U18 Spring League Division 2 Final By Eamonn Byrne
Tinryland 3-18 Rathvilly 4-7
Tinryland and Rathvilly served up a score fest at the Training Centre on Thursday 14th May in the Spring League division 2 final. The winners were dominant in the early stages scoring 1-6 in the opening quarter before Rathvilly got on the scoreboard. The Tinryland goal arrived as early as the 4th minute when corner forward Cian McNamara found the net after good play by his midfielder Mikey Byrne. Tinryland’s points in that period of play came from Liam Ryan (2) Mikey Byrne (2) and Jamie Doyle (2) from frees. Rathvilly showed more urgency at the start of the 2nd quarter slotting over points from their full forward Sean Barrett and corner forward Alfie Haberlin-Brennan. The boys from the Wicklow border added a two pointer in the 25th minute from centre back Jack Corcoran but Tinryland remained in the ascendancy with further Jamie Doyle conversions to lead at half time by 1-8 to 0-4.
When Bagenalstown referee Kyle Clarke re-started proceedings the games 2nd two pointer arrived after 40 seconds from the lively Jamie Deane with Rathvilly’s best player Jack Corcoran adding to his teams account one minute later. Rathvilly showed that they were competitive with a brilliantly worked goal in the 33rd minute from wing back Peter Lawlor and when centre forward Laoch Leonard slotted over another point in the 35th minute Tinryland’s advantage was reduced to 5 points. Cian McNamara kept the Tinryland account ticking with another point in the 36th minute and the lead for the boys in blue and white stretched out to 9 points in the 42nd minute when Tinryland captain MacDara Deane crashed the ball past Sean Cloney after great play by Daniel Byrne. Rathvilly were then dealt a blow in the 48th minute when Sean Barrett received a black card. During his absence Tinryland added a 3rd goal from sub. Shay Ryan and further points from the 2 Jamies Doyle and Deane. To their credit Rathvilly kept Tinryland honest over the closing stages and when Sean Barrett returned to the fray, they added further goals from Jack Corcoran (2) and Barrett in addition to a two pointer from Corcoran before the referee sounded the full-time whistle.
Tinryland had outstanding players in Philip Adamski, Luke Cahill, Daniel Byrne, Callum O’Brien Murphy, MacDara Deane, Charlie Keogh and Cathal Purcell in defence together with midfielders Liam Ryan and Mikey Byrne. Up front Jamie Deane, Jamie Doyle, Cein McNamara, Dan Kehoe, and Brandon Deane were prominent throughout. All the replacements namely Shay Ryan, Rian Nolan, Conal Doyle and Raffi Renji also played their part and there will be hot competition for places on this squad when the championship season begins.
For Rathvilly Jack Corcoran who scored 2-5 from the centre back position stood out as did Sean Barrett, Peter Lawlor, Paul Kehoe and goalie Sean Cloney who made a wonderful save in the closing stages.
Tinryland: Phillip Adamski, Luke Cahill, Cathal Purcell, Charlie Keogh, Daniel Byrne, MacDara Deane (Captain) 1-0, Calum O’Brien-Murphy, Liam Ryan 0-2, Mikey Byrne 0-3, Jamie Deane 0-4, Dan Kehoe, Brandon Deane, Jamie Doyle 0-6, Cein McNamara 1-1. Subs: Shay Ryan 1-2, Rian Nolan, Conal Doyle, Raffi Renji.
Rathvilly: Sean Cloney, Cathal Thornton, Michael Nolan, Will Darcy, Paul Kehoe, Jack Corcoran 2-5, Peter Lawlor 1-0, Cillian Kelly, Kyle Byrne, Dylan Collier, Laoch Leonard 0-1, Cillian McFarland, Alfie Haberlin-Brennan 0-1, Sean Barrett 1-2,
Referee Kyle Clarke (Bagenalstown Gaels)
