J.F.C. Quarter Final
Tinryland 3-12 Old Leighlin 1-5
Tinryland Junior (A) team qualified for the J.F.C. (A) semi final with a comfortable win over Old Leighlin at a windy Netwatch training centre in Fenagh on Saturday afternoon.
The final victory margin of 13 points does not fully reflect the game which was evenly contested for long periods. With wind advantage Old Leighlin enjoyed their best passage in the opening quarter scoring a goal and a point in that period. The Old Leighlin goal was finished to the Tinryland net in the 11th minute by wing forward Gearoid Foley after good interplay by the men from Molaise Park. Corner forward Paddy Deevy had opened the Old Leighlin account from a free in the 4th minute.
Tinryland’s opening score was a well taken Alan Barrett point after great play by Glen Doyle, Padraig Townsend and Cormac McElligott. Further points from Doyle from a free and Mark Lawlor, Conor Brennan and Alan Barrett left the men in blue and white leading by the minimum at the first water break.
When play resumed Michael Meaney levelled matters after 20 minutes and the men in green edged ahead once again with a Gearoid Foley point 5 minutes before the break. The final minutes of the first half saw Tinryland up the ante with a great Mark Lawlor point after Barry Power had gained possession from a kick out. Unfortunately this was the last action for the influential Power who suffered a nasty finger injury in that passage of play. Barry was replaced by Shane O’Neill. Tinryland then hit the front in the dying stages of the half when Cormac McElligott slotted over a point to leave the half time score Tinryland 0-7 Old Leighlin 1-3
With the strong wind in their favour Tinryland were expected to dominate the 2nd half right from the throw in but it was Old Leighlin who struck first when veteran Richie Burke raised a white flag. Tinryland’s response was swift and Glen Doyle capped a good performance by intercepting an Old Leighlin attack and scoring a wonderful long range point. Adam Dunne then got in on the interception act when he broke up an Old Leighlin attack to put Tinryland 2 points clear after 37 minutes played. Tinryland now began to play with a swagger and after Glen Doyle had hit the post Padraig Townsend got on the end of a long Glen Doyle delivery to find the net and put his team 5 points clear. The 2nd water break then arrived with Tinryland leading 1-9 to 1-5.
When play resumed for the final time Hughie Gahan gave Old Leighlin some hope with a well taken point but this score proved to be his teams last and Tinryland went on to dominate the closing stages rattling the Old Leighlin net on 2 more occasions via mark Lawlor and sub Brian McGrath. The icing was then put on the cake with 2 more points from Padraic Whelan and another sub Ciaran Townsend. Outstanding for Tinryland who will face either Grange, Ballon or Leighlinbridge in the semi final were Adam Dunne, Peter Doran, Tommy Dunne, Barry Power until injured Padraig Townsend, Glenn Doyle, Alan Barrett and Mark Lawlor.
Tinryland: Niall Barrett, Adam Dunne 0-1, Peter Doran, Joey Ryan, Tommy Dunne, Cormac McElligott 0-1, Ciaran Larkin, Barry Power, Gregg Murphy, Padraic Whelan 0-2, Conor Brennan 0-1, Mark Lawlor 1-2, Padraig Townsend 1-0, Glenn Doyle 0-2, Alan Barrett 0-2. Subs: Shane O’Neill, Stefan Hillebrand, Aongus O’Shea, Ciaran Townsend 0-1, Brian McGrath 1-0.
Old Leighlin: Martin Lynch, Eoin Kirby, Colin Brennan, Brian Roche, Sean Raftry, Kevin Carpenter, Michael Meaney, Derek Butler, Declan Kelly, Hughie Gahan 0-1, John Hayden, Gearoid Foley 1-2, Richie Burke 0-1, Eamonn Fitzgerald, Paddy Deevy 0-1. Sub: Barry Hayes
