Talbot Hotel JFC (B) semi-final
Clonmore 5-11 Tinryland 4-14
Clonmore and Tinryland served up a nine-goal thriller in the Carlow JFC (B) semi final at the Centre of Excellence on Sunday last. This was one of the best games played at this level in Carlow this year with the two teams fortunes swaying like the wind that blew 24 hours previously. The game showcased everything that is good about the modern football game helped in no small way by a good refereeing performance by Chris Blake.
Clonmore were first on the scoresheet with points from Owen Coleman and Con Murphy in the opening 10 minutes and the Wicklow border side could have been further ahead only for excellent goalkeeping from Tinrylands Lee Buggle. After the initial Clonmore scores Tinryland settled down scoring 3 unanswered points from Sam Byrne, Gregg Murphy and Shane O’Neill. Further Clonmore points from centre forward John McGrath, Owen Coleman and Willie Byrne were matched by Tinryland points via Matthew Gleeson, and Sean Murphy. The first goal then arrived when Clonmore wing forward Lewis McDonnell found the Tinryland net but shortly afterwards Gregg Murphy crashed the ball past Oran Keating to leave only 2 points separating the teams entering first half stoppage time which ran to 6 minutes due to a number of injuries. Tinryland rallied in this period of play to level matters with points from Tomas Murphy and captain Padraic Whelan but on the stroke of the half time whistle Clonmore corner forward Sean Tomkins found the Tinryland net to leave the scoreboard reading Clonmore 2-7 Tinryland 1-7.
The 2nd half began with Sean Murphy for Tinryland and John McGrath for Clonmore trading points before the first two pointer arrived via Clonmore full forward Owen Coleman. When Clonmores Con Murphy got his teams 3rd goal in the 35th minute it looked like the men from Hacketstown were heading for a comfortable 2nd half with an eight-point advantage. Tinryland had other ideas however and the men from Rathcrogue with a few substitutes sprung from the bench roared back into contention with a brilliant Shay McCullough goal after good play from recently introduced sub Conall McGuire. It got even better then for the team in blue and white when Glen Doyle who was only seconds on the field slotted over a point quickly followed by 2 more that left only 4 points separating the teams at the 45th minute. Another Glen Doyle point in the 53rd minute saw the margin reduced to 3 points and when another reserve Adam Mullen rattled the Clonmore net with 5 minutes remaining matters were all square and all to play for. Tinryland were on fire now and a brilliant Adam Mullen pass to his captain Padraic Whelan saw Tinryland back in front with 6 minutes plus stoppages remaining. It got even better for Tinryland then when Whelan capped a fine performance with a brilliant point but then Clonmore found their rhythm with a Con Murphy point and after 5 more minutes of stoppage time the leveller arrived via Owen Coleman who scored his sides 5th goal to bring the teams back for a replay at the Centre Of Excellence on Friday next 10th October at 7.30 p.m.
Clonmore: Oran Keating, Tom Cashen, John Kelly, Rory McKernan, Willie Doyle 0-1, Willie Byrne, Evan Fitzachary, Dara Connolly, Paddy Byrne, Darragh Cullen, John McGrath 0-2, Lewis McDonnell 1-0, Sean Tomkins 1-1, Owen Coleman 2-4, Con Murphy 1-3. Subs: Luke Kelly, Michael Ryan.
Tinryland: Lee Buggle, Adam Fennelly, Ciaran Byrne, Joey Ryan, Sam Byrne 0-1, Shane O’Neill 0-1, Matthew Gleeson 0-1, Sean Murphy 0-2, Tomas Murphy 0-1, Eoghan Hosey, Gregg Murphy 1-1, Paddy Walshe 0-1, Padraic Whelan 1-2, Seamus McCullough 1-0, Evan Doyle. Subs: Conall McGuire, Glen Doyle 0-4, Adam Mullen 1-0, Brian McGrath, Eoin Townsend.
Referee Chris Blake Eire Og
