowry 0-1, James McGrath, Cormac Walshe 0-3, Cormac O’Brien. Subs: Danny Moran, Bobby Doyle 1-1, Maurice Lawler, Conall O’Shea, Lorcan O’Connor.
Referee James Foley Kilbride.
